DETACHED MEANT:

Jean-Luc: His Story

Chapter 37:

Just a Suggestion

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"A goat?" Jean-Luc tried his best not to sound irritated. It was not Mr. Murphy's fault that his vice-superintendent had to say that word out loud. "A hairless, twenty-one kilo goat?"

"Called a zic, Sir. Anyway, the Al Nitakan ambassador has issued a formal protest to the Federation Council," Michael Murphy wearily stated for he had been dealing with this problem for several days now. And only because the cantankerous ambassador had filed an official protest did he now have to tell his boss about it. He had been hoping to spare the superintendent such inconsequential problems. But thanks to the Nitakan ambassador, everything had been blown up out of considerable proportion to reality.

"Apparently, dyeing the goat chartreuse – which did not injure the animal, by the way - is considered to be a dreadful insult to the Al Nitakans. This actually means that it is considered to be a grievous insult by at least one of their major religions. A religion, incidentally, to which Cadet Al-Man does not belong, by the way..."

Jean-Luc glanced down at his padd, checking. "And Cadet Al-Man. Did he file a complaint as well?"

"Actually, no, Sir. Cadet Al-Man made a statement saying that the green goat incident had nothing to do with religious disrespect. And that it was payback for the prank that Cadet Al-Man had pulled on his roommate a few days earlier. I chose not to go into the gory details of those pranks, unless, for some bizarre reason, it becomes necessary."

Murphy reached for the mug of coffee that Jean-Luc usually ordered for him whenever they had to have a meeting in the superintendent's inner office. He took a sip. Michael Murphy had become very good at his job. He had reached an understanding as well as an excellent working relationship after almost seven years, with the superintendent. He'd also received a promotion. The only time Jean-Luc Picard had to meet with Mr. Murphy now, if it wasn't at a major staff meeting, was when there were serious problems. Otherwise, Vice-Superintendent Murphy handled the day-to-day running of the Academy, along with a rather large support staff.

Mr. Murphy mentioned, "The roommate, a Cadet Ojai, has admitted that he did it. He was the one who colored the goat lime green. Apparently green is considered an unlucky color by some of the Nitakans, though not by Cadet Al-Man."

Jean-Luc took a sip of the liquid from his cooling tea mug. "So, why is this ambassador involved in what is essentially a student prank?"

"Unofficially?"

Jean-Luc nodded.

"The Al Nitakans seem to think that we – meaning Starfleet and the Academy - are not treating their first cadet to enter the Academy, with the proper respect that Cadet Al-Man deserves."

"I see. Are we treating this cadet any differently from any other cadet, Michael?"

"No, Sir. And that is the real problem in the eyes of their ambassador."

Jean-Luc mentally groaned. "The Al-Nitakans can be a contentious people. Considering how many years it took, diplomatically speaking that is, for the Federation to persuade the Al Nitakans that it was not right to try to annex the Mintakan solar system without the planets' populations consent…"

"Well, I think that it was your defense of the Mintakan pre-warp societies on Mintaka III and IV, that just might have prejudiced the ambassador against you," Michael Murphy just had to mention. "The Al Nitakans had really coveted those potential dilithium deposits, not to mention quite a few other mineral assets that the planets had to offer."

Jean-Luc suspected that this was the real truth of the matter. The Nitakans had taken quite a bit of diplomatic strong-arm persuasion to finally relinquish their claims to Mintaka System, before they finally became eligible to become a probationary member of the Federation. A permanent membership was still pending and it was something which privately, Jean-Luc Picard thought would never be achieved unless there were massive societal changes.

"Any suggestions, Michael?"

"I can issue a formal apology, and state that the relationship that the cadet has with his goat, is a religious service right which will be protected at the Academy, in accordance with the cadet's religious beliefs; out of respect for Starfleet's acceptance of the diversity of all of our student's religious beliefs and customs, etc."

"You compose it, and I will sign it," Jean-Luc agreed, eyeing the holoportrait of the young cadet's green goat dressed in a Starfleet cadet's science uniform that had appeared on his padd. "Even if the cadet in question values having his pet with him, more than he might value his society's religious customs." Jean-Luc slightly smiled. "A lot of cadets have tried to bring their pets to the Academy dorms over the years. I do believe that Cadet Al-Man may be one of the few cadets to succeed in coming up with a legitimate enough reason for doing so. Service religious functionary, indeed. When things are a bit less hectic around here, I would like to personally meet with Cadet Al-Man."

"I'll make the arrangements before you go out on leave." Michael paused and finished off his coffee. "You know, some Nitakans take their religious beliefs very seriously. I understand from internal assessments of the Al Nitakan society, that religious squabbling between a rather wide selection of religions, is the norm on that planet. However, I do not believe that Cadet Al-Man is involved with any of that."

"Let us hope that Cadet Al-Man will embrace Starfleet and Federation philosophies with an unbiased heart."

Michael laughed. "He has, Sir. According to the cadet's counsellors, the cadet really wants to be a Starfleet science officer, and is excelling in all of the major disciplines." Michael leaned forward knowing that his boss would appreciate this, and conspiratorially whispered, "Rumor has it that some of the cadets have taken to calling his goat, 'Captain Zakarian'."

Jean-Luc almost snorted before admitting, "Well, there is a slight resemblance." For Jean-Luc could recall his own disagreements with Professor 'old goat' Zakarian from the current day back to when he had been a cadet, for this professor had been a thorn in the side of many a cadet over the decades, especially because of his strict adherence and belief in sticking to the survival course rule book, no matter what. If Jean-Luc had followed that philosophy whole heartedly, he would have died on a harsh L class planet, a long time ago. However, Jean-Luc did privately concede that one had to know the rule books backwards and forwards, before one got around to breaking them, which was the chief reason as to why Professor Zakarian was still on staff, and had not been retired.

Jean-Luc finished off his now cold cup of tea. "What's next?"

"Believe it or not, we are through." Michael stood and picked up the admiral's empty mug as well as his own and placed them both in the recycling receptacle. "We are all caught up."

"You have rarely said those words to me over the years, Michael."

Michael laughed. "Mildred brought in a few more of her friends as temporary support staff, especially since we are all anticipating the impending arrival of your daughter and your imminent departure on paternity leave."

"I will take that remark in the manner with which I hope it was intended," Jean-Luc dryly commented even as he reached into his desk drawer and pulled out his Aldebaran whiskey bottle. "Join me?"

Michael Murphy was no fool. It was a rare day when his boss was in this convivial of a mood. They weren't exactly friends, but they were on the same wavelength when it came to certain matters. They both accepted and respected each other because of their mutual dedication to Starfleet and the Academy. Not to mention both of them having a very fond attachment to a certain lady named Mildred. The tall, blondish man who was just about to turn sixty, smiled, accepting his superintendent's invitation.

Jean-Luc paused for a moment as he contemplated his liquor. "Michael, why don't you look into the feasibility of the Academy having at least one dorm in the future, that does accept pets, for other than religious or service animal reasons. I realize that there will have to be size restrictions, danger considerations, etc."

"I'll come up with something."

After the men, had drunk their first shot, Jean-Luc quietly asked, "Now, tell me about all of my myriad unofficial problems…"

"Believe it or not, there are not that many… The Number One complaint, as usual is about the food in the dorms whether it be cafeteria or replicator, followed by the very long waiting list for getting a dorm room in the Risian Proxima Quad. We haven't had a cadet get drunk or high in a while, so a report about such foolishness should be crossing my desk any day, now. Especially since we have a dance coming up. Speaking of which, the faculty recreational activities committee have re-re-revised rules of etiquette for the Sadie Hawkins's Day Dance…"

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"A goat? A green goat?" Kathryn laughed and laughed. After gasping for a breath, she shook her head. "And to think that I thought life in the Delta Quadrant had its unexpected moments." She handed him her tea cup for a refill since Jean-Luc was reclining on the sofa, closer to the teapot which was sitting on a cart, in the library.

Jean-Luc couldn't help but smile. He liked it when his wife laughed. She had such a wonderful sounding, throaty, attractive laugh. He refilled her cup as well as automatically adding a few more butter cookies on to the rim of the saucer, before he handed the ginger tea back to his wife. "One of these days I will have to tell you about the purple goat versus a Vulcan professor of exobiology incident in one of the labs…"

"Oh, no." She wagged her finger at him. "I think that you'd better tell me that tall tale, right now," she ordered with a grin. "For I have never encountered a purple goat in the Delta Quadrant – or anywhere else for that matter."

And Jean-Luc related that incident as well.

"What is it about Starfleet Cadets and their goats?" Kathryn just had to ask with a chuckle when her husband was finished. "I mean that they are nice animals…"

"Dogs were too mundane?" he suggested. For that remark, Kathryn put down her tea cup, and swatted her husband with a pillow.

Jean-Luc thought about retaliating.

The children were in bed. Gretchen had gone back to Indiana for a few days. Dr. Pulaski was on duty at Starfleet Medical. And as near as Jean-Luc could tell, there was no one else lurking about the family side of the house, other than those who actually belonged there.

In spite of it being Picard House which at times he had likened to a hotel, Jean-Luc could actually reflect upon the fact that he might actually be considered to be home alone with his wife.

Kathryn may have been pondering this unusual situation too, for she picked up the throw pillow again, and threatened her husband.

"Computer, privacy lock," Jean-Luc ordered for he had a suspicion as to where their activities might be leading.

She paused in mid-swat. "Jean-Luc, don't you know by now that whenever we are by ourselves in any room of this house, there is an automatic privacy lock on the door?"

He blushed a little. "I knew that." But he had forgotten.

She nodded in disbelief, even as she put down her pillow. "Old habits die hard?"

He ruefully admitted, "Something like that."

"Hold the thought," she teased as she stood and pulled the tea cart closer to her side of the sofa. "I think that I need to fortify myself," she remarked as she picked up a Georgian silver spoon and an individual blueberry compote, eyeing the dessert with desire, too.

There was companiable silence for a while, as Kathryn ate her dessert.

Jean-Luc stretched a bit before he studied his wife.

Aware of his inspection, Kathryn asked, "What?"

"How do you really feel about what is occurring?" He didn't really have to specify as to what since there were so many things happening all at once.

"I take it that you mean Chakotay and Kol?" He nodded. "I am not really sure." Kathryn finished off her snack. "On one hand, I am overwhelmed by just about everything. I never believed that I would be pregnant at my age, for example. And emotionally, I am not exactly prepared for it, though I am working on it. Also, for someone who is supposed to be on maternity leave, I have never felt so busy. And no, I am not comparing any of these situations to the Borg, and what I faced in the Delta Quadrant. I never could stop having to do, there. But here," she shrugged her shoulders, "I feel like I should be getting ready for the baby, and instead, it seems as if I am doing just about anything and everything but that. And yes, I know, between my mother and Ryllis, everything that should be done so far, has been done. But still..."

"That is one of the main reasons as to why I want Chakotay to come here. To give you a chance to rest." He glanced around the room. "At least here, at home, you have a nearby support staff and friends and family to help."

Kathryn inspected her husband this time. "And is that the real reason as to why you're asking?"

He deliberately refilled his tea cup, before returning his wife's look. "Meaning?"

"I'm sure that there are any number of friends who have said something behind your back about the wisdom of a divorced so-he-is-now-free Chakotay and myself residing under the same roof or rooves, so to speak, since Chakotay will be in a guest house – a nearby guest house where if my memory serves me accurately, we used to use for our personal rendezvous as well."

He wasn't going to lie to her. "I have considered that possibility. I'd be a fool not to have done so."

"And?"

"I trust you, Kathryn."

She sent him a minor glare of disbelief.

He tried to explain his rationale. "Even if such a rumored event should occur, I would prefer not to deal with it until that bridge is actually crossed."

She seriously considered smashing him with her throw pillow, and it would not be totally with good humor either.

He leaned forward and grasped her hand and looked into her eyes, hoping to adequately explain himself to her. "I truly do trust you, Kathryn. But if there is a momentary lapse, that is something on an intellectual level that I would understand. However, if it is a serious incident, then, I do trust you to tell me, and we will proceed from there about how to do what is best for us and our family."

She noted that he said nothing about his emotional state. "You sound so reasonable." She made that sentence sound like it was anything but reasonable.

"That is exactly what I am trying to be, Kathryn. I have learned that true love is one of the greatest gifts that the universe can bestow upon us mere mortals. I would like to think that I would not forcibly deny it for you, if it comes to that." He carefully considered his next words. "I have known two great loves in my life, so far, Kathryn. And emotionally, I feel as if you are becoming the third. Certainly, you are very dear to me."

Kathryn blinked at this pronouncement, for in truth, she had been feeling something similar toward her husband as well.

He still understood why she was confused by his words, so he explained, "You know about Beverly. But, there was someone else. Now I think that it is time that I told you about Eline…"

And so, she listened to her husband talk. She understood what he was saying even if she was occasionally distracted by the way he spoke.

"A true life out of time," she finally commented, "where you were free from all our current modern-day strife and angsts."

"In many ways, my life as Kamen was exactly that. It was, to phrase it bluntly, an escape from the onerous duties of being a Starfleet officer. Of course, I had to deal with the destruction of my world and my family."

"And you still miss them."

"Yes. In some way, every day."

Deciding that it was time to drink something a bit stronger, he went to the antique cellarette hidden within a free-standing globe of the world, unlocked it and then poured himself a Saurian brandy adding a little bit of seltzer water into the lowball glass. Then he poured a small sherry glass full of brandy as well.

Kathryn did not demure when she accepted the small goblet from her husband.

"It's time for some truths, I see," was all that she remarked.

"Kathryn if you are weary…"

She shook her head as she watched him sit back down on the sofa. "No. We need to discuss this." She took a tiny sip of brandy, momentarily admired the quality of the liquor, and then placed the goblet on a table. "Jean-Luc, I love Chakotay. I always will. You've known this since our very first night together."

"Yes, I have."

"But I also love our life here together. It is unexpected. I never thought that my life would take the turn down the path that it has. But, I find that I really like my life here with you. At times, I revel in being your wife. I adore the twins. And I am coming to appreciate the advantages of being an admiral, much to my surprise.

"Yes, I was somewhat surprised by that aspect as well," Jean-Luc admitted.

She continued. "I don't want to do anything to spoil any of this. As for Chakotay," she took another small sip of her drink, "I know him well enough to know that by the time he copes with his wife's desertion, the birth of his son not to mention physically recuperating, he is not going to have the inclination for anything else. Chakotay can be somewhat introspective, and he will need time to adjust and reflect upon everything that has happened."

Jean-Luc chuckled, shaking his head in denial of her words. "Kathryn, Chakotay is a man in every sense. Trust me, his feelings for you will emerge now and then, regardless of whether or not he is recuperating or contemplative or whatever."

"Thanks, I think."

"You know you are a true, unforgettable woman, my dear. I never forgot the remarkable young woman that I met so many years ago. You made an indelible impression then." He smiled, and patted her thigh. "And here we are."

"That still doesn't solve our problems," she sighed as she took the third and final sip of her brandy.

"Put down the glass, Kathryn."

"What?"

"I have been considering a solution to our problem and I would rather you not have anything in your hands before I tell it to you. I've even conversed with my personal lawyer Roland Hand, about our situation, though we are in the preliminary discussions about the matter for now."

She put down her goblet, and eyed him, her intuition not quite believing what it was telling her brain. "Maybe I should have a little more brandy."

He really unnerved her when instead of denying her request, he poured a little bit of his drink into hers.

"Jean-Luc, now you are making me nervous." But being a somewhat contrary person on occasion, she was still clutching her little sherry glass even as her husband was about to say something.

He took a very deep breath before saying, "Kathryn, would you consider the possibility of a legal, three-party marriage?"

She chugged her brandy, put the glass down, and then gaped in shock at Jean-Luc Picard.

Kathryn Elizabeth Janeway-Picard had most definitely not considered this possibility at all.

TBC