Six
*Troi*
I had never felt such abandonment until I heard Wesley's final scream. Another tear slid down my cheek and the Captain had ordered all of us to take the rest of the day off.
Will and I discussed it over dinner in Ten Forward. He, like the others of the bridge crew, gave off the same sense of dread and guilt. I spent a while reassuring him it wasn't his fault, but he still refused to believe me. "I was the commanding officer. He was my responsibility,"
He barely touched his food either.
As I returned to my office what I sensed changed dramatically. Some of the younger ensigns didn't even know what had happened and some of the lieutenants felt the same as Will. It was a kaleidoscope of emotions and there was nothing I could do about it.
I didn't realise how much Beverly was hurting until she walked into my quarters a few hours later. Her eyes and cheeks were red, though she remained professional in her uniform. She gave me a tired smile and the wave of her grief washed over me. The most intense grief I'd felt for a long time.
"Oh Beverly," I whispered. She collapsed into a seat and buried her head in her hands, weeping.
I let her sit there for a while, clasping my hand as she cried. It was always painful when I had to comfort my patients, but especially when it was someone I knew personally.
"I'm sorry," Beverly sat up suddenly and wiped her eyes. "I shouldn't..I mean.."
"It's perfectly normal," I said calmly. "You're distressed and need someone to listen. That's why I'm on this ship."
She laughed. "Of course, of course."
"Do you need a cup of anything?"
"No, no, I'll be right," Beverly said quietly. Her hands shook. "..I'm just so worried for him! He's got a whole future ahead of him and th-they might k-kill him!"
I let her blow her nose before I spoke. "I didn't sense any intent to in either of those men. I think they want to play the emotional trap and cause enough guilt for us to give in."
"Did you sense anything else from W-Wesley?"
I thought for a moment. "It was mostly pain. Agonising enough that blocked out almost everything else. But he is afraid. You have a son who is scared and we need to be brave for him."
Beverly looked up. "I'm trying-"
"I am too. We all are," I went on. "You're allowed to be upset. But you need to take care of yourself too. Be brave for when he comes home and you can give him the biggest scolding in the universe for going outside."
"..I just don't want to lose both of them, Deanna." Her voice trembled.
"We will get Wesley home, one way or another," I said. "Trust me, the captain is just as upset as you are. I felt it."
