Dr. Beverly Crusher stood in the Starfleet Medical transporter room, waiting impatiently for her turn to step up onto the pad. Although her few possessions had already been beamed to her quarters, it seemed that a great many personnel were shipping out today and she chaffed at the slight delay.
After a year away she couldn't wait to get back to the Enterprise. Her work here at Medical had been rewarding, but she'd missed her son terribly – and also the unique challenges of practicing medicine in deep space, where there was always the biology of a new species or a new physiological mystery to decipher. It was time to get back to doing what she truly loved.
The transporter tech finally motioned to her. "You're next, Dr. Crusher."
She nodded and stepped up onto the platform, her heart rate ticking upwards in anticipation.
She couldn't believe how much she was looking forward to returning to the ship. Not only couldn't she wait to see her son once more after nearly a year away, there were many other friends and colleagues with whom she was excited to catch up. And yet, no matter how much she told herself that she was equally eager to see everyone on board who was important to her – Deanna, Will, her team in sickbay – there was one person in particular whom she found she'd missed far more than she'd imagined.
He'll be on the bridge or in his ready room, she reckoned as the transporter beam enveloped her. I'll just quickly drop by sickbay and then go find him.
The next instant she was back in the well-remembered environs of the Enterprise transporter room.
A very familiar, very welcome figure stood waiting for her.
Beverly's breath caught at the unexpected sight. He's come down to greet me, she realized, unable to suppress the thrill that went through her at the thought. She was at once surprised and gratified that he'd taken time out of his busy schedule to come see her return in person.
"Welcome back, Doctor," Jean-Luc Picard said as she stepped off the dais. His tone was formal but a look of distinct pleasure lit his face.
She returned his warm smile with an equally warm smile of her own. "Thanks. It's good to be home."
"Let me walk you to your quarters," he offered, placing a hand solicitously at the small of her back as she moved past him towards the door. "Wesley is still on duty, but I've given him leave to end his shift early and see you."
"Thank you." Beverly smiled into his clear hazel eyes. As they fell into step together like she'd never been away, she couldn't help thinking: Maybe he's missed me, too.
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