Part 3

Picard meanders through Sickbay until he finds the private room where he had been instructed to locate Beverly and Wesley. The nurse had advised him that Wesley had been moved to a room earlier that day, and had forewarned the captain that the boy's condition had deteriorated rapidly. Entering the room, Picard finds the doctor studying the biomonitors over the biobed, furiously consulting the tricorder in her hand. Wesley is unconscious on the bed, a blue blanket tucked securely up to his chest.

"What's going on?" demands Picard without preamble, walking up to Beverly.

Whipping around, Beverly's face falls. Her eyes are bloodshot, dark circles under her eyes. "Oh…Captain, I didn't hear you come in."

"The nurse told me Wesley's unconscious. He's not responding to the treatment," Picard relays, stepping close to Beverly, his eyes on the boy lying motionless in the bed.

"The radiation didn't seem to have any effect," explains Beverly ruefully, her voice thick. "I can't understand…these malignant cells are taking over his body."

"What can you do?" demands Picard urgently.

"I spoke with my colleague at Medical," begins Beverly wearily. "He's ran Wesley's case by some of his associates. They think the only cure is a bone marrow transplant."

"Can you do a transplant?" asks Picard.

"If I find a compatible donor," answers Beverly doubtfully. "I need to find a genetic match. Jean-Luc, at this rate, I don't know if he'll survive long enough for me to secure a donor. Hopefully, being his mother, I'll check out to be a good match."

Thoroughly surprised, Jean-Luc tries to keep the shock out of his tone. "Cross reference the database. Check every personnel on the Enterprise and see if they would make a compatible donor. Failing that, I'll order the ship wherever you need to go to secure the replacement bone marrow in time."

Smiling weakly, Beverly bobs her head. "Thank you, Jean-Luc. I'm checking the database now."

"We'll find a way, Beverly," says Jean-Luc assuringly, grasping her hand. "I won't let anything happen to your son."

Tears pooling in her eyes," Beverly's lips manage a watery smile, grateful to have her friend's support right now.

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Entering the Chief Medical Officer's office, Picard is on edge. He had been summoned to her office, so his conclusion is that the boy had taken a turn for the worse. Discovering Beverly behind her desk studying the computer screen intently, he strides across the room.

Glancing over her screen at the sound of his footsteps, Beverly straightens. "I'm sorry to disrupt you."

"That's quite alright," Picard assures her, pausing in front of the desk. "How's Wesley?"

Beverly gestures for him to sit in the visitor chair, leaning forward in her seat.

Remaining rooted to his spot, Picard stares at her intently. "Your tests? Did you find a match?"

Staring up at him tentatively, Beverly nods. "Yes."

Looking at her expectantly, Picard grasps the edge of the desk. "Who?"

"You," whispers Beverly hesitantly, staring into his eyes, measuring his response.

Eyes dilating, Jean-Luc absorbs the inference in her single word. "Me?"

"Yes," confirms Beverly in a shaky breath. "You were an excellent match."

"How?" demands Jean-Luc, his brows furrowed in bemusement.

"Please, Jean-Luc. If you give Wesley your bone marrow I may be able to give him a fighting chance to stave off these malignant cells," explains Beverly desperately.

Growing earnest, Jean-Luc stares at Beverly stony-faced. "Tell me why I am a genetic match for your son."

Swallowing hard, Beverly tries in vain to ward off the tears stinging the back of her eyes. Her eyes beg him not to ask the question they both know the answer to already. "Jean-Luc…."

"You knew," surmises Jean-Luc, his angry eyes boring into hers.

Biting her lip, Beverly shakes her head. "Please, Jean-Luc…"

Exhaling audibly, Jean-Luc averts his eyes, trying to wrap his head around this stunning revelation.

"Please don't be mad," Beverly pleads, jumping around the desk to his side. She grabs for his arm, starting to sob. "Please, Jean-Luc. I need you. Wesley needs you. He…he could die."

Hands shaking, Jean-Luc removes her hand from his arm. "We need to discuss this."

Sniffling, Beverly bobs her head."I know. Not right now. I need to complete the transplant. Please, Jean-Luc."

Nodding stiffly, Jean-Luc takes a step backward. "Very well."

Sighing in relief, Beverly nods. "Thank you. I have to prep Wesley. Doctor Hill can get you ready. It's actually very easy. It will hardly bother you at all."

Crossing his arms over his chest, Picard is so overwhelmed with emotion he can hardly decipher everything. "We're not done here, Beverly."

Feeling chastised, Beverly nods her understanding. "I know." In this moment, she is scarcely concerned about Jean-Luc's perception of her and their relationship. Right now, her son is fighting for his life, and the only thing that matters is that Jean-Luc can save him.