On entering the Ready Room, Beverly automatically headed straight to the sofa, sat down, and curled her legs up underneath her. Riker, to his credit, didn't flinch, perhaps a sign of insecurity in his recently acquired promotion, or more likely, an expression of his long-held friendship and respect for the doctor, as well as her current patient.

"Doctor, Starfleet Medical would like to speak to you at your earliest opportunity. I've managed to hold them off but as you can imagine…"

They will want to see for themselves… the thought went unsaid between the two friends.

"How is the Captain?"

"Permission to speak freely?"

"Beverly, always." He smiled and glanced at her relaxed position on the sofa.

"He's a mess. I don't know how I'm going to glue him back together. After the initial recovery… it seemed like it would be so easy. Then, well, you saw what happened in the lab…"

"If anyone can…" he moved to sit next to her.

"There is still another round of extensive micro-surgery to carry out. He's currently under intensive regen therapy but his body is severely damaged. There's some nerve damage, his face looks… his arm…" She paused, overcome with the magnitude of what had happened to her friend, "Still, one good thing. His heart is fine, seems the Borg couldn't compete with the finest cardiac implants the Federation have to offer. Their filaments formed a network around it seemingly unable to penetrate the non-organic material. They left it intact, a good job as we don't have one here, we were due to pick up a replacement at Starbase 12. I don't know what I would have done."

"Well we should be thankful for small mercies I guess. At least we're in the Terran System."

"Yes, I suppose so."

"You know there's an army of docs ready and willing to help. Just say the word."

"I couldn't do that to him. He's…" On that thought, Beverly sank down on to the sofa and dropped her head. She needed a moment to settle the fear running through her. She hadn't managed to make it to her cabin to rest after the first surgical phase yet. Ship's business came first.

"Beverly." Riker put his hand on her arm cautiously.

The tender touch was all it took to break her. She couldn't give in to tears, not now.

"I'm fine Will, really," she sniffed placing her hand over his.

"Beverly."

"Please," she couldn't handle any more kindness. She needed to be tough, there was still so much to do.

"Okay, okay. What do you need? How can I help?"

"In practical terms? I guess a med team from Star Fleet would be useful, they can handle all the usual ship's business and the survivors we're starting to pick up. That way my team can adjust our rota to factor in the additional demands the Captain's recovery is going to incur. From his point of view? Time. And hope."

"Okay, I can get a team. Leave it with me. As for the Captain? When can I see him?"

"I don't think that's a good idea right now."

"I need to see him, Beverly."

"I know. I don't think you want to see him now. He looks… horrific. Let me get him patched up as best I can. Seriously Will. Nobody needs that image. He's going to need us all to be strong for him."

"It's that bad?"

"Worse. But it's temporary. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm going to get a few hours before we go for round two."

"Of course, and Beverly?"

"Yes?"

"Bring him back to us."

"I'm trying my best." she smiled tentatively, not really feeling the emotion she was hoping to express.

Will watched as Beverly left the ready room. He had to admit to being shocked. When they had first disconnected the Captain from the Borg, it had looked like it was going to be a simple process. But then, he'd seen for himself as the pain overwhelmed Picard. And now Crusher's description of his injuries sounded truly horrifying. He had to admit to a level of complacency when it came to Crusher's skills. He didn't quite understand how the best of modern medicine couldn't make this an easy ride, come down to a simple bit of time on a biobed.

Captain Picard was in this for the long haul… and so was his ship. They were essentially sitting ducks, limping slowly to McKinley Station. The fleet was decimated, the ship in need of some serious repair, its captain in a similar boat. Riker had to admit, they were in one hell of a vulnerable situation. And in a little corner of his soul, he couldn't quite be sure how all this was going to go down at Starfleet HQ. After all, even though he had been abducted against his will, Captain Picard, Locutus, had been responsible for the worst atrocity to ever hit the Federation.

On that note, he headed back to the Bridge ready to relinquish his duty shift to Data… it had been a long day.