Disclaimer- let's not get too repetitive, the stuff that could be here is at the beginning.

A/N- I know what you're thinking … FINALLY! I know I am. Thanks for taking the time to read this and I really hope it's still living up to what I started with. In this there are few talks about angsty/ bad things, but I kept as clean as I could and still portray the story how I wanted it to. Hopefully it's ok.

I've got most of the next few planed out and with any luck it will just flow out of my imagination and onto either the screen or the book (which gets typed up). Fingers crossed. Thanks again for reading and hope to hear from you.

"It's all just a little bit of history repeating." History Repeating -Shirley Bassey

Falling Into Old Habits

Joey and Lance were both there to greet a man they were growing to hate onto their ship. But then again he was there old friend, a friend they had grown up with.

Deep down part of Lance wanted to believe that things could be resolved and they could talk and joke around like they did when they were younger. But another part of him knew that it wouldn't happen. Too much had happened for things to be like they had been.

While Joey knew that the boy they grew up with had disappeared, a long time ago. All that was left of that Jason was the happy memories they had from when they were young teenagers. But that's all.

"Sirs," called the young man at his post, "he's ready."

"Okay, bring him aboard," replied Lance.

Slowly the figure of Jason came into view, until his lively form was standing before them.

"Guys," he greeted cheerfully.

"Hey," came the slow response of Lance. Joey could only smile.

Jason gave a rueful smile before speaking again, "Let's just make today about the old days, hey? I know what I did was unforgivable, but please let's remember a better age."

"We'll do our best," answered Joey.

Coming down from the transport platform, Jason moved to put his arm around Lance in a friendly manner. "Why don't you show me around? This whole thing's run by you two?"

"Yup," they replied.

"Well, then it's a miracle it's in one piece," he laughed easily. The other two joining him in a chuckle, allowing themselves to relax a little bit.

The three old comrades went on the brief tour of the ship, and at the end they fond themselves in Lance's office.

"Quite a nifty little ship you've got here," Jason commented as he took a seat at the table, after they all got drinks.

"Little?" asked Joey, a small smile in the corner of his mouth, as he sat in the chair adjacent to Jason.

"It's just an expression," he replied with a small laugh.

"Sure," Lance sarcastically replied, joining them.

Before Jason could give a retort a call came over the system, "Engineering to First Officer Bentley."

Casting an apologetic look to his companions Joey replied, "Bentley here."

"Sir, we are experiencing some problems with the warp modulator and a few other minor systems, but … we can't find a cause and/or solution to the problems."

Sighing Joey replied, "Alright Bourne, I'll be there shortly. I'm on my way now." And he broke the link. Addressing Lance and Jason he said, "Well duty calls. Hopefully I won't be too long."

"Hopefully," agreed Jason.

Lance gave an approving nod. Then Joey left.

"Hope they can figure it out," Jason said. "I hate the thought of anything happening to this ship of yours."

The look Jason gave him as he took a sip of his drink made Lance feel uneasy, and that his statement was less than sincere. Instead of calling him up on this, Lance just shook it off as a small feeling of paranoia about Jason.

When Jason's drink was replaced on the table, there was no sign of this previous expression.

A few moments of comfortable silence passed between them. Placing his drink down again Jason cleared his throat.

"I'd like a favour," he said.

"Which is?" Lance asked, a little amused at the statement.

"I would like you, to do something for me," he paused for a theatrical effect, and put emphasis on 'you' and 'me'.

"What would that be?"

"I want you to help me get a moment alone with Beverly."

"What?" Lance asked outraged.

Continuing with his calm tone as if it were the most natural thing to ask, "I want some one-to-one time with Beverly."

"No, forget it. Especially now, knowing what you've done in the past."

"And your slate is clean?" he accused.

"Sorry?"

"When we were still new, and the events of the Aurelia mission." Jason replied jogging Lance's memory. "The choices and actions you did there."

"That was a long time ago," Lance couldn't keep the guilt from resurfacing at the thought of that particular mission.

"Maybe, but would Joey and the rest of this crew be able to respect you, take orders from you, knowing what you did then?"

"I think they'd be able to forgive me, and understand that I'm not the same foolish teenager anymore," Lance injected convincingly.

"So that's a no?"

"Yeah, that's a no," he replied forcefully. "I won't give you a chance to put Beverly through that sort of thing, again."

"So, you're allowed to have a second chance and redeem yourself, but I'm doomed to be cursed because of my past?"

"I stuffed up once," Lance spat bitterly. His voice was slowly starting to rise, and counted it off on his fingers. "Once. I made one stupid decision. Count them, one!"

"And you did the actions to follow through with it. How does that separate us?" Jason continued casually.

"I only did it once!" Lance almost shouted. Claming down and lowering his voice he continued, "I didn't repeatedly beat, rape and degrade a person I claimed to care about. That is were our circumstances differentiate."

"You're not willingly going to help me?" Jason continued.

"No, I'm not going to help you. Period."

"What if it wasn't a case of what's right and what's wrong, but more of what's one person's pain to the lives of an entire ship?"

"Pardon?"

"That little incident with your warp core isn't an accident. Your crew will be baffled about the cause, and how to reduce the effects of what happened, but that would be because I choose for that to happen. The amount of time it will take them to 'fix'," Jason even did hand gestures to indicate inverted commas, "the problem, will specifically depend on how long this chat for us will take." Pausing in his story Jason allowed an evil looking smile onto his face. "I could destroy you and your little ship, filled with your faithful crew, while I walk away unharmed, and unfazed."

"Is that a threat?" Lanced asked protectively.

As Jason nodded his head, Lance took a deep breath and rested his head in his hands. After taking a few calming breathes with his eyes closed, Lance raised his head to look at Jason.

"You're forcing me to choose between the safety of a friend who it took me over 25 years to find after you drove us apart, and the lives of a crew who trust me with them?"

"When you put it that way, yeah. That's exactly what I'm asking you. And your answer is?" he asked expectantly.

Swallowing hard Lance couldn't stop the sound of Beverly's voice as she described what happened from entering his head…

"He would always make sure we were completely alone," she'd softly confined in them. "A situation were he could ensure there were no interruptions. Then he would kiss me roughly, his hand sliding down my body possessively, often whispering harsh, and degrading things in my ear. Then he would undress himself slowly, and force me to do the same. If I didn't comply I would be hit. I didn't know any good or effective defence techniques, so I was powerless to stop it. He would pin me to the bed; his body above mine. And have his way with me." She paused in her story, and Lance could see her eyes were filled with unshed tears. The pain behind them resurfacing. "He raped me." A soft sob escaped her. Recovering quickly she finished, "Back then I was powerless. Not anymore though. Defence lessons at the Academy, classes with Worf, that won't happen again. I've taken out men bigger than him since. I know how to protect myself now."

Anger like he had never known coursed through Lance at the thought of what Jason was asking him to do. There was also a streak of guilt at the choice he knew he would make. From a detached position it was a no-brainer, but he wasn't detached; this was personal. Putting his elbows on the table he buried his face in his hands.

Softly he whispered into his hands, "Please forgive me Beverly. I'm so sorry." Then crossing his arms on the table, he addressed the man opposite him. "What do you want me to do?"

An evil grin crossed Jason's face. "Give Joey the Beta shift, and disappear into the background when I give you a signal."

"That's it?" Lance thought that was a little too simple.

"Yeah. Actually," He reconsidered his position and came up with a better idea, "I'll take care of Joey. You just nick off when I give the signal."

"You'll 'take care of Joey'? What are you going to do?"

"That's for me to know, and you not to."

"Dammit, if I'm going to help you with this I want details. No yanking me around, I have a right to know what you are going to do."

"You're in a no-win situation. So you have no-rights. I don't have to tell you any details, except the ones you need to know." Jason had new cocky arrogance to him, and spoke very condescendingly to him. "And you know all you need to."

Despite his blood boiling with anger Lance managed to say, "What's the signal?"

"When I do this," and Jason gave a thumbs up.

"Subtle," Lance sarcastically replied. "Show you for the asshole you are."

"Sticks and stones, Lance."

"It would take more than that to kill the spawn of Satan."

Jason only continued to smile evilly at Lance. And Lance remained glaring at him till there was a noise at the door. Joey had returned.

Smiling apologetically he said, "Sorry about that. Hope I didn't miss anything."

"No, nothing exciting." Jason quickly answered. "Just reflecting on the Aurelia mission."

"Oh," Joey replied the smile disappearing.

"Yeah," added Lance, the guilt resurfacing with added sting.

Joey put a supportive hand on Lance's shoulder.

"Hey," he said to get Lance's attention. "We were young and foolish. It's a shame we lost Sam on it. But it gave us the much needed reality check. Helped us realise we aren't invincible."

"Thanks," Lance whispered. It was all he could muster.

"Captain, Beverly has just come aboard."

Ignoring the surprised look on Joey's face Lance said, "Send her up to my office."

"Aye sir."

"That's a surprise," Joey commented. "Didn't think she'd be able to talk Picard into letting her go."

"I'm sure she can be very persuasive with him," Jason muttered softly.

Shortly Beverly joined them. Greetings were exchanged and Beverly kept a distance between her and Jason.

"Drink?" Lance offered.

"No, I'm alright," answered Beverly.

"I know the real reason you came." Jason said getting to his feet. "The reason you put up with my presence right now." He let out a long sigh. "I know what I did was so terribly wrong and I can't apologise enough for the awful things I did. If we could become even the most distant of friends that would be an amazing thing. An amazing act of kindness." Another deep sigh, "but that's what I'm doing. Saying I'm sorry, and begging for some form of forgiveness."

Beverly didn't acknowledge what he said, but changed the topic. "Let's remember the good days."

The others seized the opportunity she gave them.

"What about the time when…

The group slipped into memories of pranks, adventures, and misadventures they'd had in there time spent together. Time was disappearing fast before there was another disturbance.

"Engineering to First Officer Bentley."

"Bentley here."

"Sir, it's happened again. But this time it's not responding to the treatment we did earlier."

Joey let out a cry of frustration. "Hang on I'll be there in a moment." The comm. link was broken. "Sorry. I've got to see if we can't prevent this ship from exploding on us for no apparent reason."

"No, go do what you have to," reasoned Jason.

Lance had an uneasy feeling, but nodded to Joey before he left.

It was just the three of them for a long time. Lance was now purposefully ignoring Jason giving him the thumbs up repeatedly.

Soon Lance could feel a tug on his bladder. That was one thing he couldn't ignore, but was doing his best to do so and keep it from both Jason and Beverly. Unsuccessfully.

"Lance," Beverly softly whispered to him. "You can go to the toilet. I can manage a couple of minuets alone with him. Go it's right. I'm a tough girl, I can tie my own shoelaces and everything."

Lance chuckled at this. He still felt bad succumbing to Jason's wishes and leaving them together.

"Go," she urged.

"Alright," Lance conceded getting up and excusing himself to the restrooms.

An awkward silence descended upon the two of them. A cold chill ran through Beverly.

She looked up and he was staring at her. Something flickered in his eyes and fear swept through Beverly like she'd never felt before.

"Tell me."

He didn't elaborate. She knew what he was asking.

"Jason, you know I won't," Beverly tried to reason.

"I can and I will get it out of you." Jason stood and slowly made his way towards where Beverly was seated.

"Stop right there," Beverly warmed getting to her feet. "If you come any closer I'm gone. One word to the Enterprise and I'm out of here." Beverly was slowly backing away from where Jason was. "I have no reason to think you won't make life hard for her too."

"I have a right to know my own daughter," He said continuing to advance towards Beverly.

"Don't make me fight you," Beverly warned.

Jason's only response was to snicker while he got closer. As he reached out to grab Beverly she countered with a punch to his jaw. Jason tumbled back in surprise, while Beverly quickly put more distance between the two of them.

In her haste Beverly knocked into a chair. She watched in shock as the chair fell at quarter speed that it normally would. She looked back at Jason who just grinned at her.

"Oh didn't you know about my new tricks? I can stop or slow down time at will," he asked with mock surprise, moving in on Beverly, again.

Frightened Beverly went to tap her comm. Badge. But it wasn't there.

"Trying to escape are we?" Jason asked revealing the badge in his hand. "Things aren't that simple, I'm afraid."

"Nothing you do will make me change my mind."

"I'm sure I can make you change your tune. Make you play to my own beat."

Again Jason moved towards her. This time Beverly landed a knee to his stomach winding him. But Jason just stood and smiled.

"There are other ways to get you to submit to me.";

'Beverly!'

Beverly spun around to try and see where the voice was coming from. There was only the two of them in the room. Jason's cruel laugh filled the room when he saw her confusion.

'Beverly help me!'

"Jack?" she whispered.

"Talking to the dead are we? Or just hearing voices?" Jason taunted.

'In the winter we have to take special care of the roses.'

"Nanna?"

'Bev, don't trust him! It's a trick. Fight it!'

"Jean-Luc?"

'There's my little princess.'

"Daddy?"

Slowly the voices grew, more and more filled her mind. They grew louder and louder. Jason's merciless laughter in the background.

He looked down at her huddled in the fetal position, in the corner.

'Pathetic," he thought. 'Weak. But best of all defenceless.'

He bent down and picked Beverly up and transported them both back to his ship in a red beam.

Back on the Enterprise.

"Ah, sir," nervously started the Lieutenant at ops.

"Yes, Lieutenant?" asked Jean-Luc.

"Sir, we've lost Dr Crusher's signal."

"What?!"

"It appears she is no longer on the Jolly Rodger."

Much to the gratitude of the Lieutenant Will joined him at the post and continued for him.

"Seems like she removed her badge and was then transported off the Jolly Rodger."

"To where?"

Will paused to look his CO in the eye before answering, "To the shuttle."

A/N- I know that it's been like forever and I hope it was worth it. Let me know. Also if I could get someone else to be like be my editor/ proof reader that would be nice. If you're interested please let me know and e-mail me. (You'd get to read me next chapter before anyone else too!)

Hopefully I shouldn't be too long with this next one. Spares are really good for writing!