Dvorovoi Part Eight
By Karen Page
Tears of pure fright fell down her cheeks. "Devon please…" she begged in choked sobs.
"Tell him to leave us!" Devon yelled at her. "I won't share your affections!"
"Go away Jean-Luc!" Beverly cried helplessly.
"I will not leave you!" Jean-Luc cried back.
"Please!" Beverly begged.
Deanna inched closer and closer to Bailey, assuming from Beverly's predicament, that Devon was facing the other way and looking out over the sea. She didn't know whether administering the drug Beverly had prescribed would be dangerous in Bailey's current state, but knew she didn't have time to check and prayed for the best.
"Tell him!" Devon yelled, shaking her. He held Beverly under the arms, directly over the edge of the cliff, using his inhuman strength. Only Devon knew that Beverly was in no danger of falling, Devon had so many powers now that he was merged with a host that was the perfect age.
"Please Jean-Luc!" Beverly yelled, she was having trouble breathing. "Go away! I'll be fine!"
Jean-Luc stood rooted to the spot, heart pounding noisily in his chest. "I can't leave you," he replied in almost a whisper.
"You can't kill Beverly!" Deanna suddenly yelled from behind them.
"Why not!" Devon yelled.
Deanna jumped; she could hear Devon in her head. It took her a moment to finally realise what was happening. She realised that this was the very reason that he had wanted Beverly off the ship and had been suppressing Bailey's empathy, because she would have been able to hear him speaking.
"Because if you kill her, you will have no where to go!" Deanna replied, as she injected Bailey's neck with the drug. "Bailey is dead."
Jean-Luc realised where Deanna was heading, now he just needed to get close enough to Beverly to inject her.
Suddenly Beverly moved was thrown over Devon's shoulder and he backed away from the cliffs edge.
Beverly's movement made certain that both Jean-Luc and Deanna knew where Devon was now, he was heading in Jean-Luc's direction.
Jean-Luc backed away slowly at first and then more quickly as he realised that Devon was coming faster.
Deanna got to her feet as she watched the scene unfolding; Beverly was suddenly dropped on the floor and Deanna couldn't figure out what was happening.
She noticed Jean-Luc stop moving for a moment, and then he moved again directly towards Beverly, who was slowly sitting up.
Deanna felt relief wash over her and Jean-Luc pulled Beverly to her feet, it didn't last long though. Jean-Luc took Beverly's hand and headed over to the edge of the cliff again.
Beverly struggled helplessly to try and release his grasp on her wrist, but it was a futile effort. "Jean-Luc!" she cried, biting into the flesh of his forearms with her fingernails.
"What are you doing?" Deanna cried as Jean-Luc shoved Beverly over near the edge of the cliff again.
"I am going to jump," Jean-Luc replied, yanking Beverly closer to him and putting his arm around her. "I am going to kill your captain."
"No!" Beverly screamed.
Deanna shook her head helplessly. Now Jean-Luc's body had been taken over by Devon. "The captain would be willing to give his life in order for Beverly to live. I would be willing to give my life too."
"Tell them to go Beverly," Devon said, looking at Beverly's through the guise of Jean-Luc. "We can be together forever. Just us here."
Beverly shook her head helplessly, tears streamed down her cheeks. "I…"
"I will let him go if you agree to stay with me here," Devon continued. "Otherwise I'll use his body and jump right over the cliff and it would be all your fault."
Beverly was torn; she stared at Deanna trying to make some sense of what was happening. Deanna was slowly coming towards them.
"I'm waiting for your answer!" he yelled. "Do you really want to go back there? To be alone every single night? No body there to love you, to hold you at night, to make love to you?"
"I would die for Jean-Luc," Beverly whispered in a broken voice. "Why don't you kill me instead?"
"Because I need you!" Devon yelled, his gazed turned to Bailey's dead body. "Your stupid Betazoid friend just killed my other option!"
"She can be brought back," Beverly replied. "I can bring her back."
"Beverly no!" Deanna yelled, running anxious hands through her hair.
Neither Beverly nor Devon noticed Jean-Luc's hand moving at Beverly's side, but Deanna did. She also noticed the hypospray held in the hand and realised for the first time that Jean-Luc was there fighting with Devon for control of his body. She could sense the internal struggle and was amazed that Devon appeared to be totally oblivious to it.
"You would sacrifice your cousin?" Devon asked.
"She wants you back!" Beverly yelled.
Devon didn't get a chance to reply, he suddenly realised that Jean-Luc was about to administer the hypospray. But he was a couple of seconds too late, the hypo hissed as it released its contents into Beverly's arm.
Immediately Beverly died and Jean-Luc collapsed to the floor holding Beverly in his arms. Jean-Luc lay there, staring at her for a few moments in morbid fascination.
It took him a few moments to get over the initial shock of what he had just done. For a few moments, all was quiet and still. It was an eerie feeling looking down at the beautiful woman who lay dead in his arms.
"He's gone," Deanna said happily, breaking his trance state. "Well done sir! You did it!" Deanna laughed. "I thought for a moment there we had lost it."
"I need to get my patient back to the yacht immediately," she continued, noting his shocked silence. "Are you alright Captain?"
Jean-Luc looked at Beverly again and then back at Deanna's smiling face. "I will be as soon as Beverly is breathing again."
"I'll beam back to the yacht," Deanna said, checking Bailey's vital signs with a tricorder. "I have about ten minutes left to bring her back. I'll beam you up as soon as I get there."
"Okay," he replied simply. He watched Deanna prep Bailey for transport and then waited patiently to follow.
His gaze fell on Beverly's face, her eyes now shut and her body slowly turning cold.
Spontaneously he leant forward and brushed his lips against hers. "Beverly," he whispered, kissing her again. "I love you very much."
He felt the transporter beam take him and Beverly's lifeless body up to the yacht. Deanna met him with a tricorder running in her hand and led the shocked Captain down the hall into sickbay where Bailey was now laying dead on the farthest bed.
Deanna helped Jean-Luc lay Beverly's body down on the closest bio bed before rushing over to the huge monitor on the wall and connecting Beverly's bio signs to the computer next to Bailey's.
"We have another fifteen minutes at the most before we have to bring Beverly back," Deanna said softly as she watched Jean-Luc's gazing down at Beverly's beautiful face. "Don't worry, she'll be fine."
"How are they doing?" Jean-Luc asked, trying to turn to the monitor, but had to stop because the injury he had received to his back suddenly seized up.
Deanna felt his pain immediately. "Looks like you had a rough time too," Deanna replied as she ran a tricorder scan over his back. "Both Beverly and Bailey are doing fine. Considering they are dead. According to all the data, we have to leave them dead for another three minutes at least. That way Devon's presence should be gone.
Deanna closed the tricorder. "Well you have classic backache, and lots of cuts and bruises," she replied with a sigh. "But I only know how to bring people back from the dead, so I don't know what to do to help you other than give you painkillers."
"Well we should start to prepare then," Jean-Luc said as Deanna searched around for a hypospray painkiller.
"Agreed," Jean-Luc said. "They are over there," he added pointing to a rack of hypospray's nearby.
"Thanks," Deanna said with a sheepish grin. "There, all better?" she asked after injecting him.
"Much better thank you," he replied, stretching out his back. "Lets get to it then."
They managed to bring both Bailey and Beverly back with no complications. Jean-Luc stayed by Beverly's bedside until she awoke a couple of hours later.
"How are you feeling?" he asked, squeezing her hand.
Beverly blinked a few times. "Okay," she replied simply.
"Everything is going to be fine now," he said softly. "We are heading back to the Enterprise shortly. Is there anything you want me to collect from the villa?"
"Nothing," she replied. "I didn't bring anything with me."
"We are going to tow the shuttlecraft," he continued, glancing over at Bailey who was still sleeping in the bed next door, she had suffered more at the hands of Devon and now had a few broken bones slowly setting in regeneration casts while she slept.
"Can I go to my room?" Beverly asked, trying to sit up.
"Just sleep," he replied, laying a hand on her shoulder and trying to make her lie back down.
"I will," she replied stubbornly. "In my room."
"Beverly you have just gone through a traumatic ordeal and I don't think you shouldn't be leaving Sickbay just yet," he replied softly, but sternly.
"It will be no different me lying asleep in my room, than me lying asleep here," she replied, her temper mounting. "I'm the only Doctor on this ship, and I will be the judge of what is safe and what isn't."
Jean-Luc gave up arguing; he could see there was no point. He tried to help Beverly sit up but she pushed him away.
"I'm perfectly capable of getting out of bed on my own," she snapped.
"You haven't got any clothes on," Jean-Luc pointed out to her, just as she realised that fact for herself as she sheet slipped down.
Luckily for her, she had turned her back to him. Yanking the sheets off the bed and wrapping them around her, she stalked out of Sickbay with Jean-Luc hot on her heals.
Deanna was sitting at the table in the main area when Beverly walked in and headed straight for the replicator.
"How are you feeling?" Deanna asked, glancing at Jean-Luc for a second.
Beverly didn't answer, so Jean-Luc spoke. "I think she's going to be fine," he said slowly. "But she came round with a bad case of the grumps."
Beverly glared at him as she replicated the standard Starfleet sleepwear. "I am fine Deanna," she snapped.
"That's good," Deanna replied brightly, trying to lighten the situation. She didn't know why Beverly was behaving as if they had done something horrible to her rather than save her from a demon spirit. "Bailey's still unconscious," she added.
Beverly glanced once at Deanna before stalking out of the main area to her room on the Yacht.
"Well," Jean-Luc said sitting down somewhat awkwardly at the table opposite Deanna. "She could have at least said thank you."
"Something isn't quite right," Deanna replied in a worried tone of voice.
"How so?" Jean-Luc asked, feeling his chest tighten.
"It maybe just a side affect of Devon leaving her body," she replied. "Her ungratefulness I mean."
"Or maybe it's because she's tired after her ordeal this week," Jean-Luc added hopefully. "We shall soon see when she wakes up. Right," he said climbing to his feet. "Beverly doesn't need anything picking up from the villa so I say we re-join Starfleet and head back to the Enterprise."
Deanna picked up the communicators from the table where they had left them earlier and handed Jean-Luc his. "Here you go Captain," she said signifying the change.
"Thank you Counsellor," he replied. "I'll go and bring the shuttle up here to the plateau and then we can leave."
"Yes sir," Deanna replied dutifully.
"If our grumpy Doctor wakes up in the near future," he added as he walked towards the transporter pad at the rear of the yacht. "Can you inform her that Bailey and I need some medical attention if she is up to the job," he said with a small smile as he rubbed his sore back.
"Will do," Deanna replied.
"Check on Bailey," he ordered. "I'll be back soon."
"Yes sir," the Counsellor replied.
Neither the Captain nor the Counsellor saw anything from Beverly on their two-day trip home. She hadn't even left her room once during the whole trip. Jean-Luc routinely monitored her life signs, but had decided to leave her alone. If she had wanted company, she knew where she could have found it.
Bailey had been seen coming in and out of her room getting food from the replicator. But other than a brief conversation about their estimated time of arrival back at the Enterprise, she had kept herself to herself too.
Deanna and Jean-Luc successfully docked the yacht in her place in the belly of the Enterprise and then glanced at each other, each wondering who was going to be brave enough to tell Beverly and Bailey they had arrived home.
"I'll be on the Bridge if you need me," Jean-Luc said, signalling that he had left telling the cousins they were home to Deanna.
"Yes sir," Deanna replied and headed down the corridor. Both of the far bedroom doors opened seconds later and Bailey and Beverly headed out of their rooms in silence.
Deanna stepped aside to let them pass. She noticed Bailey glancing furtively at Beverly and realised then why Bailey had stayed in her room. She could sense Beverly's anger towards Bailey immediately and realised that Beverly still didn't know the whole story. Someone needed to fill her in.
"Beverly?" Deanna asked, catching up with her long legged friend.
Beverly stopped and they waited until Bailey had left earshot before Deanna spoke again.
"I need to explain what happened back there," Deanna said looking up into her friends blue eyes.
"I just want to be alone for a while Deanna," Beverly replied softly.
Her gentle tone took Deanna by surprise. She had expected Beverly to be snappy and irritable like her empathic senses were telling her. "When you want to talk, you know where I am. It doesn't matter what time, day or night."
"I know," Beverly smiled softly. "I'll see you soon," she added before heading off to her quarters.
Deanna followed after collecting hers and the Captain's luggage. She knew she had her work cut out for her and decided she should start right away and speak to Bailey.
It took Deanna ages to find Bailey, partly because she still had Bailey's communicator held in the palm of her hand. Deanna searched most of the ship and asked every crewmember she past if they had seen Bailey. Just as she was about to give up, she got some great news from Ensign Peters. He had just seen Bailey heading into the small meeting room on deck thirty.
Deanna rushed to the meeting room, afraid that she might miss Bailey. Luckily Bailey was still there, sitting quietly at the large conference table surrounded by computer pads.
"Hey Bailey," Deanna said softly.
Bailey jumped, "Hey," she replied with a small smile.
"What are you doing?" Deanna asked, moving round the table to sit next to her.
"Looking into my options," Bailey replied motioning to the pads. "Considering I'll probably be sent off the ship now that I resigned my commission."
"You can't leave the ship unless you find another adult willing to take on your guardianship or you go back to university," Deanna pointed out.
"That's why I'm looking through the universities," Bailey replied. "I'm not upset at having to leave. I haven't been here long enough to make any friends or get settled in."
Deanna studied Bailey for a few moments, contemplating what she had said without words. "You don't want to go," Deanna stated.
Bailey looked down. "I…" her voice trailed off.
"You don't want to be alone," Deanna continued. "For the first time in your life, you are truly alone."
Bailey's bottom lip trembled. "I don't want to talk about it," she mumbled.
"It won't go away if you ignore it Bailey," she replied.
"It's stupid that they raised the age of legally running your own life to twenty!" Bailey snapped. "I was perfectly capable when I was sixteen. This is all stupid! Beverly won't even speak to me! I tried when she came off the yacht. She just glared at me! I tried to tell her that I was as much a victim as she was, but she wouldn't even let me speak to her!" She squeezed her eyes shut tight and rested her head in her hands. "I am so damn frustrated!"
"I can tell," Deanna replied.
"No but it isn't just that!" Bailey snapped, rising from her chair. "I wanna go and punch someone! I want to smash something to smithereens. I want to break something!"
"I don't usually prescribe going to the holodeck to smash something," Deanna replied softly. "But perhaps that might help you a little."
"I'm on my way," Bailey replied, leaving Deanna sitting alone at the table wondering what to do next. She recognised Bailey's problem as not just frustration, but sexual frustration. How was she going to inform Bailey that she needed a man?
Jean-Luc had decided to let Beverly Crusher come out of hiding in her own time. Deanna had tried to speak to Beverly, but had informed him that she was very reluctant to talk about anything that had happened over the past week. She repeatedly told Deanna in no uncertain terms that she was fine and told her she wanted to be alone.
Bailey had been a little quicker at resuming normal life. She seemed to take everything that had happened to her in her stride. Jean-Luc had learned also that Bailey had written a long letter to Beverly about what had actually happened and where they expected Devon to have come from. But so far, Beverly hadn't opened the letter and read it.
Jean-Luc had just finished his third day back on duty after their escapade and was heading home for the evening when he decided that enough was enough and that he would go to see the stubborn redhead and try and get her to open up to him.
He went to his quarters to change and stopped in the doorway, his mouth hanging open slightly in surprise. Beverly herself was standing inside his quarters in the dim half-light, staring out the window to the stars beyond.
"Beverly?" he said softly, not wanting to startle her because she appeared to be lost in thought.
She didn't respond, so he moved closer and stood right behind her. He leaned around slightly and saw that she had her eyes closed to the view. Her cheeks glistened in the light and his heart went out to her.
Beverly seemed to sense his closeness because she leaned back against his chest and sighed softly when he wrapped his arms around her waist and held her to him.
"I hate this," she mumbled, bringing her hands up to clasp his. "I don't like feeling so… so…"
"Lost?" Jean-Luc filled in.
Beverly nodded and turned around in his arms. "How do you know?" she asked in wonder.
"The Borg," he replied softly, amazed that she was letting him hold her so closely. "I felt the same way when you rescued me."
Beverly nodded, biting on her bottom lip. "It's like I miss Devon," she whispered. "I know he was using me, but I feel like a part of me is missing now."
"I understand," he replied, smiling ruefully at her.
Beverly closed her eyes and fresh tears spilled onto her cheeks. She hated showing her weaknesses in front of anyone, but she knew she could trust Jean-Luc implicitly. She wanted desperately to tell him how lonely she was, to tell him how vulnerable she really was, to let him know that was how Devon had managed to get her to surrender to him so easily. Telling her sweet fantasies of how she would never be alone again.
She knew that all Jean-Luc saw was a strong independent woman, headstrong and very stubborn when she wanted to be. He had never seen the other side of her, the soft romantic dreamer. She wanted so much to show him, but just couldn't find the courage or rid herself of her fears of losing him.
She needed him to give her a push in the right direction. She wanted him to ask her to love him.
Beverly didn't feel at all comfortable in his presence with these forbidden thoughts rampaging through her mind. She shifted and pulled out of his embrace.
"Thank you for understanding," she said softly. "I'm sorry I was a royal pain in the arse back on the yacht too. I don't know what came over me."
"Reality," he supplied for her, almost as if he knew what she was thinking.
Beverly looked stung at his comment. "Well I'm going back on duty tomorrow morning," she said a few moments later, after her initial shock had dissipated.
"Are you sure you are up to it?" he asked like a mother hen.
"Yes," she replied without hesitation.
"You need to write a report on your sudden absence," he continued. "Starfleet may want some questions answered. The whole rescue mission has been taken off the record. As far as Starfleet are concerned, Bailey, Deanna, and I decided that whilst the ship was being repaired that we would use up some of our shore leave and take the yacht out for an airing."
"How did you explain the sudden need for a warp core?" Beverly asked perplexed that Jean-Luc should feel it necessary to help her embarrassment and cover up the true nature of their mission.
"Well," Jean-Luc said with a grin. "Data and Geordi as far as I know wrote the reports before we even found out about Devon. They theorised and summarised that the explosions were unexplainable."
"What about Jamie Peitx?" Beverly asked.
"In this case, we have explained the whole Dvorovoi thing to Starfleet," he said. "Without mentioning you at all. We even commented that the explosions might have something to do with Devon."
"So you have covered everything then?" Beverly asked.
"So far nothing else has come up," he replied. "We left the ship before the news could start to spread. Will only knows what we have told him."
"Thank you," she replied softly. "We don't want Starfleet to think that I fall head over heals in love with the nearest strange entity and lose my mind and leave the ship!"
Jean-Luc could tell that she was trying to lighten up the situation. "Did you love him?" he asked before he could stop himself.
Beverly was caught off guard at his question and quickly looked away. "Maybe for a while," she replied softly. "But it wasn't real."
Jean-Luc nodded slowly in understanding. "The last day?" he asked.
Beverly blushed at the memory of the last day. The way she had suddenly found the courage to try and seduce him came as much of a shock to her as it had to him. "Yes," she replied. "When he was totally merged with me."
She glanced at him for a second and could see that he had many unasked questions. "He came to my quarters," she said in monotone. "The first time he… started to merge with me. I fought as hard as I could, but couldn't stop him." Tears rolled freely down her cheeks as she spoke the painful truth to him.
"He threatened that he would kill us if I spoke one word of it to anyone," she continued. "I couldn't stop him because if I tried to touch him, my hands would go right through him as if he wasn't there. He was totally invisible the first time."
"That's why you began to stay in my quarters," he said, finally understanding a little.
Suddenly the whole story poured forth from within her. She told him everything that had happened. She told him of her fears and the reason she knew she had to leave the ship, to save them all from death.
She stood the whole time, sometimes pacing from one end of the living area to the other, sometimes standing still and imploring him with her amazing blue eyes to understand her. She actually told him how alone and empty she felt. Her own eyes had widened at her unexpected confession and she immediately looked for a way to leave Jean-Luc's company.
As fast as her confessions came, they suddenly stopped. Beverly told him she had to go home to catch up on the happenings in Sickbay for the past week or so and promised him she would join him for dinner the day after.
Jean-Luc was left alone in his quarters, only the subtle sent of her perfume left. All he was sure of now, was that he had to have her. Nothing was going to sway him from asking her to stay with him tomorrow night after dinner.
The next day, Bailey was dragged reluctantly down to sickbay by Deanna to visit her Doctor. Bailey had been assigned to Dr Selar, and felt somewhat relieved to find that piece of information out. As far as she knew, after checking the computer once more before Deanna had collected her for her appointment, she still had no receipt for the letter she had sent to Beverly. Which only meant that Beverly hadn't read it yet and also that Beverly would still be blaming her for everything. Being under Dr Selar, Bailey was confident that she wouldn't be accidentally on purposely poisoned.
Deanna was as surprised as Bailey, when they arrived at Sickbay to find Beverly Crusher on duty and treating patients as normal.
Deanna sensed Bailey's trepidation at the sight of her cousin and reached over and squeezed her shoulder. "Don't worry," she whispered. "I'm sure that once Beverly finds out what actually happened, she realise her error of judgement."
"Well I wish she'd just read the damn letter!" Bailey snapped, noticing Dr Selar motioning them to join her in the room next door. "It took me three whole hours to write it!"
"I'm sure she will read it as soon as she feels up to it," Deanna assured her newest friend.
"As soon as she feels like it more like," Bailey grumbled as she laid down on the bio bed for her scans.
Beverly appeared a few minutes later to watch over the procedure that Dr Selar was performing on Bailey.
Bailey was frustrated that Deanna had insisted that she continue to use the inhibiter after arriving back from Belleza. She couldn't sense what Beverly was feeling and it felt as if she were just a drawing and not an open book to her anymore.
Deanna went over to Beverly and leaned against the wall beside her. "How are you today?" she asked.
"Fine," Beverly replied, pushing a few buttons on the control panel in front of her.
"You need to talk about what happened with someone," Deanna persisted.
"I already have," Beverly replied softly.
"You did?" Deanna asked in amazement. "Who too? If you don't mind me asking."
"Jean-Luc," Beverly replied, stopping her work and staring at her friend. "I think I gave away too much."
"What do you mean?" the Counsellor asked, a small frown knitting her eyebrows together.
"I'll tell you later," Beverly replied, deciding that she didn't want to discuss it any further. "Maybe," she added as an after thought.
"Maybe," Deanna moaned. "You are such a tease Beverly!"
"I know," Beverly grinned at her friend.
"Well," Deanna said glancing at Bailey who was now out cold. "I think you should read Bailey's letter before she has a heart attack from worrying too much."
"What letter?" Beverly asked, genuinely perplexed.
"She sent you a letter two days ago," Deanna explained. "One that will explain everything to you that went on."
"Oh," Beverly replied frowning. "I haven't really bothered checking my messages. I'll go read it now," she said leaving the room.
Deanna turned her attention back to Dr Selar and watched as she scanned Bailey to determine the exact nature of her empathic ability.
A few minutes later, Beverly reappeared at Deanna's side. "I didn't get a letter in my mail box from Bailey," she stated. "There were loads of other messages, but not one from Bailey."
"I'll tell her when this is all over," Deanna replied, then turned and caught Beverly's arm. "You have to stop blaming her for all that has happened."
Beverly looked away quickly. "Why should I?"
"Because she isn't to blame," Deanna replied simply. "She made me promise not to say anything because she wanted to tell you in her own words how all this happened. Just don't be too hard on her. If you can't be civil, I suggest you avoid her."
"I fully intend to do so," Beverly snapped, glaring at Deanna. "I'll be in my office."
Deanna shook her head in amazement. Beverly and Bailey certainly seemed to know how to complicate simple matters. If they would just meet and talk this through, Beverly would understand that Bailey was treated far more badly than she had ever been by Devon. Beverly's week or so under Devon's rein would have been considered a breeze to Bailey. And yet Bailey seemed to be taking it better than Beverly was.
The little procedure went well, and fifteen minutes later Deanna and Bailey left sickbay and headed towards ten forward for some lunch whilst they waited for the test results.
"It must be a good sign," Bailey said happily as she slid into the booth opposite Deanna after ordering their food and drink.
"What is?" Deanna replied reaching over for her cup of steaming hot root tea.
"That Dr Selar removed the inhibiter from my system," Bailey explained. "I can't be too badly in danger can I? Or she wouldn't have done that."
"I suppose not," Deanna replied as she blew on her tea.
"So Beverly never received the damn letter then?" Bailey asked, as she gazed lovingly at her big glass of banana milkshake.
"No," Deanna shook her head. "Must have been a glitch somewhere?"
"That letter took me three whole hours to write!" Bailey complained. "I don't think I bothered to save it either. I'll have to write it all down again!"
"Why don't you just speak to her?" Deanna suggested. "It would be easier."
Bailey sighed, "Right now, considering the negative thoughts I'm receiving from Beverly, I'm surprised that she even came into the examination room whilst I was there."
"Maybe she'll talk to you now?" Deanna continued. "I did tell her not to blame you and to read the letter. Just tell her that the letter must have been lost in a computer glitch and tell her what you wrote?"
Bailey frowned and stared into the frothy yellow milkshake. "I'll do my best to recover the letter first. If I can't, then I'll try and speak to her."
"This is silly," Deanna said exasperated. "Why are you so scared of speaking to her? She is your only living family and I don't think either of you are enjoying this. If you both weren't so damn stubborn, life would be so much easier."
"To be honest," Bailey admitted. "I'm worried about the famous Howard temper making a guest appearance at our talk. If she loses her temper, I'll lose mine and we don't want another murder on the ship!" she smiled wryly. "I once saw my mother and my Nan arguing. It wasn't a pretty sight I can tell you!"
Deanna laughed. "I see why you wanted to give her a letter now! It will make sure you actually get a word in!"
Bailey giggled and shortly afterwards her laughter faded to a sigh and she gazed out of the window at the stars obviously deep in thought.
It was times like this, when she let down her guard that Bailey showed how deeply traumatised she was after finding out the truth behind Devon's presence in her life.
"Do you want to talk about it?" Deanna offered as she gently took Bailey's hand.
Bailey shook her head. "Not really," she replied.
Deanna sighed, at least Bailey didn't say she was fine all the time like Beverly did. "Are you still planning to leave the ship?"
"Probably," Bailey replied evasively.
"Well just promise me you will sort out this little misunderstanding with Beverly before you leave," Deanna insisted. "You are perfect for each other."
"Beverly reminds me of my mother," Bailey said distantly, her gaze still focused on the stars outside the ship.
"Well I'm absolutely sure that Beverly adores you like a mother," Deanna replied with a smile.
Bailey returned Deanna's smile. "She did," she said grinning. "At least until she found out I knew about Devon. We had a lovely chat. I really felt like I was getting to know her at last. She made me feel so comfortable, like I could tell her anything and she wouldn't judge me. She felt the same way about me too."
Deanna could see hope shining deep within Bailey's violet eyes. "Is this the talk you told me about on the yacht?"
"Yes," Bailey nodded. "She took me back to my quarters to lecture me about my teasing. I think Beverly is used to dealing out all the teasing and doesn't like to receive it!" Bailey laughed.
Deanna nodded and laughed. "That is so right!"
"I was teasing her about the Captain," Bailey continued, grinning at the memory. "I told her that I thought she was conducting an illicit affair with him behind everyone's backs. I said that she sneaked down the corridor to make love to him every night!"
Deanna couldn't help herself and laughed. "What did she say?" Deanna asked, leaning forward, a grin plastered on her face.
"I couldn't divulge information like that!" Bailey squealed in mock horror.
"Well," Deanna drawled out. "If something did happen and I know it hasn't, Beverly would have to tell me!"
"Why would she?" Bailey asked, sucking on her straw.
"Because I'd kill her if she didn't!" Deanna laughed. "Us Betazoids, especially me can't handle being able to sense something and not knowing all the details."
"Tell me about it," Bailey laughed. "I've only been empathic for a little while and it's already bugging me."
"It's so damn good having another Betazoid around who I can talk to about stuff like this," Deanna said smiling. "I sincerely hope that you don't decide to leave us."
"Thank you," Bailey replied, truly overwhelmed by the strength of Deanna's conviction.
"Especially if you do what you're planning to do," Deanna continued excitedly. "That would be so cool!"
Bailey looked at Deanna suspiciously. "I don't know what you mean."
"I think you do," Deanna said mischievously. "I am not getting involved, although I have often thought about it myself. What are you going to do?"
"I'm not going to tell you," she pronounced, grinning from ear to ear.
"Oh," Deanna moaned.
"Besides, I don't even know what I'm gonna do myself yet!" Bailey giggled.
Beverly waited in her quarters until the very last minute for Bailey's letter to arrive before heading to Jean-Luc's quarters for dinner. She wanted to know what was so important, that Bailey couldn't come to her and tell her in person. She knew she hadn't made it easy for her when Bailey had tried to speak with her just after they returned to the Enterprise a few days ago. But she had been hurting at the time and desperate to get back to her quarters and back to reality.
Jean-Luc's quarters, Beverly discovered, were laid out perfectly for seduction. She swallowed hard as she took a seat at the table and allowed him to push her chair in for her and pour her some of his best Château Picard vintage wine.
Beverly was extremely glad she had decided to dress herself up for the occasion, but admittedly had only really done so to try and alleviate her blues. She had always found self-pampering therapeutic.
During the meal, where they only exchanged the usual ships gossip, she frequently caught Jean-Luc gazing at her. It frustrated her that she couldn't tell whether it was love or just lust, or maybe the little black dress was too much?
She didn't dare herself to return his gazes or even acknowledge them; she was almost shaking and felt nauseas. She knew his intentions and knew she couldn't face them now, not feeling like this.
She didn't know how to explain the jumbled mesh of emotions flooding through her, and when they sat on the comfy lounge furniture, the intense uneasiness only escalated. One drink and she would leave.
Jean-Luc watched her hand shake as she lifted the tiny glass to her lips and down the cherry brandy in one. "Are you all right?" he asked softly.
Beverly's eyes darted in his direction, "Yes, I'm fine," she replied instantly.
"You seem a little on edge," he replied, a frown crowning his forehead.
"I'm just tired," she replied, forcing a reassuring smile.
"Beverly," he began, not noticing the panic in her eyes. "I…" his voice faltered. He had practiced this over and over in his head all day long, and now when it finally came to the crunch he couldn't do it!
"I'm sorry Jean-Luc," she said interrupting him. "I'm falling asleep here. I think I better call it a night."
Jean-Luc couldn't hide the disappointment in his expression. He dutifully got to his feet and showed her to the door like the true gentleman he was.
They stood face to face for a moment, neither one wanting the evitable eye contact. When their eyes met, Jean-Luc saw the fear deep within her soul and it shocked him. Without thinking his actions through, he lifted his hand and touched the side of her face.
Beverly instantly tensed and stopped breathing. "I…" now it was her turn to be lost for words, his palm felt electric against her cheek.
Jean-Luc seemed to be on a roller coaster ride of rashness, he leaned forward and brushed his lips against hers. Beverly jerked away from him; her expression told him she was totally stunned.
"I'm sorry," they both mumbled in unison.
Beverly bit on her bottom lip, trying to halt the flow of the tears burning the back of her eyes.
"I thought," Jean-Luc began. "I'm sorry."
"I should go," Beverly replied, finding her voice at last.
"I'm sorry," he said again. "I'm making such a fool of myself," he said shaking his head in disgust.
"Just because I told you I was lonely," Beverly said, her temper suddenly taking a stand within her. "It doesn't mean I'm going to jump into bed with you! You know how vulnerable I am and you tried to use it to your advantage!"
"I didn't!" Jean-Luc cried as she stormed out of his quarters. He stared at the closed door for a second before dropping to his knees and pushing both his palms to his forehead. He didn't know how he could have been so wrong. Beverly wasn't the only one that felt overwhelming fear. He did too; he loved her so much. He had done for decades; he needed Beverly and knew that she needed him too.
Jean-Luc was desperately lonely too, he knew now that he should have confessed to her when she had opened her heart to him. But he couldn't bring himself to. He had never been good at expressing his emotions and now he may have lost Beverly for good.
Bailey ran all the way to deck twelve, not bothering to get dressed. This was far too important to think about modesty. She didn't care that she was only wearing a slinky white satin nightdress and nothing else.
She arrived just in time to see Beverly reach her quarters.
"Beverly!" Bailey yelled from the opposite end of the corridor.
Beverly jumped and turned to find her cousin, obviously in some distress rushing down the corridor in a near state of undress. "What's wrong?" Beverly asked, burying her aching heart deep within her.
"You have to go back!" Bailey said as she came to a stop beside her.
"Go back where?" Beverly asked in confusion.
"To the Captains quarters," she replied urgently. "You have to sort this out!"
Beverly began shaking her head, finally realising Bailey's intent and her mad dash from her quarters. "This is my business," she insisted.
"Oh for God sakes woman!" the younger redhead snapped. "I don't care what you're thinking he was thinking. Just go back!"
"No!" Beverly snapped and opened the doors to her quarters. To her surprise, Bailey grabbed her and pushed her against the wall.
"Give me one good reason why not!" Bailey cried, glaring at Beverly as she held her against the bulkhead.
"This is none of your business Bailey!" Beverly growled. "I'd thank you to take your hands off me!"
"You're being stupid!" Bailey persisted, not giving up her grip despite the glare that would have made a Klingon think twice about messing with the older redhead.
"Get off me!" Beverly yelled, trying to shake off Bailey's grip.
"Just listen to me for a second," Bailey said, trying tactful reasoning, she tightened her grip on Beverly's arms.
Beverly stopped struggling, and glared at Bailey. Tears were threatening to overwhelm her and she didn't want Bailey to see her crying. "What ever it is, I don't want to hear it!"
Bailey rolled her eyes. "That man back there and you are so damn stupid it's unbelievable!" Bailey snapped. "I can't believe the war of wills you are playing against each other. If only you knew what I knew!"
"What?" Beverly asked, despite herself.
Bailey released her grip, realising that she now had Beverly as a captive audience. "If you walk away now, you'll regret it."
"I've already walked away," Beverly replied through gritted teeth. "And I don't want to see that man for a long time."
"You're angry," Bailey stated.
"Aren't you just a clever little empath?" Beverly said sarcastically.
"I'm not empathic," Bailey replied sourly. "I'm telepathic and if you had actually listened to me the other day you would know that!"
"Bailey," Beverly began. "I'm tired right now, we can talk about anything you want to tomorrow morning at breakfast. I just want to go to bed now."
"You just want to go inside and cry," Bailey retorted. "I know what happened between you and the Captain after Kesprytt. I know he asked you to be with him. I know you said no and left him. You told me all of this yourself."
"So what?" Beverly replied, regretting doing so.
"How many years ago was that?" Bailey asked.
Beverly shook her head, "I'm not sure, seven or eight years I guess."
"Are you willing to wait that long for him to ask you again?" Bailey asked seriously. "Are you now willing to go through the awkward couple of years after he asked you again?"
"He didn't ask me anything tonight," Beverly stated.
"He was trying to," Bailey replied, watching Beverly's expressing intently.
"He was?" Beverly replied in amazement.
"Yes!" Bailey shook her head, "I know I shouldn't be telling you all of this. But until I have taken the 'How to be a Betazoid' class, I still have an excuse."
"What are you trying to tell me?" Beverly asked as she took Bailey's arm and tugging her inside her quarters as she heard voices coming from somewhere down the corridor heading their way.
The doors slid shut behind them, neither moved away from the threshold. "Remember you asked me whether he still loved you or not?"
"Yes," Beverly replied, her heart pounding in her chest.
"Well he most certainly does still love you," Bailey declared, a big grin on her face.
Beverly's heart filled to bursting at her cousin's words. "He does?" she asked, not quite believing her own ears.
Bailey nodded. "Of course he does you stupid woman!" she said laughing at Beverly's expense.
"I'm not stupid," Beverly replied, flopping down on the couch. A big goofy grin filled her face and she laughed.
"Well," Bailey said expectantly as she joined Beverly on the couch. "What are you going to do now?"
"Nothing," Beverly replied, her face falling.
"Come on Beverly!" Bailey said rolling her eyes.
"Bailey," Beverly warned in a low voice.
"I've just put my Betazoid heritage on the line for you," Bailey went on. "And now you are going to tell me to go away again and to mind my own damn business. Well I'm sorry; I'm as frustrated hell here! You must be too after Devon and if one of us doesn't have to feel so damn lonely, then one of us isn't!"
"I'm not ready!" Beverly yelled. She felt trapped and didn't like it one bit. Bailey was pushing her into doing something that she was not ready for.
"I know you aren't," Bailey replied, taking Beverly's hand. "But you can't leave it like this. You need to talk to him. Right now, he is thinking that you don't feel the same way about him as he does about you. He's telling himself to move on. If you don't go and speak to him now, it maybe too late."
Beverly ran a shaky hand through her hair. "I wouldn't know how to begin," she said, trying to find any excuse she could in hope that she didn't have to go back there.
"Listen to me," Bailey said slowly. "I know you've been hurt over and over again. That's what's keeping you from him."
"How did you get to be so wise?" Beverly asked, subtly trying to change the topic.
"I grew up too fast," Bailey replied softly. "Just go back to him. I'd hate to see this messed up because of your pride."
"Why hasn't he come to see me to sort it out?" Beverly asked.
"Because he feels like a fool," Bailey replied simply. "He's under the impression that you don't love him like that. He has thought that ever since Kesprytt actually. Which is probably why he's had other relationships with other women. He had no idea he was hurting you."
"He doesn't know I love him?" Beverly asked gazing off into the distance.
"Well not exactly," Bailey explained. "He knows you love and care for him as a friend. But he doesn't think you are physically attracted to him. He can't bring himself to believe that someone like you can find him sexy."
Beverly had to laugh at that. "That man is too damn sexy!"
"Go and tell him!" Bailey exclaimed.
"I can't!" Beverly cried. "I'm not ready!"
"Well go and tell him you're not ready!" Bailey snapped as she climbed to her feet and kept her grip on Beverly's hand. "Get up!"
Beverly felt herself get yanked to her feet and all the while she protested loudly. "Can't I tell him in the morning?" he was her last attempt to get out of what was bound to be a humiliating experience.
"Tell him now," Bailey replied, shoving her towards the door. "My mother always taught me not to sleep on an argument. It only stews and gets out of hand."
"But…"
"I'm not asking you to sleep with him for God sakes," Bailey continued. "Just get over there and tell him how you feel and that you aren't ready!"
Tears began falling down Beverly's face; she was shaking like mad and couldn't believe she was being forced into something she didn't want to do.
"It's for the best," Bailey reminded her as she left Beverly standing on the doorstep of Jean-Luc Picard's quarters moments later.
The doors slid open before Beverly even had a chance to ring the door chime. Obviously they hadn't been locked since she had left earlier.
Seconds later she spotted Jean-Luc sitting alone at the dinner table staring back at her.
Beverly swallowed hard and went inside, she didn't have a choice in the matter considering that Jean-Luc had already seen her.
"I…" she mumbled, wiping her tears away with the back of her hand.
"I'm sorry," he said after he had got over the initial shock at seeing her again that night. "I was just wondering whether I should come and see you or not."
Beverly watched him climb to his feet and walk slowly towards her, no matter how hard she tried; she couldn't stop the tears from falling.
"I wasn't trying to take advantage," he persisted and was about to go on when Beverly spoke up.
"I know," she replied softly.
"You do?" he replied, a lack of comprehension showing clearly on his handsome face. "It was just a good night kiss. I know you don't want anything more with me."
Beverly bit her bottom lip gently as she gazed into Jean-Luc's glassy eyes. She realised he was near to tears. She couldn't bear seeing him hurting like this. "I came to tell you…" she stopped to search for the right words. "I want you to know that I am in love with you Jean-Luc."
Jean-Luc blinked. "I… um…"
Beverly smiled at his lack of speech. It felt so damn good to finally say the words she had longed to for so many years. So she decided to say them again for good measure. "I am in love with you."
"Thank you!" he said happily, a huge smile lit up his face as if he were a small boy.
Beverly had to laugh. "You're welcome." Her Colgate smile faded as she looked at his joyous face. "But…"
Jean-Luc's face fell this instant she spoke again. "But what?" he asked as he saw her internal struggle to find the right words.
"I'm not ready," she mumbled, imploring him to understand with her sky blue eyes.
Jean-Luc sighed and turned away, his shoulders slumped in disappointment. "Will you ever be?" he asked in a defeated voice.
Beverly sighed softly and her heart went out to him. She moved towards him and run her hand across his shoulders as she turned him to face her again. "I will someday. Just give me time and I'll be ready."
Jean-Luc nodded, pursing his lips together. At least he knew now that his wait that seemed everlasting would not be in vain. Someday he knew she would let him love her. "Any idea of the time scale?" he quipped.
Beverly swatted him on his arm and laughed. "Just give me a chance will you!"
"A week? A month? A year?" he asked, laughing with mirth.
Beverly shrugged. "Lets just see okay?" she replied. "Don't you dare fall in love with some alien in the meantime. I'm serious Jean-Luc."
"Aye sir," he replied. "You've made me a very happy man Beverly."
Beverly smiled warmly at him. "Jean-Luc?" she asked softly. "Can I have a hug?"
Jean-Luc smiled in delight and pulled her into his embrace. "You can have anything you want from me. It's always been so."
Beverly hugged him back, he felt so good in her arms. It was like she was home, safe and sound. They stayed like that, in the comfort of each others arms for what seemed like an eternity, neither wanting to let go of the moment.
Reluctantly Beverly pulled back. "I really should go now," she said softly, not daring herself to stay any longer.
Jean-Luc nodded. "You will come by for breakfast won't you?"
"I certainly will," she replied, dropping a sweet kiss, full of promise on to his waiting lips.
She let go of his hands and went to the door. "Goodnight," she wished him.
"You'll let me know when you're ready won't you?" he asked, not moving from the middle of the living room.
End of part eight