One week later...
"Fold." When Geordi LaForge got up from the poker table and excused himself for the night, no one thought anything of it. Like everyone else there, he had seemed to have been enjoying himself, and had expressed relief at finally being allowed to relax after the events of the previous week. "Thanks for inviting me, Commander. That was fun."
"Fun? Ohhh... come on LaForge, you can't give up that easy!" Will Riker stretched his long arms up over his head. He had invited the senior and bridge officers to his quarters for a game of poker to try and lift morale and celebrate his impending return to duty. Of course, the captain had politely declined. But Riker had been so happy about his own quick recovery from his injuries, that he hadn't felt slighted by the Captain's refusal to play cards with his crew. The captain had been so buried in administrative work since his confrontation with Admiral Forrester, that he'd been quiet and elusive. Riker was beginning to see that at times like these, he was best left alone.
Will studied Geordi's face. Physically he looked the same since before his startling disappearance, but everyone seemed to sense that he hadn't quite recovered emotionally from his ordeal, which despite the fact that he couldn't remember it, had impacted him immensely. "Anytime, Geordi," Riker said.
Geordi smiled back rather oddly. "I should get back up to the bridge. See you all later," he added with a small wave.
"Bye Geordi," Doctor Crusher said, glancing up from her hand. As good as it was to see Will up and around, she was feeling very distracted. She felt Deanna's gaze, but shrugged off the gentle brush against her psyche. She liked Troi, and was beginning to understand that Troi's empathy came first from her personality, and that her abilities to sense feelings were not the first method she relied on to counsel others. It made her feel much less guarded around the counselor.
Riker nodded over at Deanna. "What about you, Deanna? Are you still in?"
Troi rolled her eyes at Will's teasing grin and then glanced sideways at Data, who should have been unreadable, but for some reason kept wiggling his eyebrows in a bizarre manner. The problem was she couldn't tell if it meant he had a winning hand or not. The android had just raised the stakes, and given the weakness of her own hand, she was reluctant to stay in. "Fold, she said, with a yawn.
Riker began to chuckle. "Getting sleepy? Not that old trick..."
Beverly glanced from Troi to Riker with a small smile. The former couple wasn't shy about alluding to their history, which she personally found very refreshing; so she didn't mind listening to their many inside jokes, as it brought some levity to the somber mood around the ship lately.
Yar, who had been eyeing the rest of the players so intensely, suddenly pushed two stacks of chips forward. "I raise you twenty-five," she said confidently, not taking her eyes off of the android.
"Call," Crusher said, tossing in enough chips to stay in the game, before giving Will a sweet smile.
He matched her smile and threw his cards down dramatically. "I fold..."
Data coolly laid out his cards, then Yar and Crusher followed.
Riker pointed down at Data's cards. "Wow...that's a great hand, Data."
"If by great you mean winning, you are correct sir."
Yar swore under her breath, but then quickly shrugged off the loss. She looked around the table. "Are we still playing?"
About one hour later...
Picard was studying one of the many Ciapathian legal texts he had loaded onto his private console when Lieutenant LaForge walked on to the bridge. First, it was odd because LaForge wasn't scheduled for duty at that time, and secondly instead of proceeding to his usual post at the helm he just stood there silently.
Picard rose to his feet stiffly. He had been so immersed in finding some loophole in either Federation or Ciapathian law to find a way to release Li back into Starfleet custody, that he had been neglecting most physical activities, as well as rest. As a result his body felt like it had been tied into a knot.
"Mr. LaForge," he called out briskly, in an attempt to gain the young man's attention. "Lieutenant!" he said sharply, when LaForge continued to stare aimlessly at the wall.
Geordi turned his head slightly to regard the captain and his forehead creased, as though trying to remember something elusive. Now alarmed, Picard walked up the ramp toward his helm officer. Finally, the Visor turned in his direction.
"Sir?"
He lowered his voice. "Mr. LaForge, you're not scheduled for duty until 0800 tomorrow morning...is something wrong?"
LaForge appeared surprised at the question, but didn't immediately have an answer at hand. His lips trembled and he seemed stymied by the captain's query. "I-I don't know sir."
"Then why are you here?"
"Um...I don't know, sir."
"All the more reason to return to your quarters for a good night's rest, Lieutenant."
LaForge watched him with seemingly vague recognition, before finally nodding. "Yes sir."
Picard forced an amiable nod even as he began to be filled with inexplicable dread. "Good night then."
"Good night, sir."
Riker had been laughing loudly when the door alarm sounded and he leaned back over his shoulder to call out, "Come in!"
The doors opened and Captain Picard stepped briskly into the First Officer's quarters looking irritated and hurried. All laughter and casual banter immediately ceased. His gaze fixed immediately on Troi, as he proceeded to ignore everyone else. "Counselor, my apologies for intruding on your leisure time, but something's come up." He didn't bother to acknowledge anyone else in the room.
Deanna got up gracefully from the table, simultaneously wondering why the captain had not just contacted her by communicator, and then remembered she'd taken hers off. She was off-duty after all. "Of course, sir," she said following him back out in the hallway.
Once they were alone she watched him patiently, but already had some idea of why he had come to find her.
He lifted one hand to rub his jaw, as though pondering something. Finally he looked up at her. "Something is still not right with Mr. LaForge."
Troi pressed her lips together. "I know, sir," she admitted slowly. "Unfortunately, I've been unable to ascertain exactly what that is."
He sighed. "Doctor Crusher has reported similar conclusions. But...I'd like you to try again, Counselor."
"Right now, sir?"
He shook his head. "No. But I want you to go and see him at 0700 tomorrow morning, before his shift."
"Understood, captain." She gestured in back of her with a smile. "We were just going to begin another round. Care to join us, sir?"
"Mmm...no. But thank you for the offer, counselor."
"Anytime, sir."
Troi and Picard had been talking quietly in the corridor, and Crusher tried not to look too obvious while she lingered nearby while they finished their conversation. Troi gave her a subtle look as she passed by her and walked back in to Riker's quarters. The Captain gave her a quick nod, before turning on his heel. He nearly tripped when she called after him in mid-step.
"I'd really like to talk to you..." she said as he spun back around to look at her impatiently.
Of course he had already regained his composure. "About what?"
"About what happened last week, with Li...and about how such a traumatic situation has affected us..." She trailed off, not really sure where she was going with this, but something compelled her to persist.
"Doctor...I have encouraged all staff to meet with Counselor Troi as they feel is necessary around these issues."
"That's not what I meant. I don't want to talk to Troi again, I want to talk to you," she insisted, and she became quickly embarrassed by her own honesty, and when his expression remained stoic, she blushed. He glanced away uncomfortably.
"Oh, I see...I'm supposed to believe this horrible situation has had absolutely no effect on you, is that right? That you're not bothered by the fact that Rolani is on the holodeck running things like a dictator and is completely out of control? That Geordi might never be the same, and we don't even know why?"
"I didn't say any of that," he protested quietly.
"Well, you're not saying much of anything lately, are you Captain?" To her own ears she sounded angry, and it wasn't what she had intended. But still, he continued to frustrate her.
He put his hands behind his back and looked down at his boots.
"Look," she continued more gently. "I know you're concerned about everything I just mentioned, because you haven't stopped studying the computer library for the past six days." She paused, but he didn't say anything, though he had now raised his gaze to meet hers. "And I know you blame yourself for everything that's happened to the Tranans, and are doing everything in your power to continue to help them. Just...I don't understand why you don't want to get some of this off of your chest. You ordered everyone to talk to Counselor Troi, but did you even talk to Troi yourself?"
He hesitated. "Yes."
She watched him with growing curiosity. "You really have no intention of discussing this subject any further, do you?"
"Not at this time, no."
She crossed her arms, now determined to obtain a reaction. "Okay...well how about talking to my son, then?"
Picard's eyebrows shot up. "Hmm? What?"
"He's completely lost over Hatha. He's been too uncomfortable to discuss it with me or Troi. You were there with him when she decided to leave the Enterprise. Maybe he'll talk to you about it."
"Oh... Doctor, I don't think I could assist him with that...issue," he finally clarified, unsure how else to characterize her son's love life.
"Why?" She demanded.
He sighed and suddenly wished for Troi's presence, a reaction that only made him more annoyed.
"I just don't think I'm the right person to talk to your son."
"That's not a real answer, Jean-Luc."
"Sorry to disappoint you," he said flatly.
She looked at him for a moment longer. "I'm sorry too," she said quietly, before walking away.
He clenched his fist tightly, as he watched her depart.
Later that evening...
He waited tensely after ringing the doorbell twice. Perhaps she had gone to bed early, but then he heard footsteps coming toward the door. She would be able to tell it was him before opening the door, so he kept his face very neutral and stared at the door. Presently it opened, and Beverly stood in the doorway with a surprised expression. She was still dressed in her off duty clothes, which he appreciated were casual, but not too distracting.
"Hello," she said, after a few moments of silence. He realized he had been staring at her blankly.
"Can I get you anything? How about some tea?"
He cleared his throat as she walked across the room away from him. "Alright...yes thank you." All hope of making a quick escape was fading.
"Let me guess," she murmured from the replicator. "Earl Grey...hot?"
"Apparently I'm consistent when ordering tea."
"For as long as I've known you," she said, walking back over and handing him the steaming cup. She sipped her own cup of tea, watching him over the rim. "Which reminds me...you and I and Jack used to play cards regularly when I was on the Stargazer."
He smiled slightly. "Yes, that's true." His smile widened in remembrance, but then just as quickly, faded. "How true," he said in a quieter voice.
"I was just wondering why you turned down Will's invitation. He didn't say so, but I could tell he was disappointed."
Picard shrugged. "I'm not the best company lately," he admitted.
She returned his shrug and sat down at a nearby table. When he continued to stand there, she gestured for him to sit down. "Care to join me?"
He sat down slowly and put his cup down with a click. "Thank you. Actually, Beverly..."
"How nice...we're on a first name basis again," she said softly.
He sighed, unsure of how to respond to that, so he didn't. "In any case, I came to see the b-...I came to see Wesley. To talk to him, as you suggested."
She brightened noticeably. "Oh? Well, I'm sure he's still awake." She got up from the table. "I'll go and get him," she said almost excitedly, and had disappeared into the next room before he could change his mind again.
A few minutes later, Wesley Crusher sat across from him, his large brown eyes wide and alert, despite the late hour. Beverly stood nearby and put a hand on her son's shoulder. "I'll leave you two alone," she said with a grateful nod at Jean-Luc. Wesley looked as though he wanted to protest her leaving, but he clearly wanted to make a statement that he could do this without his mother. "Thanks, Mom," he mumbled as she left.
Picard spun his empty tea mug around absently on the table in front of him. "So..."
Wesley tapped the table nervously with his fingertips, not ready to utter a sound.
"Your mother tells me you've been having a difficult time since the events of last week."
Wesley scrunched up his face. "Uh, no not really! I mean, yeah, I guess so."
Picard lifted his eyebrows. "I see," he said, even though he didn't.
Wes stared down at the table. "It's just...well how do you get over a girl?" Gradually he raised his eyes to look at the Captain.
Picard was suddenly flooded with dread at the blunt question. He struggled for the answer and appropriate words, simultaneously considering getting up to leave. "You don't," he said eventually.
Wesley's mouth dropped open. "What? You mean I'm going to feel like this forever?"
Picard smiled at the boy's innocence. "There will be other girls...if you happen to be lucky. And each time, you will feel the pain from your first experience like this fade a bit more. But you will never forget how it felt. As difficult as this has been for you, Wesley, I think as you grow older, you'll realize that you wouldn't want to forget."
The boy seemed to be letting it all sink in. "Has this kind of thing ever happened to you?"
Picard sat back in his chair and looked up at the ceiling. "Yes..."
Wes seemed encouraged by this admission. "So...I just have to wait it out. Or..." He was now watching Picard intently. "I could contact Hatha and find out how she is and whether... whether she still cares about me."
Picard rubbed his chin, beginning to feel less comfortable. "You sound very much like your father right now...like Jack."
"Really?" Wesley was now beaming, and it caused Jean-Luc to feel more than a tinge of sadness.
"Yes," he confirmed. "But I'm afraid you cannot contact anyone on Ciapathia right now. In fact we're under strict orders not to do so."
"I'm worried about her, sir," the teen suddenly blurted out.
Picard nodded. "I know. The most I can promise you is that as soon as I am able to contact Premier Del, I will inquire about her status, and let you know." He started to get up from the table, but the young man continued to talk.
"I just can't believe their society would force her to marry Doctor Petral. The whole idea of it just makes me sick."
Picard put a hand on Wes' shoulder. "Try not to think of it so much, then. It's not doing either you or Hatha any good right now."
"How do I just forget about my feelings, though?"
For some reason, this struck him deeply, but he didn't quite know why. He let go of the teen's shoulder. "I've given you all the counsel I should on this, young man," he said attempting to not sound as cold as he now felt. "I think you'll find I am not the best example when it comes to dealing with affairs of the heart." Wesley's forlorn expression only convinced him to leave more quickly. "Have a good night, and please give your mother my regards."
"Thank you, sir."
Early the next morning...
Deanna Troi had already signaled for Geordi LaForge three times, before she realized something was very wrong. It wasn't exactly that she sensed he was in distress; rather she sensed... nothing at all. She used her emergency override code to open his door and rushed inside his quarters. The problem was immediately obvious, or so she thought. He's collapsed! "Geordi," she shouted, rushing to his still form, which lay face down on the deck. She knelt down, and put a hand on his shoulder blade. Oh no, oh no...hes dead!