Faith
Ch. 1 - Running
Everyone who has run knows that its most important value is in removing tension and allowing a release from whatever other cares the day may bring.
Jimmy Carter
She was running, running from him. It seemed the only escape. Seeing him everyday was too much; on the bridge, in the conference room, at staff meetings, passing in the corridor. She had accepted the brass' offer of heading up Starfleet medical. The job came with a cushy apartment overlooking San Francisco bay, weekday shifts and lots of paperwork. Plenty to keep her mind off him.
Deanna was the only one that really knew why she was leaving and she was so wrapped up in Will and their new life together she'd been rather negligent in her duties as best friend. Beverly was so happy for her that it didn't matter. At least one of the infamous Enterprise couples had made it through. There were plenty of people that would lose money in the 'when will they get hitched?' betting pool in regards to her and Jean-luc. It had only been a week since he had given her the news that had ended their friendship or whatever it was and these thoughts were far to objective to make it to her consciousness now.
When she arrived it was just past twilight and the sun's final rays were dipping below the horizon. The weather net had allowed a rather large rain shower to flourish and come to fruition. As Beverly dropped her belongings in her new apartment she could see the bay ripple in its effects through her large bay window. It was nearly floor to ceiling length and had a cushion at its base on which Beverly could have stretched out her entire height. Instead she sat in its obtusely angled corner and drew her legs up so she could wrap her arms around them. She leaned her head against the cold pane and watched as the droplets ran down the pane. The lights from the city twinkled through the window. Her mind wandered to many places all of them revolving around Jean-luc. It wasn't as though she had just lost her lover she had lost her best-friend of 15 years he'd known her longer than anyone. He had been her family and with Wesley gone and Nana dead he was all she had left. Now he was gone. After a few minutes droplets of her own ran rivers down her face. She sat there for a long time before finally getting up to go into her bedroom. Some part of her knew she had a lot to do tomorrow. It was that voice that made her reach for her med-kit and take a depressant for she had found that it was impossible for her to get any sleep with her mind never ceasing to torment her with once loved memories. The drugs took effect quickly and she collapsed into her bed still dressed.
The next day she woke early, got ready and forced herself to eat breakfast. She ate half a croissant before the familiar taste brought back the many breakfasts she'd shared with Jean-luc. Forcing back tears she grabbed her blue lab coat and walked out the door. She headed to Starfleet medical and met some of her new staff. A Vulcan female was assigned as her personal assistant and her research assistant was an amiable older Betazoid male.
She walked into her new office. It was spacious with a window overlooking more of Starfleet headquarters and a desk piled with PADDs. She picked up one of the containers that she had sent here. Most of them containing personal research and the information she had gathered in the field for her some 20 years. She sat in the leather office chair next to her desk and opened one of them. This particular one was different, it held personal memorabilia. She pulled out a picture of the Enterprise senior staff during their fourth year together even Wesley was there. She traced over the Captain and herself, she had her hand on his shoulder and they were both smiling. She put the picture on her desk and focused her attention on the stack of work in front of her.
Well? Let me know what you think. I have this story pretty much planned out so I'll continue to post based on reviews.