They changed the dermal regenerators again, the nurse this time helping Beverly put back on her sweater. Both changed from sickbay pyjamas into civilian clothes, Deanna and Will showed up to escort them home.
Your quarters or mine? Beverly asked him.
Mine are bigger, he answered then inadvertently added, I've always wondered what it would be like to share quarters with you.
I hope you are very good at distracting me, already these dermal regenerators are getting itchy.
The doctors gave Beverly a case with some hyposprays and replacement dermal regenerators. Jean-Luc was the first out of bed, Deanna helping him. "Thank you," he said. May I? he asked, going and assisting Beverly off her side. She smiled, threading an arm around him and leaning her head against his shoulder.
The group forwarded out. "What time is it?" Beverly inquired as she noticed the mostly empty corridors.
"Dinner," Will explained simply, carrying the case for Beverly.
"Oh! Good, I'm ravenous!" Beverly exclaimed. They headed into the turbolift, Jean-Luc calling the order for his quarters. Will and Deanna shared a glance. Shall I invite them to join us? Jean-Luc suggested.
If you intend to have much after dinner conversation, I'd say so, if I wasn't so hungry I'd be asleep on my feet! She covered a yawn.
"Are you two talking telepathically?" Deanna interrupted. All three other pairs of eyes turned to her in surprise. "What I can sense from your emotions. Is it the link from Kesprytt?"
"We think so," Beverly admitted quietly.
"Is that a problem, Deanna?" Jean-Luc asked calmly. Deanna blinked at him, his question taking her by surprise.
"So you're both okay with it? Sharing thoughts again?" Deanna said incredulously.
The turbolift stopped before they could answer, heading down the corridor to Jean-Luc's quarters. Beverly and Jean-Luc made a beeline for the sofa, Will placing the case on the desk and following Deanna to sit in the chairs opposite the sofa. "Well?" Deanna insisted.
Beverly curled up against Jean-Luc's side, his arm draped over her shoulders as she tucked her feet up under her on the sofa. "It might go away like it did then," Beverly stated.
"Yes, but neither of you have any implants right now," Deanna refuted.
"I wouldn't quite describe it as complete telepathy." Jean-Luc, ever the stickler for detail. "Beverly has much stronger mental barriers."
"Well, yours are pretty good too," Beverly assured him, patting his leg. Will tried to hide a smirk, Deanna turning to momentarily glare at him before moving her gaze back to the captain and doctor. Jean-Luc raised an eyebrow at him, daring him to say something.
"You know it is an intimate connection," Deanna reminded them.
"Yes," both said.
"And that's why you're both here, isn't it, because last time it also meant that you couldn't leave the other's company."
"Yes," Beverly told her, a little quieter. Deanna sighed, looking down.
Why did she think you had come to my quarters? Jean-Luc asked Beverly mentally.
I'm not sure, nothing she's spoken to me about… oh… Beverly was thinking as Will and Deanna shared a glance. Why those little! "Spit it out!" Beverly sighed. Will's eyes jumped to her in surprise, Deanna fighting the urge to roll her own.
"Spit what out, Beverly?" Deanna asked innocently.
Beverly glared at her. "Why did you think I had come to Jean-Luc's quarters?"
"The same reason the two of you were going on shore leave together," Will chipped in.
"Will!" Deanna admonished, but the damage was done. She turned back to find Jean-Luc with eyebrows raised.
"Has there been a rumour going around?" he asked in a low voice. Which rumours? Because there have been about twenty variations involving the two of us, Beverly remarked with a drop of dry humour.
"Captain, there's always some form of rumour in circulation on any starship, as you know," Deanna deftly avoided the question while maintaining her counselor's professionalism.
Jean-Luc turned to Will who was avoiding his eye. Then back to Deanna. "As your friend, has there been a rumour going around?" he repeated, his voice softer. Beverly smiled, feeling the way it reverberated through him.
"Will, if you have opened a betting pool, I swear that the moment I have my strength back you will regret it," Beverly warned in a threatening tone. He blushed crimson as Jean-Luc raised his eyebrows at him. After a few moments, he let out a sigh.
"Very well," he conceded. "Any news of the investigation."
"Jean-Luc, you're on medical leave," Deanna said.
"And supposed to be on holiday," Beverly added softly. Mmmm, right now we could be at the bar in Celepolis. She shared her imagined image of the two of them drinking cocktails at a table together. Jean-Luc wasn't usually one to go to such public places, but he could see the appeal in her daydream.
"Nothing substantial yet," Riker said. "Although the experiments we are running in the nebula are bearing some interesting results."
"Could they be related?" Jean-Luc inquired.
"Potentially," Riker said, then went to stand. "While I'd love to stay and chat, I have to get back to help Geordi and Data. Excuse me." He strode out quickly.
"I'll talk to Worf about that betting pool," Deanna said conspiratorially.
"Thanks," Beverly murmured and yawned.
"Eat before you pass out," Deanna ordered, getting up and heading to the replicator.
"Care to join us?" Jean-Luc invited casually. Deanna smiled. Jean-Luc focused his mind, trying to sense what Beverly would like. "A bowl of Felisa Howard's vegetable soup for Beverly. French onion soup for me," he requested. Deanna also called up a Betazoid salad for herself, carrying all the food over on a tray. She and Jean-Luc shared a smile as it seemed Beverly was already drifting off to sleep. "Beverly?"
"Hm?" she opened her eyes and looked about, finding Deanna offering her a bowl. "Oh, thanks, Deanna." Beverly accepted it with a smile, breathing in the scents of home. After a taste she began to eat with gusto, finishing off the bowl and setting it back on the tray before the others had finished theirs. Satisfied, she snuggled against Jean-Luc's side again. He grabbed the throw blanket from the other side of the sofa when he was done with his soup, wrapping it around Beverly. She didn't even stir.
He set the moment to memory, looking down at her beside him. The path that had led them to this point was so windy, full of places where they could have taken any number of other turns. Somehow, despite all the detours, mistakes, back tracks, being lost in forests, they had found their way there. I don't think I would change it, Jean-Luc thought, rosy. His eyes drifted up to find Deanna waiting, the dinner things recycled. Her hands were folded in her lap, but she had an earnest expression on her face. This wasn't counselor mode; this was their friend.
"Do you want to hear about the rumours?" Deanna asked softly. Do I? Jean-Luc wondered. What good would it do?
"Do any concern Beverly's and my… relationship?" he inquired hesitantly. Although it hurt, he knew he had to know. It was his business as captain, and his wish to look out for his best friend. Deanna sensed his swell of loyalty. Beverly's lucky, she thought wistfully.
"Many do," she admitted. "From what year would you like me to start? There are a couple big ones that have pretty much died out by now, but were popular several years ago."
"Oh?"
"Mostly around Beverly and Wesley coming to the Enterprise, then her leaving for that year to Starfleet Medical while Wesley stayed on the ship, and her return," Deanna explained. "They were prominent at the time, but influence very little nowadays."
Curious, Jean-Luc was tempted to delve into it, like a mystery. But those aren't the ones that matter right now. What were people saying while we were in sickbay together? "What are the current, recent ones?" he spoke quietly.
"Mostly around people thinking you and Beverly are seeing each other romantically, hence the shared shore leave," Deanna explained. "I overheard some engineering and security ensigns last night in Ten Forward theorising the reason for your sudden return being to do with Beverly being pregnant. Really, a lot of it is ridiculous," she hurriedly reassured him when she sensed a peak of anger. Against his side, Beverly furrowed her brow a little, rolling into him.
Relax, he told himself. He took a deep breath. Her brow relaxed. Delicately, he brushed a strand of hair out of her face, a small smile appearing.
"It wouldn't hurt your image, you know." He raised his eyes at Deanna's comment. "You don't need to worry about what people would think of the two of you if you did see each other. Honestly, I believe it would help your reputation with a lot of the crew."
"What about Beverly?" he asked. She has put a lot of effort into her career, especially after everything she has faced. I wouldn't want to damage that.
"Her medical staff are a tight knit team," Deanna assured him. "They would probably be very excited and happy for her." He smiled. She had selected them well. "So? Are you going to finally try?" Deanna was practically bursting with anticipation.
"Wait and see," he told her cryptically, casting his eyes back to Beverly.
Deanna closed here eyelids to hide her eye roll before turning her head to glare away from him. Seven years it had been since she first witnessed their… chemistry. From the second Beverly had walked on the bridge, he had been spellbound. The Enterprise would never be the same again from that moment onwards. Then for seven years they danced around it! Seven years! They're worse than me and Will! Deanna thought in a snap and froze. No… no, that's not what I… She fought an anguished sigh at her own love life.
She quietly excused herself, leaving Jean-Luc to watch Beverly on the sofa. He leant back, telling the computer to play some soft music while he thought about how her body felt against him. She wasn't hot, but she was warm. Cooler than she usually was, but then he didn't have all that much memory to go on with that.
After a few hours, she stirred, blinking up at him. "Sorry, what did I miss?" she groggily murmured.
"I just spoke to Deanna for a little bit," he informed her. She smiled as his voice rumbled in his chest.
"Mhmm," she voiced and yawned.
"Want to head to bed?" he offered.
"Are you okay with us sharing a bed for a second night in a row?" Beverly inquired with a mischievous smile.
"Are you sure we have the range yet to be able to sleep in different places?" he countered.
Touché, she ceded with a yawn.
A/N: Thank you Nordique1 for the review! Please do review, I love reading them! I hope you all have a great day! Live long and prosper!