The moment she opened the front door, she heard his voice. Her heart sank, he was speaking French, he sounded irate – a distinct tone she could have sensed in a thousand languages. There wasn't a UT here… she had no idea what he was saying, whether he was making any sense or not. Was it another relapse? She dropped her jacket and shopping on the floor, ran in the direction of his voice. Where was Banda?

"Jean-Luc?" she called hesitantly.

She tracked him down to the bedroom, he was sitting on the armchair next to the picture window. She stopped suddenly, took a moment to assess him from an objective distance. He had on a thick sweater, a pair of thermal pants, and a beanie. He seemed calm outwardly, but his face was tight with tension. He hadn't noticed her yet, his attention was fixed on the terminal screen. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath. He was responding to whoever was on the other end of the call… someone he wasn't enjoying the company of.

"Jean-Luc?" she repeated, quietly this time.

His head snapped to face her. He smiled instantly, mouthed a quick 'sorry' and then turned back to his call.

She released a breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding. He was okay, he was fine. She waved her hand, blew him a kiss, then closed the door behind her, heading back downstairs to get the day's lowdown from Banda.

"Banda?"

"In here Doctor Crusher." She replied from the kitchen.

Beverly found her putting the finishing touches to their evening meal. Fish, vegetables, salad, "Smells great! You needn't have though…"

"No problem at all, that's what I'm here for – making life easier for his nibs." She said, popping cutlery into place on the dining table. "Now how was your shopping trip?"

"Oh lovely thank you, it was good to have a little time to myself I must admit… Dare I ask how he got on while I was out?"

"Fine - really. After the last few days, it was very peaceful. He managed to keep quite warm. There was a minor temperature elevation just after lunch but I dosed him up and got him to have a nap and when he woke he was fine. Is he perhaps making a bit of progress finally?"

"Could be… how much did you give him?"

"10ccs, seemed to do the trick."

"Do you know who he's talking to?"

"I'm not sure, someone called Robert? He didn't look too happy when the call came in."

"Hah, that would explain it then! That's his brother… they have a somewhat, contentious history from what he's told me."

"Well I've no idea what they're talking about but it doesn't sound like the world's most successful conversation."

"You can say that again…"

Soon enough, Beverly heard the careful and heavy steps of Jean-Luc as he made his way cautiously downstairs to find her.

"In here…" she called.

As he appeared in the doorway, she stood quickly to help him into a seat. He sat down wearily and paused for a second to catch his breath.

"Everything okay?"

"Not really."

"Jean-Luc?" she asked, worried.

"It seems my dear brother," he said annunciating the noun before continuing, "wants to pay me a visit."

"Is that all?!" she laughed, relieved beyond measure that this was nothing more than a verging on un-healthy sibling rivalry.

"I don't think you understand Beverly. Robert and I…"

"Oh come on. He's your brother – how bad can he be?"

"Well, you're going to find out for yourself soon enough. He's coming tomorrow."

00oo00

Promptly at 10am on the dot, the door chime rang. Beverly turned to Jean-Luc and laughed at the grim expression on his face.

"Come on, it'll be fine – he's worried about you." He swallowed, smiled tightly. Bravely, she thought to herself. "Honestly…" she said under her breath as she kissed him quickly on the cheek.

She opened the door and came face to face with a man a little older than Jean-Luc, with the mirror image of the same pained smile on his face.

"Hi, come on in Robert. It's lovely to meet you in person at last." She said cheerily.

"Hello, yes, how do you do Doctor Crusher?"

"Please, call me Beverly." She smiled as she replied and was met with Robert's gruff expression and a tight nod.

She gestured toward the living room where Jean-Luc was installed on the sofa, a blanket covering his lap. "Please, come through, your brother is right in here," she replied, turning and winking at a mortified Jean-Luc.

"Jean-Luc! How are you?" said Robert, switching instantly to French after the quickest visual appraisal.

Jean-Luc was struggling to get up and greet his guest, his answer came in short blasts around the physical effort he was making, "Robert… I'm fine, really. It's uh, good to see you."

"Sit down Jean… you look terrible." Said Robert.

He did as he was told, grateful not to have to stand all the way up, then laughed, "Say it how it is Robert…"

Suddenly aware the little French she had was nowhere near up to the job, she rose to leave. "Well, I'll leave you two to it – if you need me, I'll be in the study catching up on a few calls. Banda's back in the kitchen, if you need her." She finished, grateful for her planned subspace call with Deanna that would take her just far enough away from the compelling situation unfolding before her, yet keep her close enough to stay tuned in, if only to satisfy her own intrigue.

"Well then, here." Robert said, presenting his brother with a decent sized hamper.

"What's this?"

"Just some post-Christmas staples to get you back on your feet. Some decent wine, bread, good cheese, saucisson, some macaron for Beverly – you did mention she enjoyed them? Bûche de noèl… Oh, uh, and some crème de marrons. Of course."

Robert paused rifling through the hamper, his hand landing on a familiar jar that Jean-Luc had not managed to get hold of for years, "Crème de marrons? Real crème de marrons? Robert!"

"Marie thought you might appreciate a little taste of home seeing as you can't come to us…"

Jean-Luc fought down a retort, there was always an element of passive aggressive criticism when it came to his brother. "Well, please tell Marie how grateful I am. I haven't had crème de marrons for years – there really are some things that replicators just don't do justice to." He switched back to Standard, "Beverly? Beverly, come and taste this."

She opened her mouth for the spoonful of the sweetest, caramel-like thing she'd ever tasted, "Mmm… That's delicious! Why have you never mentioned this before?!"

Suddenly, Jean-Luc's gaze settled on the bûche de noèl, "Robert, bûche de noèl?"

"Are you so out of touch with Earth Jean? You do remember the traditions don't you?"

"Of course I do… thank you. This is very kind of you." He smiled, secretly overjoyed at the parcel of treats he'd been given. He was never going to be able to explain the funny side of his Christmas Eve replicating disaster to his brother… instead, he winked at Beverly, and she tried her best to stifle a laugh.

"Another French speciality? Robert, really, this is very kind of you. I don't think I've ever tried this… bûche de noel before…" she said taking it carefully from the hamper. She was more than grateful for the cover of manners to dampen the memory of Jean-Luc's attempt to share one of his childhood favourites with her just a few nights before.

Robert looked between his brother and Beverly, not quite understanding their reaction, "Oh well, in that case, perhaps we should try some now?".

Beverly jumped up, glad of the opportunity to escape so she could laugh properly, "Of course, I'll get everything ready and bring it through."

The rest of the morning passed uneventfully. After their snack and drinks, Robert helped his younger brother up from the sofa, taking his arm and supporting his weight. They ambled slowly out to the back garden for a slow stroll taking advantage of the lull in the weather and giving Jean-Luc a chance to stretch his legs.

"So, you're hanging up your spacesuit?"

"Well, it's not quite like that… but yes. I'm going to be Earth-bound for the foreseeable, I've come to accept it. It's fine, really."

"And the Enterprise?"

"She's off, out on her next mission now… Will Riker took the captaincy."

"That must be hard, Jean-Luc."

He stopped walking for a second, looked his brother right in the eye before he answered him. He needed to gauge the intent behind the statement, "It is." He replied finally, defeated, honest.

"Well… Starfleet are looking after you then?"

As difficult as Robert was, Jean-Luc was glad for the change of subject, grateful for his brother's peculiar sense of tact. He started to walk once again, needing the activity to ward off the difficulties of the conversation, "Yes, very. This house is part of a campus for senior officers who er… who, officers who find themselves in situations like this I suppose."

The conversation paused as Jean-Luc made his way back up the few steps to the deck, then back into the house. He was visibly puffed and Robert looked him over before joining him, "And someone is looking after you? I mean, someone to assist you?"

"Yes, all part of the deal. You don't need to worry Robert, really." He puffed out as he sat gratefully back on the sofa.

"Oh, I'm not worried Jean-Luc, I just needed to know that you are safe without me here to look after you." He replied, smiling genuinely for the first time. Perhaps a thaw in the frost was finally on its way.

"Well, I'm flattered."

"Now then, I'm afraid I must go, Marie will be getting worried. And you'll come to stay of course? When you're feeling stronger? In the new year perhaps?"

He was struck dumb for a moment, unused to this new version of conciliatory sibling love, "I would love to Robert, thank you."

"And you'll bring Beverly?"

"Of course."

Robert stood, "Well then, a bientôt little brother."

"Salut." He replied, accepting and returning a kiss on each cheek.