Okay then, here we go... unlucky for some, chapter 13 is the final instalment in this epic tale... or is it?
Enjoy!
Timing had not been on his side once he'd made the transition back to work full time. He'd been assigned to the Adrionaze sector, a scientifically significant, but out of the way system. Coinciding with him taking the reigns, one of the fleet's extnded-mission ships, the Kirkby, was due to make its return after a ten-year mission.
The much-anticipated return of the Kirkby had seen him spending three weeks on Star Base Gregoire, the centre of operations for the Adrionaze sector. At the same time, his and Beverly's time in the beach house had come to an end leaving Beverly to juggle her job and their move into temporary quarters before they made a final decision about where they were going to lay down some roots. Given how far away he was, communication had been challenging at best, added to this, the star base had been in the middle of an upgrade that had seen their communications array fall out of synch with Starfleet HQ. He'd received a patchy communiqué from her that had been corrupted so badly that it had barely been worth the thing making the journey. There was something that she needed to speak to him about, that much he could make out.
He'd spent time familiarising himself with the base Commander and her senior staff whilst awaiting the Kirkby's arrival. The plucky little ship had eventually returned in one piece six days late and minus approximately thirty members of her crew, lost in an unfortunate accident just days into their arrival on the far side of the galaxy.
The Kirkby's captain had been fully de-briefed, a welcome home ceremony and function held, and the entirety of ship's computer and its plethora of logs downloaded to the mainframe. Everything had gone about as smoothly as he could have hoped given his first solo project as an admiral. All in all, minus the tragic loss of life, he was pleased with how everything had progressed. He'd been glad to be back out in space but found, to his suprise, that he had started to miss the fresh air he'd been enjoying since returning to Earth.
And now, after hitching a lift on the Kirkby back to McKinley, he was making the final leg of his journey home in a shuttle to the fleet dock to be transported in the nick of time to his doorstep. With just a few minutes to spare, he managed to materialise just as Beverly would be making a final check of the house for any rogue personal belongings.
Or so he thought… he'd half expected her to be waiting for him to arrive. Once he coalesced, he entered the beach house immediately trying to locate her.
"Beverly?" he called out tentatively.
A long pause rang out… long enough that he was worried, "Beverly?" he called again.
He heard her make her way down the stairs and moved toward her, she looked terrible, as pale as he'd ever seen her. "Are you okay?" he asked pulling her into a tight hug and tucking her hair behind her ear.
"Oh Jean-Luc… I'm fine… honestly… You're home! I'm so glad to see you!" she kissed him quickly on the cheek. "I'll be back in a second, I really am fine – must be all the chaos I'm a little run down… I'll tell you all about it… give me a second…" she called, her voice growing more feint as she moved to the bathroom.
None of this of course, allayed his fear at all but she seemed to be calm enough that his own personal red alert had dialled down a notch. He dropped his bag on the floor, and stood dumbly unsure what his next move should be.
When she returned, she pulled her jacket on and grabbed her weekend bag taking him by the hand to the front door. "We need to greet the moving team. You arrived just in time."
He held each of her arms at the elbow, forcing her to stop for a second and face him, "You're sure you're okay?" he asked her, holding her gaze with the seriousness of his expression.
"Jean-Luc, I am really totally fine. I'm glad you're home, but we need to get moving… No pun intended…" she replied, kissing him on the cheek in what she hoped was a reassuring gesture.
Once the house by the beach was packed up, their few remaining belongings sorted and stowed in cases and boxes ready for the transport team, Beverly joined a thoughtful Jean-Luc at the front door.
"Ready?" she said quietly, placing her hand on his arm to draw his attention.
"Hmm? Oh, yes… how about you?"
"You know what? I think I'm more than ready to leave this place behind us…"
"What do you mean?"
She hugged him closer to her, rested her head against his shoulder, "I'm ready for the next phase, with you. With the new and improved Jean-Luc Picard."
He turned to her, bemused. "New and improved?"
"You know what I mean…" she finished, kissing him on the cheek.
The moment lingered, their silence filled with each other's individual thoughts. It was a long moment before he spoke, "It does feel good to be leaving this whole thing behind at last. It's been a long time coming." He kissed the top of her head.
"And now we get to create our own future… does it scare you?"
"It does. I don't mind admitting that. The Borg, Cardassians… they have nothing on the unknown expanse that lies before us." he smiled, hoping the levity of his words would translate.
He could hear a ground car coming along the little road leading to the house, their ride to temporary quarters. He started to pick up their weekend bags.
"Jean-Luc?"
"Hmm?" he replied, distracted by the car pulling up before them.
"There's uh… something I need to tell you…"
