Beverly Crusher stepped out of the turbolift and on to the bridge. She had deliberately chosen this time to come by, aware that it was nearing the end of alpha shift with the ship on a routine journey to Starbase 61 to pick up new personnel. As she anticipated, all was quiet.

The captain looked over at her from his command chair. "Doctor," he greeted.

"Captain," she replied. "May I see you for a moment?"

"Certainly." Jean-Luc Picard stood and motioned her towards his ready room. "Number One, you have the bridge."

They entered and sat down across the desk from one another.

"How can I help you, Doctor?" Picard inquired once they were settled.

Beverly leaned forward. "It's about Starfleet Medical, sir. You know that Dr. Raghavan had a fatal heart attack the other day?"

He nodded. "Yes. Sad news indeed. Hadn't he been head of Starfleet Medical for over fifteen years?"

"Sixteen," she confirmed.

"He'll be a difficult man to replace," Picard noted.

"Yes, he will. The council is going to convene a panel of medical experts from across the galaxy to recommend and implement a replacement. I've been asked to be on the panel."

"I would expect no less."

Beverly smiled at the sincerity resounding in his voice, then continued, "I've also been asked to head up Medical in the interim."

To her surprise he nodded. "Admiral Brooks already contacted me regarding your suitability for the position. I told him I could think of no one more qualified."

Again her heart warmed to hear his favorable appraisal of her skills. Jean-Luc Picard was not a man to offer praise lightly. "I appreciate that, sir."

Picard shifted. "Have you decided whether you'll take the job?" This was a question to which he wasn't sure he wanted the answer. Over the past year he had gone from questioning her willingness to serve with him to relying on her expertise, and found that despite his show of enthusiasm he was surprisingly reluctant to lose her services. And, if he was being fully honest with himself, her presence on the ship.

She hesitated, as if wanting to break the news to him gently. "Yes," she said quietly, "I'm going to accept. I know I've only been here a short time, Captain, but –"

He shook his head. Despite his personal feelings, he would never stand in the way of her career advancement. "You don't need to justify your decision to me, Doctor. As I said, I can think of no one more qualified for the post."

"Thank you."

"How soon will you depart?"

"They want me to start as soon as possible. The USS Alexander will be waiting at Starbase 61 to take me back to Earth."

"Understood," he said. He rose from his chair, coming around the desk as she reflexively stood in response. "Although I'll certainly see you again before you disembark, I just want to say that your service here has been exemplary, Doctor. You and Wesley will be missed."

"Thank you, sir," she replied, pleased and unexpectedly touched by his words. Then uncharacteristically, she hesitated. "About Wes…"

Picard arched an eyebrow. "Yes?"

"Well, I was wondering if he could stay here for a few more weeks –" she hastily held up a hand to forestall his protest, "just until I get settled back in San Francisco."

Jean-Luc contemplated his CMO. Surely she remembered how much he disliked children. And yes, while Wesley was different to most teenagers, up to now he'd had his mother around to curb the worst excesses of his enthusiasm. Who knew how much trouble the boy could get into on his own. Yet he could see the unspoken plea in Beverly's eyes, which not only stopped him from rejecting the idea outright but also…

He sighed. "Very well, Doctor," he said before the rational part of his mind could begin to second-guess the impulsive decision.

"You'll hardly even know he's here."

"I very much doubt that."

"Thank you, Jean-Luc. I mean it." Beverly relaxed, giving him a grateful smile, and started towards the door. "Actually, I'm sorry that Wes won't have the opportunity to stay even longer," she said to him over her shoulder. "He's at the age now where he needs mentors, and role models, and he can't do better than bridge officers like Will and Data and Worf."

Jean-Luc nodded in agreement. He did indeed have some of the best bridge officers in Starfleet.

Beverly turned back once more as the door hissed open before her. "And yourself," she added meaningfully before stepping through the doorway, leaving him staring after her, nonplussed, in silence.

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