Chapter Thirteen: Aye Captain
Beverly let her gaze wander over the officers in Ten-Forward as the doors of the Lounge closed behind the admiral and her husband, before settling on the occupant of the nearest chair. "Thank God."
"So, how are we feeling...Captain?" Beverly addressed the object of her attention with a grin.
"Tired." Was the plain reply.
"You should be proud."
"I'm too exhausted to be proud." The answer was simple and true, without a trace of humour in it. Beverly Crusher studied the face across the table; the exhaustion was clearly visible.
"How's the leg, any pain?"
"A little, but it'll be fine." A pale-skinned man walked stiffly up to them.
"Would you like a beverage of some kind...," He paused intentionally, hoping to accomplish a sense of drama when he addressed person in question. "Captain." A smile rewarded his attempt.
"I'm fine Data and really, you don't have to use that title all the time." The android tipped his head slightly.
"Capt...I found in my studies of human psychology that they usually like to be reminded of honourable accomplishments." Beverly laughed, amused.
"Some of them do Data, but they usually have a huge ego. Something the new Captain here lacks."
"Very funny Beverly. If I need to adopt one I'll give you a call." The two looked each other in the eyes, neither of them willing to look away first. But soon they simultaneous burst into laughter." Data opened his mouth to ask something when he was interrupted.
"Well, Admiral Hirya and her husband have beamed down...finally. *Do* remind me never to give up captaincy." Jean-Luc reached out for a chair, pulled it over to the table his friends were sitting, and sat down.
"I will, believe me, I will." The two Captains grinned and winked at each other. A sudden loud and annoyed-sounding sigh drew everyone's attention to Deanna Troi.
~Little One, the ceremony was beautiful my dear. But I *do* have some comments. Could you send Jean-Luc.~
~Mother, one cannot just *send* the Captain of a Starship.~
~I'm sure you'll manage Little One.~
~Will you *stop* calling me Little One!~
~Just send him, all right.~
"Counselor?" Deanna tipped her head towards Beverly's concerned looking figure.
"Mother." No further explanation was needed, for any of them.
"So, when are you off to your own ship?" Everyone present fixed their attention on the new Captain, who took a deep breath and glanced first at Beverly and then at Captain Picard.
"Actually, I was hoping to be allowed to stay on board the Enterprise." Confused looks were exchanged before he answered.
"But your promotion..."
"After having seen you as a Captain for sixteen years, I'm happy with my function as it is." The teasing tone of the statement obviously went unnoticed by the Captain.
"But your career..."
"My career, my ambition isn't to command a Starship. It never has been. I *am* proud with myself for earning that rank and the possible assignment to go with it, but it's not what I *want* to do. I'm happy with my life as it is." When everyone remained silent the new Captain decided to strengthen the previous statement.
"Even if that means refusing the rank of Captain." Cautiously the officer watched the reaction of Jean-Luc Picard. He folded his hands in the same way he had been folding them for the past sixteen years when he was about to try to alter a person's mind.
"Counselor..." He paused briefly and looked her straight in the eye. "...I do not expect you to do so. I don't need to tell you how I feel about this request. If you truly wish to stay I'll allow you to; but I will not allow you to refuse your newly obtained rank *Captain*." Deanna smiled and sighed in relief, looking at each of her friends. They were glad she had decided to stay, but also a bit sad that she wouldn't make her career even more impressive. Beverly gently squeezed her hand.
"Are you sure about this Deanna."
~Little One, don't be ridiculous!~ Ignoring her mother best as she could, she replied quietly.
"I am Beverly. Captaincy won't allow me to counsel people anymore, and that is what I want to do most and what I'm good at."
"Well I could say I'm sorry, but I know better then to lie to an empath." All the officers chuckled and added that they felt the same. Deanna smiled and stood up.
"Thank you all for coming. But this guest of honor is going to get herself some rest." Congratulations and goodnight wishes filled Ten-Forward as Deanna Troi turned around and headed to the doors.
"Don't let my absence spoil the party!" She called over her shoulder and she rolled her eyes at their universal response of "Aye Captain!" She remained silent, knowing full well that they were trying to trigger a response. Jean-Luc watched her walking out.
"What about the leg? Will she ever fully recover?"
"You mean will she always have that limp." He nodded silently.
"Jean-Luc, she has had barely three weeks to recover. Give it some time. It's amazing that she has gotten this far already."
"You're right Doctor, as usual." Doctor Beverly Picard-Crusher smiled triumphantly and kissed her husband on his nose.
"As long as you remember that."
In her quarters Deanna stared at the reflection in the mirror. 'I don't look different...I don't feel different either.' She took the shiny golden medal that she had been awarded along with the promotion off of her chest and looked at it, then shrugged and put it in a drawer. Just as she reached for the clasp of her dress the door chimes sounded.
"Come in." The doors slid open and Beverly Picard peeked around the corner.
"Don't forget your appointment tomorrow."
"I won't. Now, go; Jean-Luc is waiting." The Doctor's cheeks flushed instantly and she began to step away from the doors.
"Got to admit; Captain Troi sounds good." The Betazoid turned around to comment but found the doors already closed. Returning her attention to her mirror she judged herself one more time.
"It does, doesn't it." And with a grin on her face she walked to her bedroom to undress. 'Captain Troi...' Beverly's words had made it real; she was a Captain from now on, although she had refused the usual vessel that went with it. She pulled the sheets down, got into the bed and tucked herself in. Fatigue took possession of her as soon as her head hit her pillow. The ceremony had definitely taken its toll. Until Beverly had said those two simple words it hadn't really hit her, not when the nomination came, or when the medal of Exceptional Courage had been pinned on her chest. And not even when the fourth pip was added to her collar. As she rolled her head to the side her eyes fell on the picture of William T. Riker.
"Ironic, isn't it? How we seemed to have exchanged our goals." It hurt, not having him there with her to celebrate; tonight it hurt far more than it had the past months.
~It will always hurt Little One, but it'll fade.~ Deanna sighed sadly.
~I know Mother. I just would've liked him being here tonight.~
~You're exhausted, you need your rest. Sayara Irië Little One.~
~Sayara Irië Mother.~ She closed her eyes and twisted a bit to make herself more comfortable. Almost immediately she felt herself falling asleep.
~I'm proud of you Deanna Troi.~ With a smile on her face Deanna slipped over the edge, feeling more loved and more at peace with herself than she had for a long time.
"She's recovered very well, hasn't she." He watched his wife as she walked up to him, carrying their drinks.
"Yes she has, both physically and mentally. Her strength keeps surprising me." She handed him his drink and sat down beside him.
"She has surprised many over the years." Beverly chuckled and snuggled closer to her husband.
"Who had expected this when she came aboard? She looked so fragile and was so tiny, full of life, naive in her own way and always so understanding and compassionate. God I admire her!" Jean-Luc laughed teasingly and planted a kiss on her forehead. Then he finished what she had started.
"And she still is; time has taken nothing from her, but instead has given her more wisdom and grace." A sad sigh penetrated his ears.
"What is it Love?"
"Time *did* take something from her, something of possibly far more import to her than anything else." Soothingly he ran his hand through her auburn hair; he knew exactly what she was referring to. And like her he could only imagine what it had been like for their friend.
"I'm afraid Jean-Luc, afraid that she'll never be able to love, really love someone again. Dammit! Will had no right to treat her like he did!"
"Shh, no use in getting angry at the past Beverly. Deanna is at peace with it now."
"Oh, Jean-Luc, you should've seen her. When she told me of their history, she looked so lost, broken, even frightened. And even then she loved him too much to be angry or furious at him. I spoke to Lwaxana several times while she was on Betazed and I did some research myself on this 'Imzadi-bond'. It has never happened before that an Imzadi-couple split up while both were still alive. In the Betazoid religion they're almost sacred! How could he toss that, and her away like it was nothing?!" Tears shone in her icy-blue eyes. "She's my friend, practically my sister and it just saddens me that she has been and still is hurting so much." He encircled her with his arms and drew her close. The evening had been a joyful and emotional one but now it was taking its toll.
"Come on, let's go to bed. Otherwise the dear Captain will ask questions tomorrow." Both grinned and reluctantly got up from their comfortable positions.
"Oh, she'll do that anyway, count on it." They shared a tender and loving kiss and then Beverly disappeared into their bedroom. "Oh, Jean-Luc darling, could you please clean up a bit?" He rolled his eyes and picked up the empty glasses.
"Of course Ma'am." When he heard her gentle laughter he started whistling; something he found himself doing a lot lately. By the time he had dressed for bed and gotten in beside her she was already sound asleep. With soft eyes he stroked a stray strand of hair out her face and gently kissed her goodnight.
A deck beneath them Lwaxana Troi was very much awake. As soon as her daughter had fallen asleep she had raised her mental shields around her Little One, and now she sat in her dark quarters waiting for the dreams she knew would come. It wasn't her habit to protect Deanna from her dreams and she had done it only a few times before. But today was Deanna's day and she deserved nothing more than a good night's sleep.