DETACHED MEANT:

Jean-Luc: His Story

Chapter 52:

Quiet Conversations

=/\= =/\= =/\=

Dr. Katherine Pulaski eyed her patient, flat on her back on the biobed at the obstetrics unit of Starfleet Medical. Her patient's blood pressure was higher than what the doctor would have preferred. And the lady's personal EMH doctor was hovering about, acting as if the photonic being was the only doctor in the entire hospital complex who knew everything about anything. Since egotistical know-it-all doctors went back a millennium or more, Katherine Pulaski was not amused by Dr. Joseph emulating such stereotypical behavior.

She leaned over her patient. "Can't you program Doc Joseph to be less annoying, Kathryn?"

Kathryn chuckled at her doctor's words for she had heard that request many times during the past few years. "I tried that once. He lost something in the process."

"His ego?" Katherine suggested as hope started to rise in her breast at the thought of a humble EMH.

"No. He most definitely did not lose his ego. But his bedside manner got worse," Kathryn whispered back.

Katherine Pulaski shook her head in disbelief even as she incredulously asked, "His bedside manner was even worse than it is now?"

"Immensely annoying," the admiral informed the captain.

"I heard that!" announced a voice from the other side of the biobed. Then he checked his medical scanner one more time. "You're still ingesting too much salt, Admiral."

"I would prefer it if you would continue to keep calling me Kathryn," Kathryn calmly answered. "And my blood pressure is only up six points. I haven't held a salt shaker or a salt stick in my hand for over seven months now."

"That is still six points too many, Kathryn," the EMH countered.

"Actually, I sort of agree with Doc Joseph on this one," Katherine Pulaski ruefully mentioned. "At this stage of your pregnancy we would like to see your blood pressure in the lower ranges rather than the upper."

"Thank you, I think," the EMH dutifully replied. "And Admiral Kathryn, I do agree with my esteemed colleague."

"You don't have to be nice to me just because I agreed with you," Katherine answered back.

"I've been dealing with Kathryn Janeway for over eight years now. Believe me when I tell you that she can be the most difficult of patients," the EMH woefully explained to Dr. Pulaski. "Ex-Starfleet captains are the very worst patients," he announced as he ran a scanner over Kathryn, yet one more time.

"No Starfleet captain worth his or her salt would ever permit themselves to be harangued by their CMO!" Kathryn Janeway quickly countered, trying not to sound like she was getting annoyed.

"My wife's blood pressure is a problem?" asked a controlled and calming voice from the chair in the corner of the private examination room. For it was time to get this conversation to return to more important matters.

Both doctors turned to look at the man who had been sitting quietly in the corner.

"Not really, Jean-Luc," Katherine Pulaski admitted. "But high blood pressure is an issue that can quickly become a serious complication with pregnancy, especially in the third trimester. And it can become that critical a problem within a short amount of time."

"I am aware of that," Jean-Luc coolly replied. "So, what do you suggest?"

"That we schedule a date for the fetal transfer and birth," the EMH announced, gratified when he saw Dr. Katherine Pulaski slightly nod her head in agreement. "Your daughter is well past the point of viability in her development. She might need a week or two in NICU, but that should not be detrimental to her health."

"When?" grouched a lady, who was beginning to resemble a grumpy pregnant sehlat, from the biobed.

"A week from today?" Katherine Pulaski suggested before she turned to face the EMH. "I'll check her bioscans several times daily, and relay the information to you."

"Actually," the EMH hesitantly spoked, before he looked over at Admiral Picard. "I've been meaning to suggest to you, admirals, that I come and stay at Picard House for a few days? Or, maybe stay until the delivery?"

"What?" Now Jean-Luc's curiosity was aroused by the hologram's request.

"Well, I am sure that one of the chief reasons behind Admiral Janeway's blood pressure rise, is her continuing constant concern about the threat that has been hanging over her head. Lieutenant Ayala updated me all about it a few days ago," the EMH explained. "Though I will function as a doctor, perhaps I should assume an appearance of someone who might be unfamiliar to whomever it is that is spying upon you."

Jean-Luc slowly nodded in agreement, surprised by the EMH's tactical thinking. Apparently, some of the Emergency Command Hologram holographic programming had become blended with the EMH medical programming.

"A shape shifting independent photonic being is not something that even the best of tactical planners would anticipate." Jean-Luc Picard considered the EMH's words for a moment before adding, "And yes, both Kathryn and I do feel the stress of waiting for something to happen; for the other shoe to drop, so to speak. So, your presence and assistance would be deeply appreciated," Kathryn's husband readily admitted. He smiled over at his wife. "I can see why you kept your doctor around, and never deprogrammed him. He is a most useful individual."

"I like the doctor just as he is, annoying ego and all. And he is a hell of a masseuse," Kathryn just had to add, as she anticipated a few of the good aspects of having her EMH at her beck and call for the next week. She would not think about the worst aspects of being in his constant company for the next few days.

=/\= =/\= =/\=

It was about an hour from sunset when Jean-Luc Picard climbed the slowly rising flagstone path toward the prominence. A figure was sitting on a cast stone bench at the top, looking out onto the ocean. Jean-Luc wasn't that surprised that Chakotay had discovered one of Jean-Luc's favorite views in the gardens.

"May I join you?" Jean-Luc softly asked as he approached the man resting there. He noticed the hover chair parked several meters away from the bench. "You walked here?" he mentioned as he sat down on the opposite end of the bench.

"Yes, to both questions," Chakotay responded. "I pushed the hover chair up here, walking behind the chair, using the handlebars to balance my steps."

"Easier than using a four-legged walker," Jean-Luc agreed.

"You sound like you have had some experience."

"Too many times, unfortunately. Though none of my injuries would match the seriousness of yours, Chakotay."

"I'll probably ride the hover chair back to the guest house. I have finally begun to accept my current physical limitations," Chakotay admitted.

"Well, my impression of Phryne Fisher is that she'd make your life even more of a hell than it already is, if you overdid it and reinjured something," Jean-Luc just had to add.

"And then Doc Joseph would have to say a few dozen somethings, too," Chakotay grumbled.

"If you were fortunate, that is all that he would say," Jean-Luc mentioned. "From what I have observed of your EMH, he is more loquacious rather than less."

"Too true." Chakotay nodded toward the steins. "I presume that one of those steins is for me?"

"Yes," Picard chuckled as he handed the man a stasis stein, designed to keep its contents cold or hot, as well as unspilled. "It contains my brother Robert's version of an apple ale. I poured one for myself as well."

Chakotay lifted the lid to the stein and sniffed. He was somewhat surprised at what he smelled. "This is alcoholic."

"Very mildly so. About eight-proof. And yes, I did check with Dr. Pulaski, before I poured it for you. She approved."

"I knew there was a reason as to why that I liked that woman doctor," Chakotay opined as he took his first sip. His eyes widened in surprised. "This is really good," he remarked as he drank a bit more. And then he placed his stein by his hip on top of the bench. "So, why did you decide to bring this ale to me, this night, Jean-Luc?" Chakotay too-casually asked.

"I thought that we should talk some more, even though we have already discussed some of the issues," Jean-Luc just as casually replied.

"About what?" Chakotay asked, as if he really didn't know why Jean-Luc had gone in search of him.

"Kathryn's marriage to you."

Chakotay stared at the man for a moment. "You really want this to happen, don't you?" Jean-Luc slowly nodded. "Why?"

Jean-Luc took a long sip of his ale before placing his stein down. "When Beverly died, I knew that I would have done anything if I could have had even one more day with my wife. I loved Beverly so." He looked away from Chakotay's intense gaze, to stare at the sunset. For a while, he was quiet. And then he spoke, "If the only way I could have loved Beverly and have her in my life, was to have shared her, then I would have gladly accepted those terms." He cleared his throat.

Chakotay silently agreed and understood the emotions behind Jean-Luc's words.

"Chakotay, I was very close to Beverly's husband Jack. And Jack was close to me as well. He wasn't just an officer under my command, he was a valued friend as well. There was a time when Jack somewhat hinted that he was willing to share his wife with me, for he had figured out how deeply I loved his wife though I never did anything untoward toward Beverly. At the time of the suggestion, I was appalled, though now I deeply regret that I did not pursue the matter, for it would have meant that many more years with Beverly sharing my life." He turned toward Chakotay. "I care for Kathryn too much to deny her anything – even you."

"But, how would it work? I mean, you can't really want your wife to have sex with another man."

"If it makes her happy then I will accept it. Kathryn would have to be in control. She would decide whose bed and when. And I don't really want to lose Kathryn myself, either. I like having her around. Being with her brought my heart and soul back from the ashes of my great despair. I need and want to keep that aspect of my relationship with Kathryn in my life."

"But, what if Kathryn…"

Jean-Luc interrupted Chakotay. "Prefers your bed over mine? How do I not resent it?" Jean-Luc simply asked.

"Something like that," Chakotay admitted.

"Well, after my daughter is born, and you become married, I would imagine that there would be a honeymoon period between you and Kathryn. For several months at least, I would think," Jean-Luc admitted. "She is a passionate woman," he just had to add, "but even if her visits to my bed become infrequent or not at all, the important thing would be that Kathryn is still in my life. Before she joined with me, I was very lonely. And when it comes to friendship, Kathryn and I are the best of friends in all ways that really matter. For me, sex is not the most important part of my marriage to Kathryn. Don't misunderstand me. The sex aspect is a very good, enjoyable part of my marriage, but it is not an absolutely essential part. My marriage to Kathryn can exist without it. The only thing that makes me desire to keep Kathryn Janeway as my wife is because of my relationship with her." Jean-Luc lifted the stein to his lips for a moment, then continued speaking. "The question is though, how would you react when and if Kathryn chooses my bed now and then?" he just had to ask.

Chakotay slowly nodded. "Valid point. I would have to think about it, that is for sure." He drank from his stein. "The thing is, when I was her First Officer, I knew that Kathryn would never permit an intimate relationship between us, on board Voyager. And I agreed with her decision. I didn't like that fact, but it was something I could live with as long as I could be in Kathryn's life in some way above and beyond my duty – even if it was as nothing more than as an unwilling platonic friend."

"But matters are different now." Jean-Luc chuckled, for he now deduced that Chakotay was going to agree to their absurd three-way marriage. Then he pointed out one of the advantages of such a marriage. "And as an added incentive, just think about the expression on Alynna Nechayev's face when she learns about the change in our relationship."

Chakotay laughed out loud. "I most certainly would want to be there for that," Chakotay just had to agree. His lack of fondness for Admiral Nechayev went far back in time to his cadet days.

"The Admiral's Ball is coming up in a few months. We could raise a lot of eyebrows there, if you were so inclined," Jean-Luc slyly suggested.

"Sounds like my marrying Kathryn could be a very fascinating experience, as well," Chakotay mulled. "And I would be marrying Kathryn, and not you too?" as he suddenly considered a possibility and just had to bring up.

"Right now, your marriage to Kathryn would be more than enough."

Chakotay eyed Jean-Luc. "No three-ways?"

Picard snorted. "No, not yet. And then, if ever, it would be at the lady's instigation. I meant what I said earlier about such a possibility."

"That's acceptable for now," Chakotay politely agreed. He would have to get to know Jean-Luc Picard a lot better if anything like sharing a bed with the woman he loved and this man at the same time, was ever to come to pass. "I'll tell Kathryn that I will accept her proposal, tomorrow."

=/\= =/\= =/\=

"Did I ever tell you how much I love this low grav holodeck unit?" Kathryn Janeway asked of her husband, as she comfortably rolled over with little effort, on her side of their immense marital bed.

Jean-Luc almost floated over to her, since the gravity was currently set at twenty percent, at the moment. "Only every night," Jean-Luc answered his wife.

Kathryn would have nudged him except she was hovering in a blissful place at the moment. Jean-Luc's massage of her back had been wonderful, as he eased the pain of so many strained muscles with his magic fingers. And then their loving afterward, had been pretty memorable as well, especially since Kathryn had been feeling like a pregnant whale for the past few weeks. The fact that her husband had been able to lead her to pleasure, given her condition, was quite remarkable. And that this gravity unit was able to let her provide him comfort as well, with minimal stress on her part.

He reached over and tapped a panel on the upper part of the headboard.

"Do you really have to, Jean-Luc?" Kathryn sighed. "I do so like the twenty-percent setting."

"I like it as well, especially for what it permits us to do together. However, both Katherine Pulaski and Doc Joseph insist that you cannot safely sleep at less than fifty-percent," Jean-Luc patiently reminded his wife. He had heard this argument, before.

Kathryn suddenly braced herself on her elbows, and swung her legs over the side of the bed. "I am going to take a shower," she announced, casting a knowing glance over at her still reclining naked husband. "Care to wash my back?"

"It will have to be a quick one," he regretfully remarked as he stood, and then went around the bed to help his nude wife get to her feet. "I've got a meeting to review certain disciplinary actions against some problem cadets at 0730 hours in the morning. Somehow when I must punish the cadet offenders, I seem to end up being punished myself."

"I will make sure that our shower is a quick one," Kathryn promised.

And it was a 'quick' one, in more ways than one.

=/\= =/\= =/\=

"Jean-Luc!" a voice boomed from the doorway to Picard's inner sanctum at his Academy office.

Jean-Luc looked up from the padd that he was reading. "Admiral. I was unaware that we had an appointment." He stood and motioned toward the comfortable armchair that was positioned at an angle near the front of his desk.

"We didn't. I just decided to drop in and have a chat," Winston Holt Wiley announced as he settled into the chair. "And I will have some of the good stuff," the head of Starfleet mentioned as he glanced around the office noting that nothing had really changed since his last visit here.

Stifling his instinctive response that he was still on duty, Jean-Luc Picard went over to the birch hand-carved cabinet where he kept his bottles of the non-synthehol 'good' stuff. "Bourbon or brandy?" he politely asked the Fleet Admiral.

"Got any whiskey?" the man countered.

Jean-Luc immediately decided that it was going to be one of 'those' kind of chats, so he pulled out two lowball glasses from the cabinet, and went back to his desk. He opened the lower drawer to his desk and removed a bottle of the green stuff, and poured a double shot into one glass, and one short shot into the other. Since he was with the head of Starfleet, Jean-Luc reasoned that just a little bit of whiskey for himself was permissible.

"Your whiskey, Admiral," Jean-Luc announced as he presented the glass to his commander and friend.

Winston Holt Wiley appreciated the whiskey, before he placed the glass back down at stared at his Superintendent of the Academy. "I'm bringing the Enterprise back to Earth," he announced.

"Wesley mentioned that to me when I talked with him two days ago," Jean-Luc carefully responded.

"Good. Admiral Woodrow Nakamura is temporarily taking over while you are on paternity leave, I believe?" Wiley casually mentioned.

"Yes, Holt. Woody will take charge on Monday. I'm just trying to finish up everything that needs to be done before he takes over," Jean-Luc informed his boss.

"I may have to extend the length of Woody's temporary command," Winston announced.

"Because?"

"Something big is happening. And of course, Lwaxana is going to try to claim all the credit for herself."

Jean-Luc sat there, waiting for Holt to explain his words. "And that is?" he finally asked after a few minutes had passed.

"Lwaxana negotiated with Grand Nagus Zek. She got the Federation the plans for a working Transwarp Drive powered by solid trilithium. Got the Grand Nagus Zek's own private yacht as a working engine model for us, too." The Fleet Admiral eyed Jean-Luc. "And I personally want you to inform you that the Enterprise's entire mission, was top secret, by my command. No one in your former command was allowed to discuss their mission, including the transwarp drive, with you."

Jean-Luc was somewhat startled by Winston Holt Wiley's statement. He would contemplate the reasons behind such an announcement, later. "I see. Wesley and Commander LaForge believe it to be a functioning transwarp drive?"

"Yes. That's why the Enterprise is returning. Leah Brahms, once she figures the damn thing out, she is going to see if the transwarp drive can be used to convert the warp drives on the galaxy class ships. If not, then we will try to use it on the smaller ships or eventually new ships." Holt finished off his whiskey and then shoved the glass in Jean-Luc's direction for some more. Jean-Luc obliged. "This transwarp drive is a game changer for Starfleet and the Federation."

"That I do comprehend." Jean-Luc finally took a mouthful of his own whiskey. "What I don't understand is how I can help."

"Well, amongst other reasons, there is the possibility that the Romulans also have the transwarp drive too."

Jean-Luc choked and then coughed a little. This news went down the wrong way.

"Though the Ferengi say that they didn't, not that I believe or trust them in the slightest, the Grand Nagus Zek could have sold the schematics of the transwarp drive to other powers too, which could be a serious problem."

"On that, I most definitely do agree," Jean-Luc stated.

"The bigger problem though, is a source of fuel. Apparently, in the Alpha Quadrant, the only known source for mining solid trilithium is a planet in the Romulan Empire."

Jean-Luc began to intuit where Holt was going. "How do I fit in to all of this?"

"Well, someone's going to have to negotiate with the Romulans if the rumors about the source of the fuel is the truth. And you're it." Winston Holt Wiley chuckled as he finished off his second double shot of whiskey, thunking the empty lowball back onto the desk top. "Fortunately, for you, it is going to take a few months before any of this actually happens. So, enjoy your paternity leave, Jean-Luc. Give my best to Kathryn. I will try to come and visit before the baby is born." With that the head of Starfleet struggled to his feet, but he left the Superintendent's office with his typical energetic strides hiding any sign of his advanced age.

=/\= =/\= =/\=

"Hello, lover," was Lwaxana's way of greeting her husband.

Displaying a smile that actually reached his eyes, Winston Holt Wiley gazed at the image on the viewscreen. His beloved was wearing a diaphanous, copper colored gown with a shawl collar that beautifully highlighted his wife's assets. And around her neck was a sparkling diamond necklace that he had not recalled seeing before. Of course, Lwaxana always seemed to have a lot of jewelry that he did not know about. "Hello, my dear heart," was Winnie's response. "How's your return trip going?"

"Borrr-ring," was the lady's response. "I am delighted to be out of Ferengi territory, but that is about it. There's nothing left for me to do and improve around here, except teach Will Riker how to be a proper, decent father. And he's been avoiding my parenting lessons at every chance. It's always ships' business with him. The Ptach."

"I knew he was a smart man when I picked him for captain," Winston muttered to himself as he rewrote history yet one more time.

Lwaxana suggestively smiled as she remembered certain times with her husband. "You have no idea how much I miss you at times like this."

"Oh, I do know how much I miss you, Loxie," Winston added. "This has been a very long, lonely couple of months without you."

Lwaxana arched an eyebrow. She knew her husband too well. "So, you've been terrorizing your underlings, instead?"

"That's what they are there for," he enlightened.

"I imagine that your staff will be glad to see me to when I arrive home."

"I am sure, Lwaxana, that everyone will be overjoyed to see you when you come home."

"So true," she readily agreed. And then she focused her attention on her husband, inspecting him for a moment, and not quite liking the worry that she discerned that was upon his visage. "So, why did you really call me, Winnie?" Her voice was soft; concerned.

Winston winced. Even though she was quite a few AU's away, Lwaxana was still too perceptive a Betazed. "Jean-Luc."

She slowly nodded her head in agreement. Her husband felt guilt about the way he was handling Jean-Luc's dilemma. Thousands of lightyears away from her husband was still not too far away for her to notice his distress. "Winnie, you're going to have to tell him." Winston reluctantly nodded in agreement. "Want me to do it?"

For a moment, he actually considered that solution. "No. I gave the order for keeping Jean-Luc out of the loop, beloved. So, it is my responsibility to tell him about what might have happened to Beverly."

"Then we should tell him together. You will say what needs to be said to Jean-Luc. But I will be there to help him accept and understand it all."

"I don't want to tell him yet, Loxie. Kathryn is scheduled to have her fetal transport next week. I want Jean-Luc and Kathryn to have blissful baby time with their daughter together for at least a few weeks before I destroy his world with the news about Beverly's probably fate."

"Give Kathryn and Jean-Luc a few months more, Lover. Whether you tell Jean-Luc when we arrive at UP or wait and see if the transwarp drive will work on galaxy class ships, Jean-Luc's devastation will be the same. Give him a few more months of familial happiness, my dear."

"You're right, of course," her husband agreed. He sighed accepting the wisdom of her decision. When it came to dealing with people, Lwaxana was almost always right. Then he billed and cooed with his wife for a few minutes longer before he ended the transmission.

TBC