Mending Fences Part 6
The ritual of Jean Luc rushing to Beverly's bedside every night to comfort her after the nightmares only to
be pushed away went on for several nights. One night, almost a week after the first nightmare, her screaming
again awakened him.
As was becoming ritual, he got up and walked quietly to her room. She was there, screaming in her sleep,
thrashing about her bed violently. He sat beside her, trying to stop her kicking, hoping it would all end
soon.
To his utter relief, she finally awoke, and then to his absolute horror, the nightmare didn't stop. Her
breathing became strangled; air passing through her lips as weak whistles. Her eyes were wide with shock
and fear, searching for something…anything…to relieve the overwhelming burning in her chest.
Jean-Luc did the only thing he could, he grabbed her and held her tightly. She had to snap out of it, she
had to...because, for the first time in his life, Captain Jean-Luc Picard didn't know what to do.
She struggled against his grasp, instinctively shying away from touch, from feeling, knowing that touch was
pain, and there was so much pain.. too much pain.
She wormed in his arms, gasping for breath, feeling like screaming, but unable to. She turned her head as
her body shifted in his arms, and she was met with his stare. It wasn't cold or calculating, it wasn't menacing.
It wasn't even lustful. It was kind, caring, warm...such a warm color and look...he was as afraid as she was--
over what, her mind was too far gone to tell. All she knew was that this was a friend.
Her lungs relaxed as tears welled up in her eyes. She could breathe again, but now, all that would come were
sobs. They racked her body like tsunami waves, hitting with full force and receding only long enough to
back build and hit again.
Raw, painful emotion poured through her as she tried to over come the pain. Jean-Luc sat on the edge of the
bed, cradling her sobbing, trembling form as tears were squeezed out of her. He stroked her hair tenderly,
whispering her name softly as she cried long into the night. When she finally fell asleep, he stayed with her,
caressing her softly. There was a glimmer of hope now...maybe, just maybe, he could help.
***************************************************************************************************************
Jean Luc awoke before Beverly and went downstairs to fix breakfast.
*Something simple* he thought. "Coffee and croissants."
He went about making the coffee and even took the time to make the croissants from scratch. As he was
walking out of the kitchen he looked outside the window and noticed the roses were blooming. He placed
the tray back on the table and went outside. One rose was fully blossoming, it was such a beautiful color of
red, the same red as Beverly's hair. He snipped the rose, went back into the house and placed the bud on the
tray.
He walked carefully up the stairs, pushing the door away slowly as he walked into her room. He froze for a
moment, watching her in the early morning sun. She was as beautiful as she had ever been...but the scars,
albeit visible only to him, were there for a lifetime now. He didn't know this battered woman, but he was
going to try.
"Beverly .. . . wake up. Beverly?" She stirred reluctantly, obviously exhausted.
Her eyes were red-rimmed from crying the night before, and she sniffled slightly from the resulting runny
nose. She looked up at him wordlessly as he approached the bed.
"Beverly, I think we need to talk." She didn't say anything just shook her head.
"It will help if you talk about it..."
"Jean Luc, I appreciate your concern, but really, I don't want to talk about it, and if ever there comes a time
that I do, I know where to find you." She said tersely.
Neither spoke another word for the remainder of breakfast. They ate in silence, but it was a comfortable
silence. It reminded Jean Luc of the mornings back on the Enterprise, sharing breakfast and simply enjoying
each others company. No words were needed.
**************************************************************************************************************
The mid day sun was shinning bright in the sky over the French countryside. It was approaching lunchtime
and Jean Luc set out to find Beverly. He hadn't seen her since breakfast. He assumed she was hidden away
in her room, not wanting the companionship he was so willing to give her.
Jean Luc knocked on her door, no answer. He knocked a bit harder this time and as his fist hit the wood of
the door, the door opened just enough for him to glimpse inside. To his surprise, she was not in there. It
now became his quest to find where she had gone off.
He checked the remaining rooms on the second floor and did not find her. The study was the next place Jean
Luc went in search of her. She wasn't there either. He methodically searched every room in the huge old
house and Beverly was nowhere to be found.
Fear struck in the mind and heart of Jean Luc Picard. He had to find her, she was so upset last night and so
distant this morning, he was terribly worried about her.
He bolted out the back door and headed for the stables. He was half way to the stable when he saw
something across the meadow. He strained to see if it was her.
Beverly was sitting underneath the tree Jean Luc climbed as a child with her knees tightly tucked under her
chin. A small smile crossed his lips and he started off in her direction.
She looked like an angel sitting there, her auburn hair flowing behind her from the gentle breeze, her head
titled slightly, as if she were in deep thought. As he approached, his smile faded. Beverly wasn't just
enjoying the scenery like he had hoped, she looked so fragile, so weak.
As he moved slowly closer to her, he could see her tear stained checks and her slender body trembling. He
sat down in the grass next to her and gently touched her arm. She jumped at his touch but did not look at
him.
"Beverly, what wrong?"
She still would not look at him, "I don't know Jean Luc. I can't stop shaking."
He reached out to hold her; she pushed him away and stood up.
He stood with her, "Talk to me Beverly. Let me help you."
She sank to her knees and started to sob uncontrollably. "Why did this happen to me!? What was I thinking,
going off by myself on a strange planet, I should have known better. This is all my fault! How could I have
been so stupid!"
Jean Luc was shocked "Beverly, what happened to you was NOT your fault. You did nothing wrong."
"I should have fought harder, I should have been strong enough to make him stop!" She couldn't breath, she
was crying in big heaving sobs. "I said NO! Why didn't he stop."?
He knelt down beside her and grabbed her by the shoulders, " Beverly, It was not your fault!"
She leaned into his embrace and whispered, "I said no, I said no."
He held her for what seemed like forever while she just sobbed and repeated, "I said no."
When Beverly finished crying, Jean Luc cupped her chin and gently wiped her tear stained face,
"Come on Love, let's go back to the house."
He extended his hand to help her up and they walked back to the house neither letting go of the other's
hand.
**************************************************************************************************************
By the time Jean Luc and Beverly reached the house it was way past lunchtime Their eyes met and at the
same time they both said, "I'm starved."
They prepared dinner together and ate in companionable silence. Beverly cleared the dishes while Jean Luc
opened a bottle of the Picard 47. They sat down close to each other on the floor in front of the burning fire.
Beverly rested her head on Jean Luc's shoulder. "Thank You" she whispered.
"For what?"
Beverly sighed, "For today, for everything really, especially for not giving up on me."
Jean Luc swore he saw her cheeks blush with her last comment. "Beverly, I have never given up on you."
Now he was positive, she was blushing, he half expected her to turn away but instead she was moving
closer, her nose was touching his, Jean Luc's artificial heart was racing as their lips met in a tentative kiss.
Beverly's arms snaked around his neck and he reached for her hands, pulling them away.
"Jean Luc, what's wrong?" she was confused, she thought he wanted this.
"Beverly, I…We can't do this…not now." He sighed, he waited for this moment for so long, the moment
Beverly finally gave in to her feelings for him, finally made the first move, but it seemed wrong for some
reason. He felt like he would be taking advantage of her in her most vulnerable time, he knew she wasn't
ready to take this step.
"Jean Luc, I don't…." something in her mind clicked, " Does this have anything to do with that woman I
saw you with on Allegra?"
Jean Luc almost chuckled, could she actually think he and Marie were involved? "Marie is my sister in law,
she was Robert's wife."
Relief washed over Beverly's face, "Then, I don't understand. I thought this is what you wanted."
"Beverly, there is nothing I want more, but this just isn't the right time."
Now it was Beverly's turn to sigh, "Right time? What are you talking about, here we are, the two of us,
alone, in front of a beautiful fire, you want me, what could be more right?"
Yes he wanted her, gods, did he want her, "You could want me too."
The realization that he was right was plainly visible on her face as she turned her head, tears were starting
to form in her already swollen eyes, "Jean Luc….I …"
She couldn't finish her thought, her mind was racing, she did want him, but not like this, not because she
just needed to feel safe, needed to be loved. If she made love to Jean Luc tonight, it would have no meaning.
Jean Luc stood, "It's been a very long and tiring day, you should get some rest Beverly."
"What about you, aren't you tired?"
He was exhausted but he would not be able to sleep again tonight, his mind was filled with thoughts of her.
Thoughts of the way her hair smelled like a fresh bouquet of roses, the way her eyes shined bluer then the
seas, and how her lips felt rose petal soft as they gently touched his.
" I have some things I need to tend to before I go to bed." He helped her to her feet and tenderly kissed her
cheek, "Goodnight Beverly."
She gave a half smile and retired to her room.
End part 6
The ritual of Jean Luc rushing to Beverly's bedside every night to comfort her after the nightmares only to
be pushed away went on for several nights. One night, almost a week after the first nightmare, her screaming
again awakened him.
As was becoming ritual, he got up and walked quietly to her room. She was there, screaming in her sleep,
thrashing about her bed violently. He sat beside her, trying to stop her kicking, hoping it would all end
soon.
To his utter relief, she finally awoke, and then to his absolute horror, the nightmare didn't stop. Her
breathing became strangled; air passing through her lips as weak whistles. Her eyes were wide with shock
and fear, searching for something…anything…to relieve the overwhelming burning in her chest.
Jean-Luc did the only thing he could, he grabbed her and held her tightly. She had to snap out of it, she
had to...because, for the first time in his life, Captain Jean-Luc Picard didn't know what to do.
She struggled against his grasp, instinctively shying away from touch, from feeling, knowing that touch was
pain, and there was so much pain.. too much pain.
She wormed in his arms, gasping for breath, feeling like screaming, but unable to. She turned her head as
her body shifted in his arms, and she was met with his stare. It wasn't cold or calculating, it wasn't menacing.
It wasn't even lustful. It was kind, caring, warm...such a warm color and look...he was as afraid as she was--
over what, her mind was too far gone to tell. All she knew was that this was a friend.
Her lungs relaxed as tears welled up in her eyes. She could breathe again, but now, all that would come were
sobs. They racked her body like tsunami waves, hitting with full force and receding only long enough to
back build and hit again.
Raw, painful emotion poured through her as she tried to over come the pain. Jean-Luc sat on the edge of the
bed, cradling her sobbing, trembling form as tears were squeezed out of her. He stroked her hair tenderly,
whispering her name softly as she cried long into the night. When she finally fell asleep, he stayed with her,
caressing her softly. There was a glimmer of hope now...maybe, just maybe, he could help.
***************************************************************************************************************
Jean Luc awoke before Beverly and went downstairs to fix breakfast.
*Something simple* he thought. "Coffee and croissants."
He went about making the coffee and even took the time to make the croissants from scratch. As he was
walking out of the kitchen he looked outside the window and noticed the roses were blooming. He placed
the tray back on the table and went outside. One rose was fully blossoming, it was such a beautiful color of
red, the same red as Beverly's hair. He snipped the rose, went back into the house and placed the bud on the
tray.
He walked carefully up the stairs, pushing the door away slowly as he walked into her room. He froze for a
moment, watching her in the early morning sun. She was as beautiful as she had ever been...but the scars,
albeit visible only to him, were there for a lifetime now. He didn't know this battered woman, but he was
going to try.
"Beverly .. . . wake up. Beverly?" She stirred reluctantly, obviously exhausted.
Her eyes were red-rimmed from crying the night before, and she sniffled slightly from the resulting runny
nose. She looked up at him wordlessly as he approached the bed.
"Beverly, I think we need to talk." She didn't say anything just shook her head.
"It will help if you talk about it..."
"Jean Luc, I appreciate your concern, but really, I don't want to talk about it, and if ever there comes a time
that I do, I know where to find you." She said tersely.
Neither spoke another word for the remainder of breakfast. They ate in silence, but it was a comfortable
silence. It reminded Jean Luc of the mornings back on the Enterprise, sharing breakfast and simply enjoying
each others company. No words were needed.
**************************************************************************************************************
The mid day sun was shinning bright in the sky over the French countryside. It was approaching lunchtime
and Jean Luc set out to find Beverly. He hadn't seen her since breakfast. He assumed she was hidden away
in her room, not wanting the companionship he was so willing to give her.
Jean Luc knocked on her door, no answer. He knocked a bit harder this time and as his fist hit the wood of
the door, the door opened just enough for him to glimpse inside. To his surprise, she was not in there. It
now became his quest to find where she had gone off.
He checked the remaining rooms on the second floor and did not find her. The study was the next place Jean
Luc went in search of her. She wasn't there either. He methodically searched every room in the huge old
house and Beverly was nowhere to be found.
Fear struck in the mind and heart of Jean Luc Picard. He had to find her, she was so upset last night and so
distant this morning, he was terribly worried about her.
He bolted out the back door and headed for the stables. He was half way to the stable when he saw
something across the meadow. He strained to see if it was her.
Beverly was sitting underneath the tree Jean Luc climbed as a child with her knees tightly tucked under her
chin. A small smile crossed his lips and he started off in her direction.
She looked like an angel sitting there, her auburn hair flowing behind her from the gentle breeze, her head
titled slightly, as if she were in deep thought. As he approached, his smile faded. Beverly wasn't just
enjoying the scenery like he had hoped, she looked so fragile, so weak.
As he moved slowly closer to her, he could see her tear stained checks and her slender body trembling. He
sat down in the grass next to her and gently touched her arm. She jumped at his touch but did not look at
him.
"Beverly, what wrong?"
She still would not look at him, "I don't know Jean Luc. I can't stop shaking."
He reached out to hold her; she pushed him away and stood up.
He stood with her, "Talk to me Beverly. Let me help you."
She sank to her knees and started to sob uncontrollably. "Why did this happen to me!? What was I thinking,
going off by myself on a strange planet, I should have known better. This is all my fault! How could I have
been so stupid!"
Jean Luc was shocked "Beverly, what happened to you was NOT your fault. You did nothing wrong."
"I should have fought harder, I should have been strong enough to make him stop!" She couldn't breath, she
was crying in big heaving sobs. "I said NO! Why didn't he stop."?
He knelt down beside her and grabbed her by the shoulders, " Beverly, It was not your fault!"
She leaned into his embrace and whispered, "I said no, I said no."
He held her for what seemed like forever while she just sobbed and repeated, "I said no."
When Beverly finished crying, Jean Luc cupped her chin and gently wiped her tear stained face,
"Come on Love, let's go back to the house."
He extended his hand to help her up and they walked back to the house neither letting go of the other's
hand.
**************************************************************************************************************
By the time Jean Luc and Beverly reached the house it was way past lunchtime Their eyes met and at the
same time they both said, "I'm starved."
They prepared dinner together and ate in companionable silence. Beverly cleared the dishes while Jean Luc
opened a bottle of the Picard 47. They sat down close to each other on the floor in front of the burning fire.
Beverly rested her head on Jean Luc's shoulder. "Thank You" she whispered.
"For what?"
Beverly sighed, "For today, for everything really, especially for not giving up on me."
Jean Luc swore he saw her cheeks blush with her last comment. "Beverly, I have never given up on you."
Now he was positive, she was blushing, he half expected her to turn away but instead she was moving
closer, her nose was touching his, Jean Luc's artificial heart was racing as their lips met in a tentative kiss.
Beverly's arms snaked around his neck and he reached for her hands, pulling them away.
"Jean Luc, what's wrong?" she was confused, she thought he wanted this.
"Beverly, I…We can't do this…not now." He sighed, he waited for this moment for so long, the moment
Beverly finally gave in to her feelings for him, finally made the first move, but it seemed wrong for some
reason. He felt like he would be taking advantage of her in her most vulnerable time, he knew she wasn't
ready to take this step.
"Jean Luc, I don't…." something in her mind clicked, " Does this have anything to do with that woman I
saw you with on Allegra?"
Jean Luc almost chuckled, could she actually think he and Marie were involved? "Marie is my sister in law,
she was Robert's wife."
Relief washed over Beverly's face, "Then, I don't understand. I thought this is what you wanted."
"Beverly, there is nothing I want more, but this just isn't the right time."
Now it was Beverly's turn to sigh, "Right time? What are you talking about, here we are, the two of us,
alone, in front of a beautiful fire, you want me, what could be more right?"
Yes he wanted her, gods, did he want her, "You could want me too."
The realization that he was right was plainly visible on her face as she turned her head, tears were starting
to form in her already swollen eyes, "Jean Luc….I …"
She couldn't finish her thought, her mind was racing, she did want him, but not like this, not because she
just needed to feel safe, needed to be loved. If she made love to Jean Luc tonight, it would have no meaning.
Jean Luc stood, "It's been a very long and tiring day, you should get some rest Beverly."
"What about you, aren't you tired?"
He was exhausted but he would not be able to sleep again tonight, his mind was filled with thoughts of her.
Thoughts of the way her hair smelled like a fresh bouquet of roses, the way her eyes shined bluer then the
seas, and how her lips felt rose petal soft as they gently touched his.
" I have some things I need to tend to before I go to bed." He helped her to her feet and tenderly kissed her
cheek, "Goodnight Beverly."
She gave a half smile and retired to her room.
End part 6