If you really want to read a disclaimer, see all of my other fics, you're bound to find various ones throughout them!
Come Back To Me
Chapter Three
The trip to Starfleet Command didn't take the pair as long as they expected. After quickly cleaning Beverly's apartment, they made their way through the Academy gardens towards Headquarters where the Admirality were waiting.
As Beverly Crusher and Jean-Luc Picard walked through the open doors into the complex's largest conference room, mainly used for special occasions and important meetings only, they were surprised to see the majority of Starfleet's top brass seated along a long rectangular table, with only two seats in front of them, obviously meant for the pair just walking in.
Just as Admiral Picard and Captain Crusher were taking their seats, the doors reopened and three more Admirals walked in - Owen Paris, Kathryn Janeway and Alynna Nechayev. The two females smiled kindly to the pair, who looked considerably smaller compared to the line of brass in front of them. As she passed, Janeway offered them a knowing wink, as if she was completely aware of everything that happened in Beverly's apartment
The male occupying the middle seat, Admiral William Ross, rose his wooden gavel and tapped it three times against the table, effectively calling the room to order. Beverly took it as her sign and rose from her seat.
"Captain Beverly Crusher," Ross said, looking across the wide bench towards her. "Your assignment on the Ballyntine will commence in a little over four days, however your diplomatic officer has yet to be posted. He or she must have years of experience in diplomatic situations, and no Admiral Janeway does not count for this assignment."
A quiet chuckle rocked Kathryn's body, as an equal chuckle rocked the body of Jean-Luc Picard.
"Then why have you brought Jean-Luc, um, I mean Admiral Picard, here?" Beverly asked, secretly hoping she knew the answer.
The admirality shared a glance, leaving the room in a very deep and uncomfortable silence.
"Well," Paris said, finally choosing his moment to speak. "With you permission, of course," he started, then gestured for Alynna to continue.
"I have known Jean-Luc Picard for many years, and I believe there is no one else suited for this job," Alynna Nechayev said cryptically. "The job of Senior Diplomatic Officer and Official Starfleet Liaison on the new USS Ballyntine is hereby offered to Admrial Jean-Luc Picard, serving beside Captain Beverly Crusher."
Beverly and Jean-Luc shared a shocked look of silence, both struggling to keep their jaws from hitting the table in front of them.
Kathryn Janeway warmly smiled at the pair, hiding the secret of their recently, and finally, rekindled relationship. "You two are expected to report to McKinley Station at 0800 hours tomorrow, ready for the first inspection of the Ballyntine."
Jean-Luc and Beverly nodded, both still gob smacked at the recent situation, but closed their mouths out of politeness.
"Are there any questions?" Fleet Admiral Jackson Mackenzie asked them.
"No sir," they both replied, before standing in respect for the brass.
"Very well, then," Fleet Admiral Mackenzie said, rising to his feet, the other Admirals following him. "Dismissed."
As Jean-Luc and Beverly left the conference room in silence, they were stopped by a call from one of the female Admirals in the room.
"Captain! Admiral!" Kathryn Janeway called.
Stopping in their tracks, Crusher and Picard turned around in unison to face the woman they both respected. Seven years in the Delta Quadrant had been harsh on her, her crew and her ship, Voyager, and yet she still managed to bring them home, united underneath the Federation and Starfleet's banner.
"Is there anything we can do for you, Admiral," Crusher asked, addressing the older woman formally just in case she wanted to talk shop.
"Drop the ranks, Beverly," Kathryn said with a smile. "I just wanted to know what I interrupted this morning, and when the wedding will be?"
The sly and cheeky grin on Kathryn's face made Jean-Luc recoil, first in shock, then in humour. "My God, Kathryn," he said, smiling a cheeky grin of his own. "You don't do anything half-arsed, do you?"
Kathryn laughed one of her real laughs at the look on Beverly's face. "What! I just want to know if I'll be invited, that's all."
This time, it was Beverly's turn to laugh. "Kathryn, keep your mouth shut, or I'll have your doctor do it for me. Nothing official has happened yet, but you'll be the first to know when it does, OK?"
"Whatever you say, Captain Picard," Janeway retaliated over her shoulder as she turned to leave the way she came in, through a private door.
Jean-Luc and Beverly shared an easy laugh as they headed out of Starfleet Command, hand in hand, towards the strip of restaurants just outside the centre of San Francisco.
"Welcome to McKinley Station, Captain, Admrial," came a voice from behind the transporter console as Captain Crusher and Admiral Picard stepped off the transporter pad.
"Thank you," Beverly said, before looking to the man's collar for his rank pips. "Lieutenant..."
"Chrysler. Lieutenant Oscar Chrysler, Chief Ops officer, USS Ballyntine." The handsome young man, around 170cm tall, sandy blonde hair and deep green eyes stepped down from behind the console to greet his new commanding officer and her diplomatic officer.
"Good to meet you, Mr Chrysler," Admiral Picard said, shaking the young man's hand.
"Would you like to see the ship, sirs?" he asked, after shaking Captain Beverly Crusher's hand.
Falling into step with Jean-Luc, Beverly gestured to the younger man. "Lead the way, Lieutenant Chrysler. Lead the way."
The Bridge of the newly commissioned USS Ballyntine, flagship of Starfleet's new medical fleet, was in organized chaos as Lieutenant Oscar Chrysler led Captain Beverly Crusher and Admiral Jean-Luc Picard into the command centre.
"Captain on the Bridge!" Jean-Luc called formally, alerting the crew of their commanding officer's presence, drawing attention and respect to the woman who had deserved this promotion over ten years ago.
The assembled crew stood at attention in respect of their new captain.
Beverly smiled warmly around her at the people she would get to know well. "Introductions, please."
A woman stood up from the first officer's chair, her jet black hair oddly familiar to the doctor. "I'm assuming you remember me, Doctor," she said, turning around to reveal her face.
Beverly gasped, recognizing her new first officer and rushing up to hug the woman tightly.
"Oh my God, Alyssa!" she shrieked as they embraced each other in a tight hug. "How did you get this assignment? When did you get promoted?"
The women stayed in each other's embrace for a further minute, before finally letting go. "Did you bring Andrew and Noah?"
Nodding, Commander Alyssa Ogawa Powell smiled. "They're on board. Noah's in school and Andrew is in ... Admiral Janeway contacted me when she found out you were going to command Ballyntine and offered me the assignment. And Admiral Paris promoted me to Lieutenant Commander over a year ago now, so all Janeway had to do was promote me again. I'm so happy you're my CO, after all you've taught me and all..."
Seeing Alyssa was about to cry, Beverly enveloped her in another hug.
"Alyssa, Alyssa, Alyssa. I've never known you to cry before," she said, releasing the younger woman, still admiring how much she had grown over the last fifteen years. "You've only ever been overly emotional when..." Beverly stopped, realizing something. "Oh My God, Alyssa. You're pregnant, aren't you?"
The younger woman stared up into her eyes, a wide smile emerging through the tears. "Is it that obvious? We were going to tell Noah tonight, after he's met you."
Beverly smiled again. "I can't think of anyone more deserving of another child than you, Alyssa," she said, finally releasing the commander from her grip.
"What about me, Beverly. Don't I deserve children too?"
During the reunion between Beverly and Alyssa, Jean-Luc Picard had retreated into the background, thus effectively shielding the arrival of five people they had not seen for almost two years.
Beverly slowly turned around at the sound of the familiar female voice, another huge smile erupting on her face when she saw Will and Deanna Riker standing on the upper level of her command centre, each adult holding a young child, with a third hugging Deanna's leg.
"Deanna!"
The half-Betazoid had to place the child she was holding on the floor before submitting to Beverly's embrace, obviously eager to see her best friend again.
"Why are you two here?" she asked after letting her friend go.
Will and Deanna shared a secret look before turning to face Beverly.
"A new assignment, and something else very confidential..." Will said cryptically, placing the child he was holding on the ground. "And you're not allowed to find out..."