I have absolutely no excuse for letting it go for this long and I apologize for this belated update. Thanks to all who reviewed even though they knew I hadn't updated in a while. Right then, I think I've wasted enough time…on to the story!

Disclaimer: sigh These things are so annoying sometimes. Don't own a house much less Star Trek.

Chapter 4: Goodbye

Savannah lay in her bed in an uncomfortable silence. She had stopped crying but her head still swirled with fear of being returned to her father. Wesley sat quietly in a chair next to her bed. In between sobs she had told him her dreary past and he was shocked into silence.

"You don't have to stay here if you don't want to," Savannah said quietly.

"No no, I want to stay," he replied. "If that's alright with you I mean."

Though Wesley could not see it, she smiled into her pillow and slowly turned around to face him. "It's ok with me. I just didn't know if you'd feel comfortable staying with me after what I told you."

"I think I wouldn't be able to face myself if I left."

"Why?"

"Because…something like that…you just need someone to be there. You don't have to face it alone."

She then smiled openly to him. "Thanks."

He smiled back. "No problem. What will you do?"

"I don't have much choice. If my father arrives I will have to go back to him or the Federation risks war with a very powerful people."

"It doesn't have to be that way," Wesley said shocked at her response. "What if the Galians never find out about it? Besides, I'm sure Captain Picard or Admiral Gardner will do something to protect you."

"Trust me, my father will tell them. Even though we moved off the planet, my people are a loyal race to one another. They will not sit idly by when one of their people has been wronged. No, the Federation has risked enough on my account already. Captain Picard merely being here puts him and his crew at risk. If it comes to it, I will leave to protect everyone."

"But-"

"You'll find that I'm very stubborn," Savannah said with a little amusement.

"Yes well so is Captain Picard. You'll see."

Captain Picard, Riker, Geordi, Dr. Crusher, Admiral Gardner sat in his ready room. They could not beam up to the Enterprise as the shields were up, but Data, Counselor Troi and Worf were filled in and were now looking on the view screen of the ship to add their input to the situation. (I didn't put Natasha Yar in here because I felt it would slow the story a little bit. Rest assured she is still there and will appear in my next story if you all would like to read it.)

"As Captain," Picard began. "I am forced to make choices at my discretion. However, given the unique circumstance I cannot make this choice alone. All of our lives are in the balance here so I would like to know your thoughts."

"I think it's absolutely terrible what happened to her," began Dr. Crusher. "I don't want to send her back to that sorry excuse of a father."

"I agree," acknowledged Worf. "What that man did was very dishonorable. And from what I understand of this girl, she is a very strong person and should not be forced to do something she clearly does not want to do. She is of the age where she can make her own decisions."

"Be that as it may Lieutenant Worf," said Riker. "She is not Klingon. Her people have different rules and are not very friendly to those who break them. I don't want to see her go back to him either, but the risk may be too high."

"What are the risks exactly if we were to take her with us?" inquired Geordi.

"The most probable retaliation from the Galian people is war." Data chimed in. "Since little is known about them, I cannot say what chance the Federation will have against them. They may be only one planet in size, but after what we encountered with the Q entity, they may be more powerful then the Federation. However, the possibility of Mr. Kalim finding the Enterprise, much less Savannah, is slim at best."

"I will tell you all right now," added Admiral Gardner. "Savannah will not go back to him quietly, but she will go. She's as stubborn as they come. She will not risk other people's lives for her sake, and she may fight your decision if you choose to take her."

"She is more honorable than I thought," commented Worf.

"Quite so, but I will deal with her when the time comes. Counselor Troi, what do you think?" asked Captain Picard.

"She is frightened; I can sense that even from here. Yet she is also very determined, about what I cannot say. I wouldn't want her to live her life in fear."

Admiral Gardner looked to everyone. "So have you all agreed?"

Silence.

"Very well. Admiral Gardner to Lieutenant Commander Kalim."

Wesley got Savannah to get out of bed and back out of her room. He then asked her questions about the base and its operations, not talking about what happened, to which she was grateful for. She began to open up to him a little more and told him about some of her "adventures" on the base. Nothing compared to what happened at Farpoint, but significant to her nonetheless.

She started to smile and laugh with Wesley until…

"Admiral Gardner to Lieutenant Commander Kalim."

"Yes Admiral?"

"Come to my ready room with Mr. Crusher please."

"Yes sir."

They exchanged glances before getting up and walking to their destination. Everyone had a serious face when they walked in. She saw Data and Counselor Troi on the view screen and smiled at them.

"Lieutenant Commander Kalim," Captain Picard began. "This is Lieutenant Commander Data and ship's Counselor Deanna Troi."

"Pleased to meet you."

Data gave Savannah a nod and Counselor Troi smiled at her.

"Savannah, I called you here because Captain Picard came to a decision about your transfer."

She looked to him. "Please sir, I don't want to put your crew in danger. In fact I-"

"Thank you Savannah," he interrupted. "We have all discussed the situation and have unanimously agreed to transfer you on to our ship."

Wesley smiled as Savannah stood dumbfounded. "But sir-"

"That is an order Lieutenant Commander," Picard said sternly. "I will expect you to be prepared to beam aboard my ship at 1900 hours."

There was nothing else she could say except "Yes sir." She then nodded to everyone and left to gather her things.

As they were preparing to beam aboard the Enterprise, Savannah said her goodbyes. The two Lieutenants who were arguing earlier in the day were there and both gave her hugs.

"It's going to be different without you here," said one.

"Yeah, I mean who's gonna yell at us in several different languages when we screw up badly?"

At this Savannah laughed and replied, "If the Admiral sends me word of you two acting up again, I swear the next time we come close to here I will yell at you all you like."

The Enterprise crew unsuccessfully hid their smiles.

"But you may never come back."

She then sent him a half-playful glare. "I'll be back when you least expect it."

Admiral Gardner looked to Savannah with both joy and sadness in his eyes. He had come to think of her as a daughter. She opened up to him first and they talked many times when they were off duty. He couldn't bear to see her go, but he knew it would be better for her if she left. "It's been a pleasure working with you Savannah."

"Believe me the pleasure's mine Admiral. What's going to happen to Ziegler?"

"For now he will say in the brig until we can evaluate everything on his ship and he will face an inquiry. He won't be leaving any time soon."

She smiled at him as they shook hands, then decided to loose the formality and hugged. When they parted, Savannah went to stand next to Wesley as Captain Picard spoke.

"Captain Picard to Data."

"Yes Captain?"

"Lower shields, six to beam up."

"Yes sir."

With one last smile, Savannah was gone.

Back on the Enterprise, Captain Picard asked Wesley to give Savannah a tour of the ship and show her where her living quarters would be. They had just reached her room when the sound for red alert boomed throughout the ship. They looked at each other confused.

"Ensign Crusher, you are needed on the main bridge. Savannah is to stay in her quarters for the time being."

"Who was that?" Savannah asked.

"That was Data. I guess stay here and get yourself settled. I'll try to fill you in when I can."

She nodded as he left. She couldn't even begin to try to get her things settled. Her mind was frantically asking questions that made her uneasy. Who is out there? Has he come early? Will I have to leave?

Well there you have it and again I apologize for the long wait. I hope you like this chapter. I'm not sure how many more I can pull out of my brain before ending it but I will let you know. Please read and review and I promise I won't take this long with the next chapter.