Author's note: Finally, another chapter is up! It feels like forever since I posted. Sorry for the delay! I am a bit of a perfectionist, reading it, then reading it again, changing some things, reading it again... in any case, it is finally posted! Reviews are VERY MUCH appreciated! Though I might not reply, I really appreciate them and any constructive criticism you have is also welcome. :)

Thanks to all of you who are following the story and/or posted reviews! All of you who are reading this story, thank you! Electronic cookies to all of you!

Chapter 3

BEVERLY

Beverly stared at the small vial of liquid in front of her, a mixture of excitement and dread swirling through her. She had worked so hard to get that little bit of liquid. She only hoped that it worked.

Beverly picked up the vial. It was time to see if all the hard work had paid off. She started the genetic testing program, carefully putting a drop of the liquid into the empty compartment. Checking to see that the other compartment still had some of the scraps of genetics that she had managed to get, she sat back.
When she was satisfied everything was where it was supposed to be, Beverly sat down, holding her breath as she started the program. She watched the screen, waiting for a result. This had to work.

The words that blinked on the screen made her heart plummet when she read them. DNA ALTERATION UNSUCCESSFUL.

She almost threw the vial still in her hand at the screen in front of her. Beverly stood forcefully from her chair and slammed the useless vial on the counter. How could it not work? Beverly was aware that she was now pacing the room forcefully, but she didn't care. This was impossible. There wasn't any solution.

Almost immediately, Jean Luc's words from the Prytt base rung in her head. There is a way out of every box, a solution to every puzzle; it's just a matter of finding it.

You should try this then, Jean Luc, She thought, mentally answering him. Beverly wanted to talk to him in person, ask his advice... something.

A shiver ran down her spine, finally putting a stop to her pacing. She couldn't speak to any of her friends anymore. She was alone. Beverly collapsed back into her chair with the crushing reminder that science wasn't her only problem.

Beverly had faced seemingly unsolvable problems before and had managed to find a solution. She could do it again, but it was making it so much harder when she couldn't tell any of her friends.

Exhaling all the air in her lungs, Beverly reluctantly turned back the screen. Reminding herself why she was doing this, Beverly picked up the abandoned vial.

Jean Luc

Jean Luc knew that there was no way that he was falling back asleep after that dream. He thought about going to the bridge, but he didn't want to seem like he was questioning Will's decisions by being there.

Instead, Jean Luc found himself wandering the halls aimlessly. When he passed by Counselor Troi's office, he made the decision to go inside.
Pressing the button by the entrance to signal his presence, he wondered if he should have come later. Jean Luc didn't even know for sure that she had time to talk to him.

He didn't have to wait long for the doors to open. Deanna's voice drifted out, questioning.

"Hello?"

Jean Luc cleared his throat and entered the room. "Hello Counselor."

"Captain!" She said, not sounding too surprised to see him. "What brings you here?"

"Will told me you were wished to see me."

She smiled. "Yes, but that wouldn't be why you came."

"True," he said, knowing there was no arguing with her.

"Why don't you sit Captain?" She asked, gesturing to the lounge chair.

"Thank you Counselor," Jean Luc said, taking the offered seat.

After he was settled, she spoke again. "So what did you come to talk about?"

Jean Luc knew there was no way to get around the question. Though he had not realized until she had asked that he had actually come for a reason, when she asked him, the answer was clear.

"Beverly." He didn't need to continue. Jean Luc knew that Deanna would understand what exactly he meant.

Deanna's eyes misted over and Jean Luc knew that she was just as worried for Beverly as he was. "Yes. Did she tell you about the planet?"

He nodded. "As much as she could."

Deanna looked away, an awkward silence filling the room at the reminder of the close call that they had had.

Jean Luc broke the silence abruptly, the words coming out before he could stop them. "Counselor, Beverly's arms..." He trailed off, unwilling to finish the sentence.

Pain flashed in Deanna's eyes. "Did she show you?"

When he nodded, she continued. "Beverly insists she is fine, but those who have seen her arms and legs would disagree."

Jean Luc went pale. "Did you say arms and legs?"

"Yes," Deanna said, her voice soft. She looked up back at him suddenly. "She didn't show you her legs?"

He nodded mutely, not finding himself as surprised as he should have been. "No, only her arms."

"But you already knew?"

"Yes, he said, his voice weak. "But no one told me."

Deanna looked at him, surprised. "Was it a guess?"

"Not quite." He paused for a second before continuing. "I had an odd dream before I came here. In the dream, I was in a cell by myself when Beverly was brought in, bleeding from both her arms and legs. When I woke, I dismissed it as my imagination creating improbable situations."

Deanna was thoughtful. "Captain, did it feel like a dream?"

He bristled. "Counsellor, Beverly was dragged through a wall."

"Did it feel real?"

"It – " He began protesting before he realized that protesting against Deanna's questions was futile.

"Yes," Jean Luc said softly, looking away from her piercing eyes. "When I was in the cell and Beverly came back in bleeding, it felt like a memory, not a dream."

They were both quiet, absorbing what Jean Luc had said.

"How does she do it?!" He burst out, unable to control his frustration anymore. "She was tortured on that damned planet and she behaves as though it were just a regular mission!"

"In many ways, that is the only way that Beverly can deal with it..." Deanna trailed off, leaving the sentence hanging.

"But?"

She paused before finishing with an explanation. "You know that Beverly woke about two days before you did?"

"I had deduced as such."

"When she awoke in sick bay, though Beverly obviously felt some confusion, what I felt from her was mostly concern, logically for your health. She insisted upon treating her own wounds, rather than having them treated in sick bay."

He considered what she had said, knowing that that behavior would be natural for Beverly. She always put other peoples needs ahead of her own. Her torn arms flashed in his mind and he flinched, knowing that that could very well be what had happened on the planet.

He stood up, shaken from their conversation and needing time alone to think. "Thank you counsellor."

Deanna smiled, but her eyes still looked sad. "Come back soon captain."

He got the feeling it was more of an order then a request, so he just nodded. It had helped him talking to Deanna and he had learned some valuable things that Beverly has left out.

He left the room feeling like a burden had been lifted from his shoulders after talking about the dream. Now, if only it could be explained to him.