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Author's Note: The entire chapter is a flashback and is therefore entirely in italics.
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Chapter Eighteen: Dangerous Encounters
Beverly curiously awaited Deanna's arrival, her head spinning with unvoiced questions. Data came from out the bushed and stood still at her side. "Counselor Troi will be here within thirty seconds." The redhead took a deep breath and looked around once more. They were standing at the edge of the round open spot, surrounded by huge trees. She couldn't help but noticing it was a typical setting used for UFO landings in 20th century Earth movies.
~*+*~
Deanna's mind was buzzing with thoughts from others. She acted purely from instinct, reacting to the need to get away, to make the voices go away. She was only aware of the thoughts of others. As she walked through the forest multiple branches attacked her body, scratching her face. She reached the open spot and didn't stop until she was standing in the middle.
"My god, Deanna!" Horror washed over Beverly's face as she saw the bleeding welts on her friend's face. When she heard her friend's words and sensed her emotions Deanna lifted her head up and opened her eyes. She met Beverly's blue gaze head on with her furious green one. The Doctor's eyes widened and she unconsciously stepped back, scared by the empath. Beverly felt her heart beating in her throat and held her breath.
On the other hand, Data wasn't more than a little surprised and approached her. As soon as she noticed him her eyes flashed with fear and anger. While Data distracted her Beverly quickly opened her tricorder and scanned the furious Betazoid.
"Don't come closer." Through clenched teeth the hissed words contained so much anger Beverly could practically touch it. But Data stoically continued his approach.
"Counselor, you are injured, we must help you." Two short high sounds indicated the scan was completed. Doctor Crusher gasped as she read the readings. "By Cochrane!" She muttered. She pushed a button to send the readings to the Enterprise and put her tricorder back in her pocket; it wouldn't be of much use anyway. The android was little more than two meters away for Deanna when she suddenly yelled out.
"I told you to STAY AWAY!" A fraction of a second later Data was picked up by an invisible voice and thrown away like he was nothing more than a football. Beverly's wide-eyed gaze followed him until he disappeared out her sight. She turned her eyes back to Deanna in amazement.
~*+*~
Via the viewscreen Picard witnessed everything, including Data's flight. He had landed on top of a tree a few meters away. It seemed Deanna had 'planted' him there on purpose. The Captain ordered the Transporter Chief to beam the android up and silently wished his wife good luck.
~*+*~
Realizing it would be best to let Deanna calm down first Beverly sat down on the ground with crossed legs. She studied the Betazoid closely, thinking of treatments and ways to calm her while she waited. But Deanna picked up on those thoughts, and her latest encounter with a physician hadn't been a pleasant one. "Hm, nice thoughts Doctor Crusher." She looked at the Betazoid in confusion. 'Since when are you telepathic?'
"Since when? Since your colleague injected those drugs into me." Her voice was filled with sarcasm and hatred. Crusher got on her feet and took a few steps towards Deanna.
"What did he do to you?" The injured woman closed her eyes and shook her head madly. She sensed the surge of compassion flooding through the tall woman but didn't realize its cause. "Deanna, let me help you." Beverly stepped closer. "I want to help you, make you better." When their gazes met again the vulnerability and pain in the Betazoid's eyes struck her and urged her to move closer. "I can make the pain go away. But I'll have to sedate you." The green eyes flashed with fury and she clenched her hands into fists.
"NO!!!" Fear overwhelmed the Doctor and briefly she was sure Deanna would kill her. But instead the trees around them suddenly caught fire and soon turned into huge burning torches.
Beverly, I'm getting you out of there!
"No, Jean-Luc wait!" He rolled his eyes at his wife's stubbornness, but conceded. Beverly raised her hand and slowly walked forwards.
"I'm not going to do anything, but I need to get further away from the flames." The empath didn't react and endured the Doctor's approach. When about two meters separated the two women Beverly sat down again, in the same position as before.
~*+*~
For ten minutes neither woman moved. Deanna was still standing with her eyes empty, dead. Beverly was still sitting on the ground. She had been patient and had waited for Deanna to relax. But the empath didn't and the Doctor became a little annoyed. Her mind had been working constantly and finally she had come up with a fairly good plan.
"Crusher to Enterprise." Deanna tensed when Beverly's voice suddenly broke the steady sounds of the burning trees.
Yes Doctor. A slight smile curled around Beverly's thin lips as she heard her husbands voice.
"Captain, is Geordi there?"
I'm here Doc.
"Geordi, can you beam down something to play music?"
Sure thing Doc. Any particular songs? Geordi's optimistic enthusiasm was contagious and she felt her spirits lift.
"Uhm...Yes. The songs 'Immortality' and 'Love is on the Way', performed by Celine Dion, 20th Century Earth and include a Betazoid mediation piece as well."
On its way Ma'am. She glanced at her companion who had visibly stiffened during her communication with their ship. Deanna's eyes had hardened and focussed again. 'What's going on in that head of yours Deanna Troi?' Their eyes met and for a fraction of a second the green eyes mellowed and a tired sounding voice answered.
"You really don't want to know Beverly." The redhead wanted to say something in return, something to comfort her friend, but was interrupted by a white and grey box that appeared in front of her. Deanna's haunted gaze shifted rapidly between the Doctor and the box.
"Don't worry, it's something to make our time here more enjoyable." While the tones of the songs joined the crackling sounds of the burning trees Beverly focussed her mind on the past; their first meeting during the Farpoint mission and the ensuing seventeen years they had served together.
She tried to make Deanna's mind pick upon the good memories, but at the same time keep Will out her thoughts. Deanna didn't notice immediately but when she did her softened eyes flashed with again with fury. "*Don't*hide!" Crusher's eyes flew up to meet Troi's gaze. Knowing instantly the mistake she had made Beverly raised her hands in an apology.
"I'm sorry." 'How am I going to make this right?'
"Let me in." Their gazes still held. It took her a few moments before she realized what the empath wanted and needed. 'Should I? How will she react?'
"If you *are* my friend you don't need to be scared." The blue eyes searched the green ones for any sing of recognition but found none, nor the slightest indication of any other emotion. Her eyes shifted from left to right as she quickly tried to go through the pros and cons. When her eyes met Deanna's again she knew she didn't really have a choice
.
"All right." Deanna nodded slowly and lowered herself to the ground. Beverly was fully aware of the extent of her injuries and nearly reached out to assist her, but the bright green eyes held her back. She sat down, facing the Doctor and tucked her legs underneath. Her eyes focussed on the blue ones of the woman across from her.
Beverly closed her eyes, but opened them as soon as Deanna softly whispered "Don't". The empath's eyes narrowed and Beverly held her breath. After a few more moments she felt a slight tingling sensation in her mind and she focussed her eyes on Deanna's again.
Deanna saw Beverly's entire life; from the moment she had gained a memory, her quest to find out more about her parents, her Academy years, the meeting with Jack, their wedding, Wesley's birth, then coming aboard the Enterprise, the friendship that had grown between the Senior Staff, Q, the Borg, Locutus, each Senior Officer in critical condition in Sickbay at least once, her year at Starfleet Medical, her experience with the Captain on Kespryt, the destruction of the Enterprise D, boarding the E, fighting the Borg, Zefram Cocrhane, the Son'A, Will's leaving and, of course, Beverly's wedding. But Deanna didn't just watch Crusher's memories, she also felt her emotions at the time of each event. The empath softly gasped as she felt the flow of compassion, concern, fear, friendship, joy, and sister-like love surging through her as she witnessed Beverly's latest memories.
Hearing Deanna's gasp Beverly looked back into her eyes. To her delight the eyes had softened, as had her friend's features. Troi retreated from the Doctor's mind and stood up again, her eyes watching the fire, her mind checking the information she had received. As soon as the green eyes had left her own Beverly closed them and exhaled deeply.
She stood up slowly, hesitating before offering Deanna's her small hand. But before she had Deanna, ever so slowly, turned her head back, her dirty curls swinging around as well. The redheads braced for another flash of fury coming from the bright green eyes but although the irises were still green and surrounded by black the eyes were dim and empty. They shifted from one side to the other. For a few moments she looked down, trying to compose herself. When she lifted them again they seemed to be searching something in the blue eyes they encountered.
"Bev-Beverly?" Her voice was quiet, cautious, pleading and hesitating at the same time and all of a sudden Deanna seemed so very, very small to her friend.
"I'm here Deanna. Let's take you home and make you better."
"Yes. Home. No more voices." 'Voices?' She looked at the empath questioningly. When she reached out however Deanna shrank away.
"Don't touch me." Confused Beverly looked at her. 'Why not?'
"All right, I won't until you let me okay?" At her slight nod Beverly tapped her CommBadge.
"Crusher to Enterprise: Deanna and I are ready to be beamed directly to Sickbay." On the ship Picard briefly glanced at his Chief Engineer before responding.
I'm afraid we can only beam you to a Transporter room. I'll meet you there.
"Yes Sir." She glanced at Troi who hadn't even blinked her eyes throughout the conversation.
"Time to go home Deanna." And as she spoke a shimmering light surrounded them and carried them. home.
When they materialized they where alone. There was no one behind the console and no one to welcome them.
~*+*~
Picard stepped out the lift and nearly ran to the Transporter room where his wife and First Officer had materialized. The doors hissed open and he stepped in with a broad smile on his face which disappeared the second he laid his eyes on Deanna.
Despite the distance between them her green eyes were in stark contrast to the pools of blackness surrounding them and made him freeze. It took him longer than he would've wanted to compose himself, but when he did he studied the rest of her appearance. Her hair was dishevelled and filthy, and from where he stood he could see the tangles in the mass of dark curls. Her face was bruised and covered bleeding cuts.
Little streams of blood were running from a corner of her mouth and a cut on her temple. Her lips were swollen and blue. The V-neck of the black coat she wore allowed him to see the bruised and cut skin underneath. His eyes traced her body until they had reached her bare and bleeding feet. 'She looks terrible!' Their eyes met and for a minute he thought she -knew- what he had thought. But just as quickly he dismissed that assumption.
"Counselor, it's good to have you back with us." He was surprised when she didn't reply. He looked at his wife, eyes full of unvoiced questions. 'Thank god she's all right. I would never have forgiven myself if anything had happened to her.'
"Neither would I Captain." Startled he looked at Troi. 'What?--How?!--" But when his eyes met Beverly's he knew it was no use to ask and left it alone...for now. He held out his hand to Deanna and looked at Beverly in confusion when she shrank away from his touch.
"She doesn't want to be touched." He shifted his gaze between the two women and nodded. Suddenly Deanna reached into her pocket and drew out a little black box. She held up the palm of her hand with the box on it and focussed.
Startled, confused, amazed, scared and impressed Jean-Luc and Beverly looked from the box to each other to Deanna and back to the box. It left Deanna's hand, flying up until it floated about five inches above her hand. From there it moved to Captain Picard until it was only five inches away. He too held out his hand and slowly the box lowered and eventually landed on his hand.
"Video-material." Without uttering another word Deanna headed towards the doors, carefully avoiding physical contact. The others were stunned as they watched her, unable to make a sound or move a muscle. When Deanna strode through the doorway rational thought kicked in and they followed her, still wearing an amazed and confused expression on their faces.
Fortunately it was ship's night so they only ran into two crewmembers. Troi seemed oblivious to her surroundings but lead the way to Sickbay without hesitation. When they entered Sickbay she held still and quietly observed her surroundings, and after a few minutes Beverly stepped in front of her.
"This way Deanna." She pointed to the private room and waited for Deanna to proceed. Empathically and telepathically the Betazoid checked the persons around her for any malevolent or ill will. When she found no sign of either she obeyed the Doctor and walked into the room. Soon after Beverly followed, carrying a hypospray to sedate her patient.
In the same second that she entered she tried to inject the sedative in her wrist Deanna neglected to warn her not to touch her. Deanna turned around too late to avoid physical contact. The moment Crusher's hand touched Deanna she felt a wave of emotion invade her mind. Her hands flew up to her temples and her mouth fell open, screaming silently. The Doctor dropped to her knees and closed her eyes.
Through the window Jean-Luc was watching them and when he realized his wife was in pain he ran to the doors to help her. The doors hissed open and he entered…but he was barely a step through the doors before he was thrown back by an invisible force field. By the time he stood up and made his way back to the door Beverly had also gotten up and no longer seemed to be in pain.
"I warned you not to touch me." The soft voice was trembling and could barely be heard.
"Yes, you did. But I have to sedate you Deanna." The Counselor seemed to think about what the tall woman had said when her eyes focussed on the hypospray on Beverly's palm. While Deanna climbed onto the biobed and laid herself down she pulled the hypo towards her with her telekinetic powers. She grabbed the device and injected herself in her wrist. Almost immediately the sedative worked and Deanna passed out.
~D~