Do I REALLY have to keep saying I don't own Star Trek.

Picard's POV

I had a nightmare that night.

I was back on a Borg Cube. But something was different about it. There were no drones in the alcoves I saw. And it was cold, much colder than the Borg cubes, Collective and Cooperative, that I had been on. I got a sick feeling in my gut. Something inside told me this place was evil, and I should get out of it. But I couldn't. Not yet. I was here for a reason. I had to figure out what that reason was.

Suddenly, a cry cut through the air on the otherwise quiet cube. I ran in the direction it seemed to come from. Whoever-or whatever-it was continued screaming, horrible pained sounds. Then i was close enough to hear words.

"JEAN-LUC! AAAUUGH!" That voice. I'd know that voice anywhere. I felt myself start o burn with rage as I ran even faster toward his voice.

And then I saw him.

Well, first I saw the shadowy figure, a bloody knife glittering in its hand. Then it moved aside as I rushed forward and dropped to a knee. Before me lay Hugh, the floor beneath his neck already turning red from the gaping stab wound there. His single eye looked up at me, pleading with me to help him, to save him, as I took him into my arms, my own tears coming as I held his hand. Hugh's lips quivered as he tried to form words through his labored breathing and his body shaking.

I knew I couldn't save him. There wasn't enough time. All I could do was clutch him against me as I sobbed over and over how sorry I was, even as I watched the light fade from his Borg eye and his hand fell to his side and he went limp in my arms.

For some reason, I grabbed his Borg hand, all but yanking his assimilation prongs out. I couldn't explain what I was thinking, but I started trying to stab the prongs into my neck, hoping against hope I could save him.

But Hugh was dead

I bolted upright, mouth open in a silent scream. I wasn't on a Borg cube after all, it was just the oversized alcove bed Hugh and I usually shared. But tonight, Hugh was in Sickbay, hurt, traumatized, possibly even sick with some horrid infection. I was not alone, however.

Since Hugh's disappearance, Orion had decided he should sleep with me, "so's you won' be 'lone, Daddy." as he put it. Truthfully, I was thankful for it, because I didn't want to be alone. Orion was beside me now, still asleep, his teddy bear snuggled close. I smiled at him as I leaned over and gently kissed his head, careful not to wake him as I put an arm around his tiny form and hugged him against me. He stirred in response, but he didn't wake up.

The next morning, I took Orion back down to Sickbay to see Hugh. He scrambled up onto the bed and went to hug Hugh's neck. But he stopped and hugged his good arm instead.

"Hi Daddy." God, he was adorable, even in the worst of times. Just the way he hugged Hugh's arm and smiled up at him and that soft, sweet little voice of his.

"Hello, little Orion." Hugh smiled back, his good arm returning the hug.

"You be all better soon." the child asked.

"The doctors are doing everything they can, and they need me to stay here for a while-" Orion's face fell, "-but I'll come back as soon as I can. I promise." Hugh assured him.

"Otay." Orion muttered sadly.

"I never said you couldn't come stay with him." Dr. Crusher said as she walked in with Hugh's morning meds. This brightened the child's face up.

"Really? Can I?" He shot me a hopeful look.

"I'd love to." I responded.

"YAY!...uh, I mean yay!" Hugh chuckled softly as Orion corrected himself, "I come stay wif you, Daddy!"

"I know, and I can't wait!" Hugh said, "You're going to make me feel so much better, sweetie."

"I help!" Orion chirped, "Miss Bevvy, I help!"

"Yes you will." Beverly nodded, "Very much. Now then, can you go see Wesley while I talk to your parents, please?" Orion nodded and slid off the bed, but not before hugging Hugh's arm again.

"I wuv you, Daddy." Hugh seemed to be tearing up but he smiled.

"I love you, too. Have lots of fun with Wesley and your friends so you can tell me about it when you come back."

"Otay!" Orion called as he left the room. We could still hear him call "Wessey!" until he found Beverly's son. She turned back to us.

Hugh's POV

I didn't want Orion to leave, but I knew it was best for him not to hear about my condition yet. No need to traumatize him any further. Jean Luc sat down and took my hand in his as Beverly turned back to us.

"I didn't want to do this today, but Starfleet went over my head and insisted...They've sent an officer to interview Hugh about what happened." I saw Jean-Luc stiffen, his grip on my hand tightening. I'm sure I would've gone pale if I weren't already a pale white.

"Can they not even give him a day of peace?" Jean-luc growled.

"I tried to delay it," Beverly said, "I tried every medical reason I know. They wouldn't hear it." Jean-Luc sighed.

"When do they want to do it?"

"Now." A mountain of a man in a law enforcement uniform appeared in the doorway. My hand tightened around Jean-Luc's now.

"Sir, you do NOT have the right to enter my Sickbay, let alone a patient's ROOM without my-"

"My job gives me that right, Doctor." the man snarled. Beverly thought for a moment, then pursed her lips.

"If my patient suffers further complications because of you, know that I WILL report it DIRECTLY to your superiors."

"Duly noted, Doctor. Now, if you and the captain could please exit, or else I will be forced to remove you." I could tell Jean-Luc didn't like this, but he obliged. And then I was alone with the giant man.

He didn't get too far into his questions before my whole body started to shake.

"Why did they take you and not any of the others, huh?" I didn't know the answer to his question, but he wouldn't accept that and kept repeating it. He was angry with me, and his voice got louder, until he was leaned over shouting in my face.

"I d-d-don't kn-know! Please, I swear! Please don't hurt me any more!" I was crying, I knew I was. I tried to stop. I knew what happened when I cried. They only hurt me more. I could barely get anything more than a whimper out as I tried to move away from him. He slammed his fists down on the bed and yelled the question in my face again. I heard myself screaming and sobbing as I tried to shield my face with my good arm. Dimly, I heard running steps and more shouting. Then there were arms around me, hugging me close, saying it was okay and I was safe. I just clung to one of the arms with my good hand and sobbed into them.

Picard's POV

I didn't like the man the instant I saw him. Hugh's grip on my hand tightened and I knew he was scared. The man showed us out quickly, much as I hated leaving poor Hugh alone with this hulk. Beverly led me to her office, were we could view the proceedings on the security camera. At first, the interview seem to go all right, though the man was a little abrasive. But then he asked why Hugh had been taken, and Hugh didn't know. The man was unrelenting and repeated the question, getting louder and more forceful with each version of "I don't know!" that Hugh gave. I could tell Hugh was in distress. His vitals spiked, and he was shaking and crying as the man shouted in his face. I tried to restrain myself, horrible as it was to watch Hugh try to move away from him, now so scared he couldn't talk. When the man slammed his fist down and almost hit Hugh, I lost it. I bolted to the room and shoved past him, gathering Hugh in my arms and putting myself between him and the interviewer.

"It's alright, Hugh." I said softly, holding him close, "It's over. You're safe now, I promise." He shook and whimpered into my chest as I held him protectively. Beverly turned on the mountainous man, fuming.

"Get the hell away from my patient. NOW. Before I call Security." She rushed him out and let the door shut behind her, leaving me alone with my poor, terrified little Borg.

"Hugh?" I said softly.

"I don't know. Please." he squeaked out.

"I'm not asking that. I don't care right now. Are you alright? Did he hurt you?" Hugh shook his head slowly.

"No. But I'm sure he was going to, if you hadn't come in." I hugged him closer, relieved he was okay.

"I'll find another way. I won't let them do this to you again. Orders and ranks be damned"

"Thank you, Jean-Luc." he sniffed. I gently dried his tears with my shirt and commed Riker to say I wouldn't be up to the bridge today. There was a more urgent matter I had to see to.