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Possession

Six

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A/N: Wow – there's a major movement out there for a re-write of the entire Nemesis script. Can't say as I blame ya.' Unfortunately, that's more ambitious than what I'm tackling here – so you'll have to extrapolate from these vignettes. Rather than a re-write, this project is supposed to sort of be an altered companion to the movie. Much of this dialog is taken from the movie and 'enhanced.' So apologies if it leaves you wanting more! The good news is that I think inspiration has struck for a continuation of the "Morning" series. XO – TS.

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"What makes us who we are Doctor? Can you tell me that?"

Crusher watched him leave sickbay. She nervously fingered her phaser and purposely stalked after him. She caught up with him in the corridor and firmly grabbed his shoulder. Surprised, Picard turned to face her.

"Enough Jean-Luc." Her eyes were a steely slate blue.

Picard looked back intently, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

"You're being self-indulgent. And you're playing right into his hands. You're the Captain of this ship, and it's time for you to start acting like it." Her voice was low and her eyes fiery.

"Excuse me, Doctor?" His posture rigid, he adopted an air of authority in an attempt cut off Beverly's tirade. Picard was defensive, primarily because he knew Crusher was right.

"You heard me Jean-Luc. You're letting him win. Stop feeling sorry for yourself. You made a decision a long time ago to put your career first. And now you're going to live with it." Sparks flew between them as Crusher's eyes fired with passion and Picard's with anger. Both knew there was a lot more being discussed than the young Reman.

The two simply stared at each other as the charged silence played out between them.

Jean-Luc responded, his voice tightly controlled and almost a whisper. "This is hardly the time or the place, Doctor." It sounded lame, even to him.

"Then you tell me – when is it appropriate to tell the Captain to get his act together?" Beverly met his eyes in a direct challenge. Her hand was still on clamped on his arm.

Picard's brow arched dangerously. "You're walking a fine line." Picard held her gaze. "But you're right." Picard conceded the point and the tension fizzled out of the air, replaced by an uneasy calm. "Thank you."

Both officers relaxed and Beverly let out a long and shaky breath. "I'm glad you see it that way. For a minute there I thought I might be practicing medicine on a Federation shipping freighter next week." She smiled, but her eyes were still watchful.

Picard allowed a small smile to touch his own lips. "You may still. But for now you're safe. I need you too much on the Enterprise." Once again there was clearly a deeper unspoken level to the conversation. He sighed and ran a hand across his forehead, which was heavily creased in concern. "He has done an excellent job of keeping me off the mark, hasn't he?"

"I know this goes against what I just said," Beverly's lips twitched upward "but don't be so hard on yourself." She softened her posture and shoved her hands in her pockets. "I know you have a tendency to do that. But this isn't about you. No matter how much Shinzon tries to make it so."

He nodded. "You're right, of course. But I can't help but think...." he trailed off, his thoughts unformed.

"Can't help but wonder what might have been?" There was no hint of humor in Crusher's voice as she finished the sentence for him. Both of them had spent lifetimes wondering about the path not traveled. She could hardly call the kettle black. Again a pregnant silence filled the corridor. Beverly waited for Picard to speak.

"We've come so far. A thousand years ago the human life consisted of nothing but a brief and brutal cycle – birth, work, and death. Now our time in the universe, comparatively, is infinitely longer. And yet it still seems all too short." Picard's intense gaze met Beverly's own. "A man might strive his whole life and still find things.... unfinished." Picard tentatively reached for Crusher's hand. Her eyes querulous, she removed it from her pocket and started at his gentle grasp.

She began to speak, but as she did so the yellow alert lighting sprang to life around them. Momentarily the Captain's badge chirped to life. Worf's booming Klingon bass filled void between them. "Captain Picard to the bridge."

His eyes not leaving hers, Picard tapped his comm. with his free hand. "I'll be right there, Mr. Worf."

Despite her fear and frustration, Beverly's eyes twinkled as still held the Captain's hand. The moment was broken.

Picard shook his head and met her bemused expression with a pained one of his own. "Duty calls, Doctor."

"It always does, Jean-Luc." Her expression rueful, she squeezed his hand, let it drop, and walked soundlessly away.

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"And when we're done soul searching, as we carried the weight and died for the cause.

Is misery made beautiful right before our eyes?

Will mercy be revealed, or blind us where we stand?"

Sarah McLachlan – Witness – Surfacing –

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