He ate, but not a lot, and unless it was something he could pick up with his fingers, Beverly had to feed him. The use of a fork or spoon eluded him, and she was tired of cleaning up the plates of food he would shove off the table in frustration. Needless to say, she never wanted to see another chicken nugget again.

So she tried to vary his menu, keeping in mind his favorite foods. Tonight they had lamb chops, which she cut into small pieces, and fed to him, in between bites of her own supper. What little he ate, he ate slowly. And it was difficult to keep his attention on the task at hand. He would turn away from her and stare across the dining room, his eyes seemingly focused on nothing at all.

"Jean-Luc. Jean-Luc, look at me."

He didn't respond.

Beverly dropped the food laden fork onto his plate, and the noise it made startled him, caused him to jump and look back at her.

Supper had already lasted well over a half hour, and he'd barely eaten five bites. Beverly's plate was empty. "Are you hungry or not?" she asked firmly, her voice tinged with exhaustion.

"Eat." He insisted, opening his mouth. She picked up the fork and fed him. He chewed, swallowed, opened his mouth again. A few bites later, he pushed the plate away.

"You're sure you're finished?"

He nodded. "Cookies?"

Beverly smiled, despite her weariness. She'd never realized just how much Jean-Luc liked chocolate chip cookies. He virtually inhaled them. Once she'd found a handful of them under his pillow. It gave an all new meaning to a midnight snack.

"Yes. You can have some cookies. I'll get them for you."

She went into the kitchen and returned with a small plate of cookies, and a cup of hot tea. She handed them to him. "You can eat these in the living room. But be careful. Don't spill anything."

He got up from the table, holding the cup and plate gingerly in his large hands. He walked slowly into the living room and set them on the coffee table. After turning the holographic viewer on, he sat down and began to eat his dessert, instantly mesmerized by whatever program was on at the moment.

Beverly began to clear the table. A few minutes later she heard the computer console in the living room signal an incoming message.

"I wonder who that is?" she said out loud. But Jean-Luc didn't hear her. When the viewer was on, it was hard to pry him away.

She sat down at the computer, keyed in the acceptance code. "I don't believe it!" she gasped.

Will Riker's face stared back at her. "Hello, Beverly."

"Oh, Will, it is so good to see you."

The image on the screen drew back, revealing another person sitting beside him. "And Deanna." Beverly's smile broadened.

"Hi." Deanna smiled back at her.

"Where are you?"

Deanna laughed. "I think we're somewhere between Earth and Beta Illyria III."

"But close enough to get a message through," Will added.

Beverly nodded. "I'm glad you did."

He leaned forward in his chair, and she recognized Deanna's office. "How is everything?" he asked.

"Well, I don't know about everything, but I'm fine, and Jean-Luc is... Well, he's better... I guess."

"Is he, Beverly?" Deanna's dark eyes studied her, and Beverly could feel the warmth of the woman reach out over the thousands of light years that separated them.

"Yes, in some ways. Better than the last time we talked. He communicates more now. Although it's not his favorite thing to do. He still loves the colored chalk you sent him. We're running out of places to hang his pictures."

"What does Starfleet Medical say about his condition?" Will asked, running his hand nervously over his beard.

Beverly shrugged. "Not much. Physically he's fine. He's, uh... thinner. But if he keeps eating chocolate chip cookies the way he does, he'll gain his weight back and then some."

"Chocolate chip cookies?" Will grinned. "I never knew."

"Neither did I."

"Beverly..." Deanna's voice was soft, inquiring.

Beverly sighed. She knew the counselor's question without her having to ask. "I don't know, Deanna. He... he's like a child," she shook her head, "still like a baby most of the time. It's... it's not easy."

"I know."

"I keep looking over at him, thinking that all of a sudden he's just going to be all right." She swallowed, felt tears sting her eyes. "But he never is."

"He will be," Deanna assured her. "You have to believe that."

"I'm trying."

"We wish we could be there," Will said.

Beverly took a deep breath. "I wish you could be, too. But," she allowed a smile to spread across her face, "Wesley comes by often. He's very good with him, and Jean-Luc responds well."

"That's good." Will nodded. "Well, we... we'd better go." He hesitated a moment. "Beverly, tell him we said hello."

"I will. Goodbye, Deanna, Will."

"Goodbye."

And the communication blinked out. Beverly stared at the dark screen. It was so far away from them now, that world they used to know on the Enterprise, their life with those people. She felt as if she'd been gone forever.

She looked past the computer, could see Jean-Luc sitting on the floor in front of the viewer. Had it really only been three months since they'd lain in bed together, discussing their plans for shore leave? She didn't even feel like the same woman anymore. Jean-Luc wasn't the only one who'd changed.

Their life was so different now. And yet, in a way, she'd grown used to it. It was almost as if there were two Jean-Luc Picards: the one she'd known then, and the one she knew now. The captain had not always needed her, but the man sitting on the living room floor could not live without her. And until he was better, she would be there for him. Always.

"Jean-Luc?" she called, and he turned toward her. "It's time for bed."

He shook his head stubbornly. "No."

She got up and went over to him. "No arguments tonight. Now come on." She turned off the viewer, then reached down and took hold of his shoulder, helped him to his feet. With a gentle nudge, she pushed him toward the stairs, and he went.

~vVv~

She helped him put on his pajamas, then tucked him into bed, pulled the covers up over him. He'd brought the green blanket home with him from the medical complex, and he slept with it every night. He was curled around it now, holding one corner of it against his cheek.

Beverly sat beside him, gazed down into his eyes. "Will and Deanna called tonight," she said softly.

"Yeah," he replied as if he'd known they had.

"How did you know that? Did you hear me talking to them?"

"Yeah."

She smiled. "And I thought you were busy watching the viewer and eating cookies."

"Yeah."

She touched his shoulder, and he let her. "They said to tell you hello."

He nodded, then closed his eyes. Beverly sighed. She wondered if he even remembered who they were.

"Goodnight, Jean-Luc," she whispered, then leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "Sleep well."

~vVv~