"Now then, there we are… all ready to go?"

"I'm only walking to the shore and back, Banda."

"I know, but you're going on your own… I've got quite used to you being here under my feet all day."

"I'll be fine."

"I know, I know…"

"Really."

"Just promise me you'll take it easy?"

"Do I really have another choice?"

"Well… not really. Look, just take it easy. I'll worry. And keep that comm badge handy."

He finished fastening his jacket, tapped at his pocket to indicate the badge attached to his shirt, "I'll be fine. Don't worry."

Once he'd closed the door behind him, his confident veneer faded instantly. If he were being honest, he was worried himself. He was about to take a simple stroll to the shore on his own – the first time he'd been up to the task of going anywhere that required him to walk more than a few metres. Now here he was, alone, no longer in need of the cane. No Banda, no Beverly. Just himself and his own two feet.

He pulled the jacket a little more tightly across his chest, looked up to the sky and then left and right. Then he set off.

Thirty minutes later and Banda was waiting at the door for him. As he drew nearer the house, his pace seemed to slow with each step taken.

"So you're back then?" she called, smiling.

He was too puffed to answer but waved at her weakly instead. She went to him then, could see he was about to run out of steam entirely. She hooked her arm under his and felt him lean on her as they took the last few steps to the porch together.

"Here, sit down." She said, taking his weight as she lowered him into the armchair nearest the door. He grunted audibly as he landed unceremoniously on the cushioned seat. "I'll get you a drink, wait there."

He looked at her, quirked an eyebrow… he wasn't going anywhere.

"Poor choice of words…" she said behind her as she went into the kitchen.

As he waited for her to return, he heard the door open to reveal Beverly arriving home from work.

"Hi." He managed weakly.

"Jean-Luc! Hi yourself…" she paused, thrown by his flushed appearance, she checked him over, a look of concern crumpling her brow. "What happened?" she said as she pulled out her tricorder and started to scan him.

He batted her hand away, raised his hand as a non-verbal stop sign.

"Jean?"

"I'm… fine…"

"Banda?" she shouted, not convinced in the slightest that they weren't about to go straight back to Medical.

"He's telling the truth. Don't worry Dr Crusher!"

Beverly sat down next to him, placed her hand on his forehead. "Uh uh… too late. I am worried, someone want to tell me what's going on?"

Banda came through from the kitchen smiling. She had a tray of drinks for them both, and a plate of crème de marrons spread generously on a piece of baguette for him. "The Admiral has been out for a walk, he just got back. Nothing to worry about but I suspect he overdid it a little? Would that be right?" she finished, turning to the man in question.

"A little…" he admitted. He leaned forward to take a sip of the tea Banda had poured, then took a bite of the baguette, glad to boost his blood sugar a little.

"Don't do that to me Jean-Luc! I was worried!"

"I'm fine Beverly, really. Stop fussing." He muttered, after swallowing down his snack. He leaned his head back against the armchair, closed his eyes for a second and waited for the boost of energy he knew was coming his way. He'd need it to help him make it upstairs. He was more than determined to do so on his own without anyone helping him out.

Beverly smirked as she watched him. She knew full well what was about to happen, his eyes were growing heavier by the second.

"Perhaps," he started, slurring slightly, "perhaps I will just… nap though… few minutes…"

His head flopped to the headrest of the armchair, and his mouth dropped open against his will.

"Well, that's him out then." Said Banda, wondering how they were going to get him upstairs to the bedroom where he clearly needed to be.

Beverly rubbed at his arm, when that drew no luck, she pressed on his chest, blowing into his face. An old trick she remembered from Wesley's baby days when he'd tried to take an unscheduled nap.

He swiped in her direction sleepily, but his eyes stayed firmly shut.

"Come on Jean… let's get you upstairs." She said loudly, pulling at his arms to get him to stand.

He stood then, robotically doing as he was told, eyes heavy-lidded. Beverly nodded to Banda and each of them assumed a position under his shoulders, guiding him through the living room and toward the stairs.

By the time they'd reached the bedroom and helped lower him to the bed, he had nothing left to give. He flopped down on his back, legs dangling over the edge.

"I think Captain Picard is slowly coming back online…" she replied, taking a blanket from the end of the bed and draping it over him. She kissed him on the tip of his nose, and again on his forehead. He flopped his head away from her, grunted, then tucked himself into the blanket tightly.

"Excuse me?"

"Jean-Luc is one of the most stubborn headed men I've met… he's a terrible patient, and far too independent for his own good when he's sick."

"But..?"

"What you've seen of the last month or so is him entirely out of sorts. Prepare yourself Banda… you're about to lose your biddable, well-behaved patient."

"Sounds ominous Dr Crusher."

"Oh yes… expect the unexpected… that's all I'll say."