Chapter Nineteen
The Enterprise re-joined without any difficulty and before long Captain Picard was back up on the main bridge with the rest of his bridge crew.
"What happened?" Picard asked Riker. Riker informed him of what the alien had said and how Beverly was doing. "Give the alien what it wants, Commander. There are computers down on the planet in a cave system; Commander Data can give you the co-ordinates. Get Mr. La Forge to help. Interface with the computer and transfer the information." Picard paused then added, "Commander, remember that this is technically a first contact mission now. Sensor the information that you give to the alien. I don't want it to gain access to any of Starfleet's designs or classified records."
"Aye, sir." Riker said and he left the bridge for engineering.
Picard turned to Captain Sisko. "Captain. It's nice to see you again." He said shaking his hand.
"The pleasure is all mine. I just wish it were under better circumstances." Sisko replied pleasantly.
"As do I, Captain." Picard sighed. "Since you're here do you want to make yourself useful?" Picard asked lightheartedly.
"Certainly, I'm all yours. Just name it, Captain." Sisko replied.
"Take an away team over to the Washington and make sure everyone is alright. Our communications have ceased to function properly with all of this radiation and we can't contact Captain Arron or his crew. You'll have to take a shuttle since the transporters are out as well."
"I'm on my way, Captain. I'll take the Defiant though; her shields are stronger and don't need to be modified. Chief O'Brien will suffice for this mission but I'll need some medics along as well." Sisko said as he headed off for the turbolift.
"Fine, Captain. Take whomever you need." Picard replied. "One thing though. The Washington launched a shuttlecraft before she went missing. Captain Arron probably won't know what happened to it. Unfortunately it crash-landed on the planet and both of its pilots were killed. Could you inform Captain Arron and send my condolences, please. If you could tell him that we will return the bodies when we leave the nebula." Picard asked, it wasn't easy informing a captain that a crewmember was dead and every time he had to do that job, he was reminded of the time his best friend Jack had died and when he had to tell Beverly and Wesley.
Sisko nodded as reply. "Dr. Bashir is still with your CMO, I'll leave him to it." Sisko said finally moving into the turbolift.
"Oh, one other thing." Sisko turned as Picard spoke, "please call me Jean-Luc."
"Fine, call me Ben." Sisko exchanged a smile with Picard as the lift doors closed and he headed for the Defiant.
Picard left the bridge a few moments later leaving Worf in command. After hearing an update on Beverly's condition, he wanted to make sure that he was there when she woke up.
In sickbay Troi told Selar and Bashir what she needed to do. She asked them both to monitor Beverly's condition incase anything went wrong. Selar gave Troi another dose of silosinen since the blocker she had administered earlier had had its desired effect. Dr. Bashir placed a cortical stimulator on Troi's forehead and on Beverly's, and started to monitor from the console at the back of sickbay.
"Good luck, Counsellor. Bring her back to us." Bashir said as Troi sat down in the chair she had occupied for the last few days. She picked up Crusher's hand and closed her eyes again, initiating the link between their two minds. As the link was established Troi could feel that the dark presence she had detected the first time she had done this, had gone. That was one good sign and things could hopefully only get better.
Beverly Crusher was in the garden sitting on the bench under the large English oak tree. The day had turned out for the best and she was enjoying the sound of the birds singing in the trees. She looked up and saw that the blue figure had returned; though this time it was not a ghostly apparition but a solid three-dimensional humanoid. She stood up and faced her. "I knew you would come back."
Troi moved closer and nodded to her. "Do you remember everything I've said to you?"
"Yes, I do." She walked slowly around. "It's peaceful here, don't you think?" She said admiring her surroundings.
"It is but we can't stay here." Troi said.
"Ah, is this the end? The final challenge that I have to face before I can awaken?" Beverly asked seriously and trying very hard to understand.
"In a way it is."
"The storm has gone now, it's been very bleak in the garden the last few times I've been here. The sun's out now though and it's turned out to be a very crisp, fresh day." She looked Troi in the eyes. "Does that have something to do with what has been happening to me?" Beverly asked Deanna.
"It may have something to do with it. Your mind has manifested this image a few times because it must have some significance to you. Maybe it's a place where you feel safe or where you have felt the most happiness or been comfortable in. I can't really say."
"It is very tranquil here but I feel something is missing." Beverly responded after a few minutes.
"Are you ready, Beverly?" Troi asked trying to move along quickly, she needed to be focussed and the silosinen may be wearing off again soon.
Beverly nodded as way of a reply. Troi held out her hand, "then come with me." Beverly took the outstretched hand and the garden vanished and Beverly's old house on Delos IV appeared around them. Troi backed away into a corner and out of the memory's way.
Beverly sat down in the chair at her desk and began going over some notes about the patients that she would be seeing the next day. She had just come off duty and Wesley would be home soon. The light outside was slowly beginning to fade; she had never quite gotten used to the shorter days on Delos IV. Suddenly there was a knock on the door, quite quiet as well as if the visitor almost hoped that no one would answer.
Troi stood in the corner and knew who the visitor was straight away; here we go, she thought to herself as she watched Beverly rise from the chair.
Beverly crossed the room and turned the handle of the door, opening it to see who it was. Captain Jean-Luc Picard stood there in front of her; his face was a picture of distress, sadness and guilt. "May I come in?" Troi heard him say softly. Beverly moved aside and Troi saw him enter.
Picard was a younger version of what she was used to seeing; this Picard had short, neatly cropped graying hair, and was slightly thinner in appearance. He wore one of Starfleet's old style uniforms that were the same type of style that she was used to but were made out of a more form fitting material that was quite tight.
"Jean-Luc? I didn't know the Stargazer was back in space dock." Beverly said as they both entered the sitting area.
"I need to do this correctly, Beverly." He said regretfully.
"Do what?" She asked confused already. Surely if Picard was here Jack would have come along as well?
"I think you may want to sit down." Beverly shook her head, wanting to hear whatever it was now. "I am Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the starship USS Stargazer. Dr. Beverly Howard-Crusher it is with immense pain and sorrow that I have to inform you that Lieutenant Commander Jack Crusher was killed in an incident two days ago. He died in the line of duty."
Beverly listened but she did not immediately take it in. "What?" She asked though she knew very well what he had just said she just couldn't believe it. She put her hands to her face and her legs went to jelly as she began to fall. Picard grabbed her to steady her and she wrapped her arms around him and began to sob. Picard didn't know what to do; he had never had to tell a close friend that their loved one had died. She pulled away from him. "How?" She asked shaking her head and not wanting to believe it. Just then the door opened and a small boy of about five came in. Troi noticed that it was Wesley Crusher, he stopped when he saw Captain Picard.
"Hi, mom. What's wrong?" He said in a small high-pitched voice.
Beverly burst into tears again, "I can't tell him, Jean-Luc." Picard went over to Wesley and put him beside his mother who was sitting on the couch now. He told them both what had happened and said that his body was in the morgue on board McKinley station where the Stargazer was docked.
"This happened two days ago?" Beverly asked as the tears still rolled down her face.
"Yes. I didn't want to send a communiqué. I thought this was best said in person." Picard told her.
"Can I see him?" Beverly asked as she composed herself a bit.
"Yes, any time you feel ready." Picard said with as much compassion as he could.
"Now." She replied.
They beamed up to the station, Delos Four really wasn't that far away from Mars and so there was no long laborious journey involved. Troi went along as well as Beverly's mind went through the memory, though she kept back in the shadows and out of the way to allow it to progress and unfold.
They walked slowly along a metal-floored corridor. The journey from the transporter room to the morgue wasn't far at all but the journey seemed never ending. Beverly didn't take in much at all of her surroundings but she knew that she would remember every laboured step that she took. They walked in silence and each of their footsteps could be heard resounding through the deck. Beverly held Wesley's hand tightly as they came to the door that had a sign saying Morgue firmly attached to it.
"Are you sure you want to see him like this?" Picard asked her. She nodded her head slowly and they all went inside as the doors parted. As a medical student she had seen her fair share of corpses but it was so hard to see the corpse of someone you knew intimately.
Jack was lying on a metal slab with a space blanket pulled up over his head. Picard looked to Beverly as he grasped the blanket; she took a deep breath and nodded again. Picard lifted the blanket back off Jack's face and Beverly and Wesley both looked.
Troi watched as Beverly struggled to hold back the tears while she said her good-byes, she really was holding up well, keeping everything inside. Wesley just stood staring at his father. How could he really understand at his age? Troi thought. Beverly nodded to Picard and he replaced the blanket carefully. Picard moved over to Beverly and guided her and Wesley out of the morgue.
Troi new now why Beverly was just beginning to get over her husband's death, from the look of Jack's body he had died horribly, and that must have been extremely difficult for her to get over.
Troi relaxed a bit knowing that the worst of it was over. Beverly had lived through the memory; after all of the effort that she had put into making sure that she wouldn't relive it. It was over now though. Beverly should come out of her coma any minute now, Troi thought.
They had all walked back along the corridor and Beverly and Wesley had gone back home. The Stargazer had remained at the station and Picard was on hand for anything that Beverly needed.
What was taking so long?
Wasn't that it?
Was there still more to come?
The alien had said that Beverly would wake up when she had been permitted to live the memory, and she hadn't woken up yet. Troi was becoming more than concerned and thought about severing the link. Just then the view changed to the garden again. The garden was different this time though; there were more people. Beverly was there dressed in black and holding Wesley by the hand, who was also dressed in a black suit. The day was very sunny but also cold at the same time- or was it the mood of the people around her? The presence of one sun told Troi that they were no long on Delos Four but back on Earth.
Another group of people were gathered under the large English oak tree that Troi had remembered seeing earlier, Beverly and Wesley stood near the front of the group but somewhat separate from them also. She knew some of the people in the main group, Walker Keel and Kathleen were there and Captain Picard was also but he was standing at the front. Most of them were dressed in Starfleet dress uniform and were listening to what Captain Picard was saying. In the middle of the group there was a long box with a United Federation Of Planets flag draped over it. The box was actually a coffin and Troi could clearly see it as she moved closer so she could hear.
Captain Picard was reciting a poem, when he had finished he looked up at the congregation. "...And so we commend Jack Crusher's body to the Earth and hope that he might find as much happiness in his next life, as he had found here with Beverly and Wesley." Picard picked up a clump of dirt as the coffin was lowered into the ground by six of Jack's closest friends, and threw it into the hole with the coffin. "Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust." Picard completed. "Can we now observe two minutes of silence and may our thoughts be with Jack's surviving family." Everyone stood still with their heads bowed for two minutes and then slowly walked away from the graveside.
Picard went over to Beverly and Wesley and offered them his deepest sympathy. Beverly nodded to him and thanked him for the lovely service then left quietly with her son.
Troi stepped over to Beverly when she saw that they would be alone. "Beverly," she said.
Beverly turned and looked at Troi. "Why?" She shook her head not really wanting that question answered.
"You've done it, Beverly. You can wake up now. It's all over and done with."
Beverly nodded as way of a reply.
"I'm going to go now, will you come with me?" Troi asked holding out her hand to Beverly in the hope that she may come.
Beverly Crusher took the hand of her long time friend and together they made the journey back to reality.
Deanna Troi opened her eyes and looked straight at Beverly Crusher. Beverly opened her eyes slowly and looked back at Troi. "Deanna?" She asked with tears in her eyes as she remembered the last memory she had had.
"Yes, it's me. Are you alright, Beverly?" Troi asked pleased that her friend had recognised her. She got up off the bio-bed a hugged Troi tightly.
"Thank you, Deanna." She said overwhelmed. "I know what you did for me. I can remember."
Dr. Bashir came over from the console where he had been monitoring. "Dr. Crusher," she looked at him slightly startled. "It's nice to see you again, we didn't think we were going to for a while there."
"How...?" Beverly started to ask but stopped herself.
"We'll explain later, right now I think there's someone else who wants to see you, he's been worried sick." Bashir replied. Troi turned to see Captain Picard standing back from everyone else. Beverly went over to him and hugged him tightly, the hug was full of meaning, and only they, and maybe Troi would know what it meant to each of them.
"It's good to see you again, Beverly." Picard said to her.
"Well it's certainly good to be back, Jean-Luc." She turned to the rest of the well wishers, "and thanks to all of you, for everything."
A/N: Please leave a review. Thank you
The Enterprise re-joined without any difficulty and before long Captain Picard was back up on the main bridge with the rest of his bridge crew.
"What happened?" Picard asked Riker. Riker informed him of what the alien had said and how Beverly was doing. "Give the alien what it wants, Commander. There are computers down on the planet in a cave system; Commander Data can give you the co-ordinates. Get Mr. La Forge to help. Interface with the computer and transfer the information." Picard paused then added, "Commander, remember that this is technically a first contact mission now. Sensor the information that you give to the alien. I don't want it to gain access to any of Starfleet's designs or classified records."
"Aye, sir." Riker said and he left the bridge for engineering.
Picard turned to Captain Sisko. "Captain. It's nice to see you again." He said shaking his hand.
"The pleasure is all mine. I just wish it were under better circumstances." Sisko replied pleasantly.
"As do I, Captain." Picard sighed. "Since you're here do you want to make yourself useful?" Picard asked lightheartedly.
"Certainly, I'm all yours. Just name it, Captain." Sisko replied.
"Take an away team over to the Washington and make sure everyone is alright. Our communications have ceased to function properly with all of this radiation and we can't contact Captain Arron or his crew. You'll have to take a shuttle since the transporters are out as well."
"I'm on my way, Captain. I'll take the Defiant though; her shields are stronger and don't need to be modified. Chief O'Brien will suffice for this mission but I'll need some medics along as well." Sisko said as he headed off for the turbolift.
"Fine, Captain. Take whomever you need." Picard replied. "One thing though. The Washington launched a shuttlecraft before she went missing. Captain Arron probably won't know what happened to it. Unfortunately it crash-landed on the planet and both of its pilots were killed. Could you inform Captain Arron and send my condolences, please. If you could tell him that we will return the bodies when we leave the nebula." Picard asked, it wasn't easy informing a captain that a crewmember was dead and every time he had to do that job, he was reminded of the time his best friend Jack had died and when he had to tell Beverly and Wesley.
Sisko nodded as reply. "Dr. Bashir is still with your CMO, I'll leave him to it." Sisko said finally moving into the turbolift.
"Oh, one other thing." Sisko turned as Picard spoke, "please call me Jean-Luc."
"Fine, call me Ben." Sisko exchanged a smile with Picard as the lift doors closed and he headed for the Defiant.
Picard left the bridge a few moments later leaving Worf in command. After hearing an update on Beverly's condition, he wanted to make sure that he was there when she woke up.
In sickbay Troi told Selar and Bashir what she needed to do. She asked them both to monitor Beverly's condition incase anything went wrong. Selar gave Troi another dose of silosinen since the blocker she had administered earlier had had its desired effect. Dr. Bashir placed a cortical stimulator on Troi's forehead and on Beverly's, and started to monitor from the console at the back of sickbay.
"Good luck, Counsellor. Bring her back to us." Bashir said as Troi sat down in the chair she had occupied for the last few days. She picked up Crusher's hand and closed her eyes again, initiating the link between their two minds. As the link was established Troi could feel that the dark presence she had detected the first time she had done this, had gone. That was one good sign and things could hopefully only get better.
Beverly Crusher was in the garden sitting on the bench under the large English oak tree. The day had turned out for the best and she was enjoying the sound of the birds singing in the trees. She looked up and saw that the blue figure had returned; though this time it was not a ghostly apparition but a solid three-dimensional humanoid. She stood up and faced her. "I knew you would come back."
Troi moved closer and nodded to her. "Do you remember everything I've said to you?"
"Yes, I do." She walked slowly around. "It's peaceful here, don't you think?" She said admiring her surroundings.
"It is but we can't stay here." Troi said.
"Ah, is this the end? The final challenge that I have to face before I can awaken?" Beverly asked seriously and trying very hard to understand.
"In a way it is."
"The storm has gone now, it's been very bleak in the garden the last few times I've been here. The sun's out now though and it's turned out to be a very crisp, fresh day." She looked Troi in the eyes. "Does that have something to do with what has been happening to me?" Beverly asked Deanna.
"It may have something to do with it. Your mind has manifested this image a few times because it must have some significance to you. Maybe it's a place where you feel safe or where you have felt the most happiness or been comfortable in. I can't really say."
"It is very tranquil here but I feel something is missing." Beverly responded after a few minutes.
"Are you ready, Beverly?" Troi asked trying to move along quickly, she needed to be focussed and the silosinen may be wearing off again soon.
Beverly nodded as way of a reply. Troi held out her hand, "then come with me." Beverly took the outstretched hand and the garden vanished and Beverly's old house on Delos IV appeared around them. Troi backed away into a corner and out of the memory's way.
Beverly sat down in the chair at her desk and began going over some notes about the patients that she would be seeing the next day. She had just come off duty and Wesley would be home soon. The light outside was slowly beginning to fade; she had never quite gotten used to the shorter days on Delos IV. Suddenly there was a knock on the door, quite quiet as well as if the visitor almost hoped that no one would answer.
Troi stood in the corner and knew who the visitor was straight away; here we go, she thought to herself as she watched Beverly rise from the chair.
Beverly crossed the room and turned the handle of the door, opening it to see who it was. Captain Jean-Luc Picard stood there in front of her; his face was a picture of distress, sadness and guilt. "May I come in?" Troi heard him say softly. Beverly moved aside and Troi saw him enter.
Picard was a younger version of what she was used to seeing; this Picard had short, neatly cropped graying hair, and was slightly thinner in appearance. He wore one of Starfleet's old style uniforms that were the same type of style that she was used to but were made out of a more form fitting material that was quite tight.
"Jean-Luc? I didn't know the Stargazer was back in space dock." Beverly said as they both entered the sitting area.
"I need to do this correctly, Beverly." He said regretfully.
"Do what?" She asked confused already. Surely if Picard was here Jack would have come along as well?
"I think you may want to sit down." Beverly shook her head, wanting to hear whatever it was now. "I am Captain Jean-Luc Picard of the starship USS Stargazer. Dr. Beverly Howard-Crusher it is with immense pain and sorrow that I have to inform you that Lieutenant Commander Jack Crusher was killed in an incident two days ago. He died in the line of duty."
Beverly listened but she did not immediately take it in. "What?" She asked though she knew very well what he had just said she just couldn't believe it. She put her hands to her face and her legs went to jelly as she began to fall. Picard grabbed her to steady her and she wrapped her arms around him and began to sob. Picard didn't know what to do; he had never had to tell a close friend that their loved one had died. She pulled away from him. "How?" She asked shaking her head and not wanting to believe it. Just then the door opened and a small boy of about five came in. Troi noticed that it was Wesley Crusher, he stopped when he saw Captain Picard.
"Hi, mom. What's wrong?" He said in a small high-pitched voice.
Beverly burst into tears again, "I can't tell him, Jean-Luc." Picard went over to Wesley and put him beside his mother who was sitting on the couch now. He told them both what had happened and said that his body was in the morgue on board McKinley station where the Stargazer was docked.
"This happened two days ago?" Beverly asked as the tears still rolled down her face.
"Yes. I didn't want to send a communiqué. I thought this was best said in person." Picard told her.
"Can I see him?" Beverly asked as she composed herself a bit.
"Yes, any time you feel ready." Picard said with as much compassion as he could.
"Now." She replied.
They beamed up to the station, Delos Four really wasn't that far away from Mars and so there was no long laborious journey involved. Troi went along as well as Beverly's mind went through the memory, though she kept back in the shadows and out of the way to allow it to progress and unfold.
They walked slowly along a metal-floored corridor. The journey from the transporter room to the morgue wasn't far at all but the journey seemed never ending. Beverly didn't take in much at all of her surroundings but she knew that she would remember every laboured step that she took. They walked in silence and each of their footsteps could be heard resounding through the deck. Beverly held Wesley's hand tightly as they came to the door that had a sign saying Morgue firmly attached to it.
"Are you sure you want to see him like this?" Picard asked her. She nodded her head slowly and they all went inside as the doors parted. As a medical student she had seen her fair share of corpses but it was so hard to see the corpse of someone you knew intimately.
Jack was lying on a metal slab with a space blanket pulled up over his head. Picard looked to Beverly as he grasped the blanket; she took a deep breath and nodded again. Picard lifted the blanket back off Jack's face and Beverly and Wesley both looked.
Troi watched as Beverly struggled to hold back the tears while she said her good-byes, she really was holding up well, keeping everything inside. Wesley just stood staring at his father. How could he really understand at his age? Troi thought. Beverly nodded to Picard and he replaced the blanket carefully. Picard moved over to Beverly and guided her and Wesley out of the morgue.
Troi new now why Beverly was just beginning to get over her husband's death, from the look of Jack's body he had died horribly, and that must have been extremely difficult for her to get over.
Troi relaxed a bit knowing that the worst of it was over. Beverly had lived through the memory; after all of the effort that she had put into making sure that she wouldn't relive it. It was over now though. Beverly should come out of her coma any minute now, Troi thought.
They had all walked back along the corridor and Beverly and Wesley had gone back home. The Stargazer had remained at the station and Picard was on hand for anything that Beverly needed.
What was taking so long?
Wasn't that it?
Was there still more to come?
The alien had said that Beverly would wake up when she had been permitted to live the memory, and she hadn't woken up yet. Troi was becoming more than concerned and thought about severing the link. Just then the view changed to the garden again. The garden was different this time though; there were more people. Beverly was there dressed in black and holding Wesley by the hand, who was also dressed in a black suit. The day was very sunny but also cold at the same time- or was it the mood of the people around her? The presence of one sun told Troi that they were no long on Delos Four but back on Earth.
Another group of people were gathered under the large English oak tree that Troi had remembered seeing earlier, Beverly and Wesley stood near the front of the group but somewhat separate from them also. She knew some of the people in the main group, Walker Keel and Kathleen were there and Captain Picard was also but he was standing at the front. Most of them were dressed in Starfleet dress uniform and were listening to what Captain Picard was saying. In the middle of the group there was a long box with a United Federation Of Planets flag draped over it. The box was actually a coffin and Troi could clearly see it as she moved closer so she could hear.
Captain Picard was reciting a poem, when he had finished he looked up at the congregation. "...And so we commend Jack Crusher's body to the Earth and hope that he might find as much happiness in his next life, as he had found here with Beverly and Wesley." Picard picked up a clump of dirt as the coffin was lowered into the ground by six of Jack's closest friends, and threw it into the hole with the coffin. "Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust." Picard completed. "Can we now observe two minutes of silence and may our thoughts be with Jack's surviving family." Everyone stood still with their heads bowed for two minutes and then slowly walked away from the graveside.
Picard went over to Beverly and Wesley and offered them his deepest sympathy. Beverly nodded to him and thanked him for the lovely service then left quietly with her son.
Troi stepped over to Beverly when she saw that they would be alone. "Beverly," she said.
Beverly turned and looked at Troi. "Why?" She shook her head not really wanting that question answered.
"You've done it, Beverly. You can wake up now. It's all over and done with."
Beverly nodded as way of a reply.
"I'm going to go now, will you come with me?" Troi asked holding out her hand to Beverly in the hope that she may come.
Beverly Crusher took the hand of her long time friend and together they made the journey back to reality.
Deanna Troi opened her eyes and looked straight at Beverly Crusher. Beverly opened her eyes slowly and looked back at Troi. "Deanna?" She asked with tears in her eyes as she remembered the last memory she had had.
"Yes, it's me. Are you alright, Beverly?" Troi asked pleased that her friend had recognised her. She got up off the bio-bed a hugged Troi tightly.
"Thank you, Deanna." She said overwhelmed. "I know what you did for me. I can remember."
Dr. Bashir came over from the console where he had been monitoring. "Dr. Crusher," she looked at him slightly startled. "It's nice to see you again, we didn't think we were going to for a while there."
"How...?" Beverly started to ask but stopped herself.
"We'll explain later, right now I think there's someone else who wants to see you, he's been worried sick." Bashir replied. Troi turned to see Captain Picard standing back from everyone else. Beverly went over to him and hugged him tightly, the hug was full of meaning, and only they, and maybe Troi would know what it meant to each of them.
"It's good to see you again, Beverly." Picard said to her.
"Well it's certainly good to be back, Jean-Luc." She turned to the rest of the well wishers, "and thanks to all of you, for everything."
A/N: Please leave a review. Thank you