Chapter 22

"You should have taken me up on that coffee," Beverly said, walking next to Jean-Luc out of sick bay. "It's practically time to wake up in the morning."

He rolled his eyes. "Not quite. I would prefer another hour of sleep to caffeine."

"And I know you prefer tea," she said, giving him a sideways glance.

"Hmm."

"What's wrong?" she asked.

He looked at her and stifled a yawn. "What? Oh, I am just thinking about your theory, that's all."

"And?" She broke into a smile as the intensity of his thoughts became etched into his features. She found she enjoyed watching him think, which he did often. She wondered if he preferred to have the weight of the decision on him always, or if he would sometimes prefer to hand off that responsibility. And she wondered if he was lonely when he sat alone in his quarters thinking, or if he was simply at peace.

She had the sudden urge to take hold of his arm while they were walking, but instead she held her tricorder more tightly. She was still awaiting his response to her question, and watching him, when his face contorted in shock. She followed his gaze and saw a body crumpled on the deck just ahead of them. They broke into a run and reached the still form at the same time. Beverly already had her tricorder open and working as she knelt down. Jean-Luc reached out to grab the man's neck. "He's still breathing," he said. But she gripped his shoulder.

"No, don't touch him! He's been poisoned and the toxin is still active on his skin."

Picard stood up staring down at Premier Fon helplessly. "We have to help him somehow."

Suddenly the tricorder gave off an alarm. She looked up at him. "It's too late...he's dead."

Suddenly, the both looked down at the deck and realized they were standing in a large pool of blood. Beverly ran the tricorder over it wordlessly. "This is human blood, Jean-Luc." They both surveyed the hallway, but there was only one body, that of Premier Fon's.

Responding to Picard's intercom call, Will Riker and Tasha Yar with her security team in tow rushed toward Captain Picard and Doctor Crusher. It would have been almost comical, had the rest of the scene not been so horrific. The two officers were wearing matching bathrobes, and looked shaken, yet professional under the circumstances.

"Captain...Doctor," Riker said, keeping calm as he took in his surroundings quickly. At least one person had died here, violently. "Are you two alright?"

Crusher nodded, but Picard said nothing and appeared to be working something through in his mind; still in command, even when wrapped in his bathrobe.

Riker studied Picard, who appeared to be, not surprisingly, an emotional rock. He had no doubt that the captain was affected by the grisly scene he had stumbled upon, but you wouldn't know it.

"We are fine," said Picard. "However there has been a set of tragic circumstances here that requires a thorough investigation," he said with perfect understatement. He pointed toward the body of a dead Ciapathian which lay several meters away. Riker had immediately recognized the dead man as Premier Fon when he arrived moments earlier, but now he allowed himself to look more closely. His once bright fuchsia skin tone had faded, and his eyes stared upward and unfocused. Streaks of white covered his once vibrant fuscia skin.

Next to him was a large pool of human blood and on the wall was another splatter of blood and a hand print. One of our people? Riker swallowed and returned his gaze to the Captain who was speaking. "This man was poisoned on my ship," Picard said angrily. "And we have a substantial amount of human blood, which Doctor Crusher is currently checking for possible DNA matches among the crew. Lieutenant," he called out to Yar who was barking orders at her security team.

"Yes, sir?" She came jogging over.

"Run a security sensor sweep of the area and seal off this corridor at all possible entry and exit points. No one but the four of us and your team come in or out until I say otherwise, understood? This is a crime scene and I don't want it trampled upon."

"Yes sir, understood," she said, waving over one of her officers.

"Number One," said Picard turning to Riker. "Given our delicate negotiating status with Ciapathia, we need to tread very carefully from here on in. I need you to notify the government of Ciapathia of Premier Fon's death. Please assure them that we are launching an investigation into the matter."

"And if they demand the body sir?"

"Tell them the Premier's body will be returned once my investigation is complete."

He's planning on running this investigation himself. "Yes, sir," said Riker, deciding that right then was not the time for an argument.

"Captain...you should see this." Both men turned to regard Doctor Crusher, who was holding her medical tricorder in hand. Her face was now ashen. Picard frowned and followed her far enough away that Riker had to practically eavesdrop to listen in.

Beverly slowly handed Picard the tricorder. He felt that she was watching him, and he tried to keep his face from revealing his dismay as he read the results of her DNA match. LaForge. When he looked at her again, he saw that she was blinking back tears.

We can't know for certain that he's dead, he thought. I will not accept one of our people being lost...not in this way. "If he is still on board, we'll find him," he assured her aloud. He moved to give her back the tricorder but instead of taking it from him, she clasped her fingers over his tightly and looked at him, trying to gauge what he was feeling. Neither of them were strangers to death. But murder was different. She wanted to connect with him over this horrible thing they had just experienced, but he simply looked through her, failing to engage.

Was this how he reacted when Jack died? No...he was there when it happened. He tried to save Jack. This is different. Don't jump to conclusions, Beverly. Geordi might still be alive. But there is so much blood...

"Wait..." she said, still looking into his eyes.

"Beverly," he said quietly looking down at where her fingers had turned pale from gripping his own hand so tightly. "Beverly, I have to go. Are you going to be alright?"

It was hard not to recall being in an empty corridor with him just ten years earlier, as he explained with a similar expression, that the unthinkable had happened to Jack. But this was now, not ten years ago. Get yourself together, Beverly. She nodded at him firmly, and then let go of his hand, taking the tricorder from him, watching as he walked to Riker.

Picard looked squarely at his first officer. "This blood belongs to Lieutenant LaForge."

"What?" Will felt his insides flip over.

"As far as any of us are concerned, he's still alive," said Picard. "But we must move swiftly to ascertain whether he is still on board. Now, I want teams searching for Mr. LaForge consistently and in an organized manner. Please coordinate with Yar. Never mind what I said about the Ciapathians. I'll handle them."

Will struggled to remain calm, but tears of anger burned in his eyes. This shouldn't have happened to Geordi. "Yes sir, if he's here we'll find him."

"I know we will," replied the captain. Then to Will's surprise he gripped him briefly on the forearm before walking away.