If he could scowl further, he would. Picard sat in his ready room, clutching the now cold cup of tea in his hands as he stared at the screen on his desk, the communication already ended. He tapped his comm badge with more force than necessary. "Number One, would you join me in my ready room." He lowered the tea to his table; the clatter of the glass against glass grated his already thin nerves.

When Will walked in a few seconds later, he could tell the captain was not particularly happy. "You wanted to see me sir?"

"I've just received word from Starfleet." He replied moving to stand in front of his desk. "They're ordering us back to Federation space, to rendezvous with four Starfleet representatives at Star base 121 for the official investigation."

Will raised his eyebrows. "That didn't take long. Who did the council choose for the representatives?"

Picard sighed heavily. "Admirals Janeway, Jellico, and Paris."

"And the fourth sir?"

He looked at his first officer, and for a second Will thought he saw a pleading look in Picard's eyes. "They've decided in a case as special as this, that they would be more comfortable with a fourth party who would be able to discern whether or not Commander Pinces is being truthful."

Will started to smile, but desperately tried to hide it. "Wouldn't happen to be a Betazed ambassador would it sir?"

"I'm afraid so number one." Picard exhaled heavily. "Would you see that the proper arrangements are made; chances are Ambassador Troi will want to remain on board..."

"Yes sir." Will replied as he turned to leave. "Shall I set in a course for Star base 121?"

Picard hesitated for a moment, quickly weighing his options before nodding. Smiling, Will walked out of the ready room.

"And this," Deanna said as the two came to Holo-deck 2. "is one of the holo-decks on board."

"Let me see if I get this. This room can take on the location...any location really?" Emelle asked, as she looked over the control panel outside the doors.

Deanna nodded. "You can even add holo-characters, adjust the weather, time in history." She was interrupted when several people walked out. "Oh, looks like a class is ending. Would you like to take a look?"When Emelle nodded, they stepped into the room where there were still over a dozen people, all talking, preparing to leave. It was a simple program, a room with white floors and walls, similar in appearance to the gym where Worf usually held his classes. Catching Worf's eye, Deanna walked over to him, Emelle a few steps behind her. "Worf, I didn't know you were holding class in here."

"Yes, many of the new crew members expressed an interest, and with the captain's approval, we moved here to make more room." He straightened when he saw Emelle move over to where the Bokken and other training weapons were stored by the wall. "Counsellor, I had assigned a security detail to the Commander for a reason."

Deanna followed Worf's gaze. "If she was going to hurt me, or anyone else, she would have done so already." Worf grunted his disagreement. Turning back to Emelle, she saw her raise a hanbo, and skilfully swing it in her hand.

"Barclay to Counsellor Troi."

"What is it Reg?" She was annoyed by the disturbance, but she sensed great agitation in his voice.

"I was wondering, Dr. Crusher asked me to participate in an other play, and I'm supposed to play this romantic part, but the thought of saying these things..." Emelle laughed when Barclay started to hyperventilate over the comm system.

"Meet me in my office, I'm on my way."

"Oh, thank you counsellor. Thank you."

Deanna sighed and then walked over to Emelle. She took the woman's arm, and pulled her towards where Worf stood. "Worf, why don't you show the Commander some of the Klingon exercises, and maybe she could show you some she has acquired." Her smile faded as she looked from Worf to Emelle as they stared at each other, neither intimidated by the other. "Ok. I'll catch up with you two later." She said when neither replied nor even acknowledged her presence, and moved to the door of the holo-deck. Before leaving she turned around. They hadn't moved. 'I hope they don't kill each other.' She thought as she shook her head and walked out the door towards her office.

Beverly stood from behind her desk, still reading the latest report published in the Starfleet medical journal a she walked to the replicator and ordered a cup of chamomile tea. Softly blowing on the drink in an attempt to cool it down, she moved back to her desk, but was stopped before she could fully move around it. "Doctor!" She turned at Nurse Ogawa's voice. "You need to come in here!"

Beverly quickly dropped the PADD and tea on her desk and rushed out of her office. "What the hell happened?" She asked as she took in the sight before her. Worf was half sitting on the bio bed, half leaning against it with blood seeping from a large laceration on his forehead, and cradling his swollen left wrist. Emelle hobbled in, her right shoulder obviously out of socket, and when she made it to the bio bed, she carefully, sat herself down, swearing under her breath when her knee bumped against the side. Still in slight shock at the sight, Beverly moved to stand between the two occupied beds. "What did you two do to each other?"

Emelle and Worf shared a quick look before Worf clarified. "It was...a friendly sparring match."

Beverly raised her eyebrows in a 'yeah right' attitude before pulling the tricorder from her jacket pocket. "Yeah, looks that way." She said sarcastically as she began to scan Emelle, and Nurse Ogawa did the same to Worf. "Your shoulder is completely dislocated, and there appears to be some ligament damage." She said as she scanned over her shoulder. As she lowered the scanner over her torso, Beverly shook her head. "Looks like you've taken a couple blows to your chest."

"Lucky shots." Emelle replied, trying to hold back the groan as the radiating pain seemed to intensify causing tears to spring to her eyes.

Beverly moved further down, scanning her discoloured knee. "You've torn your ACL." Closing the tricorder and placing it on the bed, she then moved to grab a hypo-spray of pain killers and press it into Emelle's neck. "Luckily for you, I can fix these."

"Doctor, can you look at this?" Nurse Ogawa called. Beverly turned to the other bed, and looked at the tricorder readings.

Not believing what she was reading, she reached up to Worf's head wound. "There's dry blood." She pulled her hand back. "How long ago did this happen?"

Worf grimaced slightly as a nurse began to heal his broken wrist. "She was able to provide a counter attack in the beginning of our match. It was a-"

"Lucky shot." Beverly finished shaking her head. "Well how much longer did you continue before coming to your senses and coming here?"

Worf, knowing his delay was wrong lowered his head. "We continued for at least an other 30 minutes." Seeing Beverly move to put her hands on her hips, he continued. "Later in the match, as I swung the Bat'leth, she was able to evade the blow, and then swung her hanbo breaking my wrist."

"You fought against her wooden hanbo with the Bat'leth?" Beverly asked in disbelief

"In our defence," Emelle spoke up. "We started hand-to-hand but it got a little heated, so we moved to the hanbo and bokken, and then moved to whatever weapons were in the holo-deck." She grimaced in pain again.

Beverly shook her head and looked at Worf. "When the nurse is done with your wrist she'll see to your head, but I want you to stay right there." She pointed to the bed with her finger before turning back to Emelle. "Ok, I'm going to have to put that shoulder back into position before I heal the ligaments." Emelle nodded, and braced herself when Beverly moved her hands, one on Emelle's wrist, and the other on the front of her shoulder. "Ready? 1, 2-"

"Don't count down!" Emelle interrupted. "I don't want to know when you're going to do it! Don't tell me, just do it." As soon as she uttered the last word, Beverly pushed, and the shoulder went back into place with a loud CRACK. Emelle gasped in pain, and grabbed Beverly's jacket sleeve with her good hand as she instinctively bent forward. Slowly she sat up, her eyes glazed over. "I may throw up on you."

"It's alright, wouldn't be the first time." Beverly remarked, smiling as she sprayed her neck again. She grabbed the appropriate instrument, but looked slightly troubled. She leaned forward, lowering her voice. "The type of repair needed requires this instrument to be in direct contact with your skin. We're going to have to remove your shirt."

"I've got a tank top on underneath."

Beverly nodded her head. "That's fine." With the help of an other nurse, Beverly began to slowly lift the long sleeve shirt over Emelle's good shoulder, and then her hurt shoulder. Finally pulling it over her head, Beverly noticed the tank top had hiked up in the back, and concern flooded her when she saw the crisscross scarring on Emelle's back. There were many, some which appeared much older then others. Pulling herself back, she quickly pulled the tank down, and began healing the damage to her shoulder. She chose not to say anything when she noticed no indication from Emelle that she knew Beverly saw them. "At least, tell me you didn't keep fighting with a torn shoulder and knee."

"No." Worf replied. "Well, she did take advantage of my momentary concern for her after she injured her knee, slashing her hanbo against my wrist." He glared at Emelle.

"Oh come on. Like you wouldn't have done the same." She threw, glaring back at him.

After a moment, Beverly turned off the device. "How does that feel?"

Tentatively, Emelle lifted and began rotating her shoulder. "Not bad. A little stiff."

"And it will be for a while." She commented as she moved to repair her knee. "Have you injured your knee before?"

"I tore my ACL and MCL when I was 17."

"You didn't get the proper treatment?" Beverly asked rolled up the pant leg and began the repairs on her knee.

Emelle watched in awe as how her once swollen and purple knee slowly changed back to its original size and colouring. "Yeah, well we didn't exactly have this kind of medical technology way back when."

"True." She moved her gaze between Worf and Emelle. "How are you both feeling?"

"Fine." They both replied.

"Ok. You can both leave, but I don't want you to even think about sparring with anyone for four days, is that understood?" They nodded, slipped of the beds, and moved to the door but Beverly held up her hands to stop them. "Well, at least tell me who won?"

Emelle and Worf shared an other quick glance. "It was a draw." They both said together.

Beverly couldn't help but laugh as they two once-again-whole warriors left sickbay, their tails between their legs. When they did leave, Beverly moved back to clear the instruments, and she thought remembered Emelle's back. Pausing as she placed the hypo-spray down with the others on the counter, she lifted her hand to her comm to call Deanna, but stopped. She wasn't sure if this was something she was obligated to tell her. Sighing, she tapped the badge. "Dr. Crusher to Counsellor Troi."

"Troi here. What can I do for you Beverly?"

Beverly took a moment to think before replying. "I was wondering if you'd like to meet me in Ten Forward for an early supper."

"I'd love to. I'm meeting with Lieutenant Barclay at the moment, but I'll come by your office when I'm finished."

Beverly smiled when she heard Deanna's reply. "I'll see you then." Stuffing her hands back into her jacket pocket, she moved back into her office, trying to figure out the right thing to do.

Worf and Emelle walked side by side to the turbo lift in silence. The passing crew members quickly moved to the side as the pair walked through the corridors, Emelle with a slight limp, and Worf slowly rotating his left wrist. When they stopped outside the turbo lift doors, they met each other's gaze once, and Emelle pursed her lips in a polite grin. When the doors opened, there was a miscommunication as to who'd enter the doors first, until Worf finally stepped back and held his arm out, allowing Emelle to enter first.

"Deck 8." He ordered with a bark.

Emelle glanced at him before returning her gaze to the doors. "Deck 6." They continued to stand there in an awkward silence, and then Worf exhaled heavily through his nose. "Something bothering you?" Emelle asked still looking at the door.

"I am, unsatisfied with a draw."

"Thank God, me too." Emelle chuckled as she rolled her stiff shoulder. "Maybe when we're back at our peak we can give it an other go?"

Worf considered her offer for a moment. "It would be wise to not inform Dr. Crusher."

"Wouldn't dream of it." Emelle smiled. When the lift stopped, Emelle moved to walk out. "Have a good evening lieutenant."

"Same to you." Worf replied with a curt bow of his head. When the doors closed, Worf lifted his wrist and began rotating it. "It was an impressive manoeuvre." He said aloud to no one. As soon as he said it, he shook his head. He knew a certain first officer who would never let him live it down if he ever repeated that aloud again!

Beverly sat in her office, looking at the PADD lying on her desk, but not at all paying attention to what it said. When the doors opened, and Deanna walked into her office with a smile, Beverly looked up. "Oh, Deanna, you're here."

"It's nice to see you too Beverly." She chuckled as she moved to stand behind one of the chairs facing Beverly's desk, and lightly drummed her fingers against the head rest.

"I didn't mean it like that." She was disappointed because she hadn't come to a decision whether or not to tell Deanna about Emelle's back. "Deanna I need your advice."

Exhaling in frustration, Deanna moved to sit in the chair. "Beverly, just tell him the truth. What's the worse that could happen?"

Beverly looked at her friend for a moment. "What are you talking about?"

When she realized Beverly wasn't talking about the same thing she was talking about, Deanna cleared her throat. "What are you talking about?"

Not willing to go down that twisted road, Beverly shook her head. "I was concerned about whether or not I should tell you about something." Seeing the blank expression of Deanna's face, she clarified. "I know something about one of my patients, and I'm concerned whether or not I should tell you."

"Did someone say anything that made you concerned?"

"No. No one said anything. It's what I saw."

Deanna shook her head. "Beverly I don't understand. But if it's bothering you this much, maybe it would be best to tell me. Whether as your friend or as ship's counsellor, is up to you."

Beverly sighed. She was right. "Worf and Emelle came into sickbay earlier. They decided to spar together."

Deanna laughed. "I was giving Emelle a tour when Reg called me for an emergency session. It was actually my idea for the two of them to show each other some of their exercises." Deanna considered it for a moment. "Perhaps not the best idea I've had."

Beverly nodded. "Worf had a large laceration on his head and a broken wrist, while Emelle had a dislocated shoulder and a torn ligament in her knee." Seeing Deanna's eye widen in surprise, Beverly chuckled. "I know right?"

"So," Deanna though for a moment. "are you worried that they both have a lot of bent up anger, and you're worried they may hurt either themselves or others?" She asked with a sarcastic grin.

"Well I am now." Beverly said, and shared a laugh with Deanna.

"It does seem a bit far fetched." Deanna looked up at her friend. "Does your concern involve Worf, or Emelle?"

"Emelle has...that's to say, there are..." Seeing Deanna try to understand the encrypted sentence, Beverly lowered her voice. "She has quite a few scars."

Deanna looked at her quizzically. "We all have scars Beverly. Events in our past have the tendencies to leave lasting reminders, usually in reference to negative ones. You heard about her past. There's no surprise she has-"

"No, Deanna." Beverly interrupted waving her hands. "You misunderstand me. Deanna, her back is covered in scars." Deanna leant back, her shoulders dropping slightly. "I wasn't sure if telling you crossed any lines of confidentiality."

Deanna sighed. "How did she react when you saw them?" Beverly quickly avoided her gaze. "She doesn't know?"

"I was in the middle of healing her shoulder, and it seemed like a personal thing, so I quickly covered her back." Beverly rushed out her explanation.

"Captain Picard wants me to have scheduled meetings with her to go over the questions the Starfleet representatives will ask her." She smiled sadly. "Maybe they will come up then." She uncrossed her legs and slid to the edge of her seat. "I'm sure Admiral Jellico will be the least sensitive of the three. He won't pull any punches when discussing the more sensitive issues." She smirked at Beverly's reaction at the mention of the Admiral. "Admiral Janeway will no doubt be the more sympathetic, and we can predict that Admiral Paris will be something between the two. Captain Picard also asked that I have a quick discussion with my mother before hand..."

Beverly smiled before ducking her head. "What will they ask her?"

Deanna sighed. "They will be more concerned with what happened after she was awoken, and how she ended up in this sector rather than her life on Earth. They will want to know about any other survivors from the capsule, any information that she may know about this sector, which according to her is everything." She sighed. "Will actually posed the idea that she remains on the Enterprise. He thinks her expertise might be helpful when dealing with the cultures that have been oppressed by the Cardassians for generations."

Beverly rested her forearms on her desk. "I had actually thought of that. Did he bring it up with the captain?"

Deanna slowly shook her head. "He's still undecided whether or not it would be a good idea."

"Well I think it is. And I think the captain would agree."

"If he does tell the captain, and you're right he does agree, then he would have to propose the idea to the council to get approval."

Beverly looked at her with an unsure look. "And?"

"This request would require the representatives to ask more...personal questions. They will want to know about her relationships to other cultures, any enemies. They will also want to know of any instances where she was captured, and gage her reactions to try and determine whether or not she would be a liability."

Beverly chewed on her lower lip as she thought about what Deanna just told her. "Is it wrong that I'm worried?" She asked carefully.

"Why would it be wrong?"

"It's just...we hardly know her, hell, she attacked a member of my staff and me." She shook her head. "Yet I'm worried for her. Those scars are evidence that she's been through...a lot, and she will have to relive some of the horrible things that have been done to her, in a public setting, just to appease the council's curiosity."

"It's more than appeasing their curiosity, Beverly."

"I know." She relented, closing her eyes. "It just...doesn't seem right that she would be forced to share details and memories that I'm sure she'd rather forget, only to have her fate decided by stuffy admirals." She shook her head. "Doesn't it in some way go against the prime directive if they decide to pluck her out of her life here and throw her on Earth?"

Deanna considered the rhetorical question. "If it makes you fell better," She started after a moment. "I think it's alright that you told me. And, it's not wrong to be worried. You have a good point that it will be difficult for her to have to tell complete strangers, what I'm assuming to be very personal details." She thought for a moment. "All we can do, is offer to be there for her. She's more likely going to be willing to share some of her past, if she considers us something other than a CMO, or ships councillor. If she does tell you anything, know that I trust your judgement in whether or not to divulge that information to me."

Beverly sighed before smiling lightly and straightening in her chair. "Weren't we off to get something to eat?"

Deanna smiled and stood. "Yes! After my session with Reg, I might just treat myself with a cheesecake for desert."

Chuckling, Beverly moved from around her desk and walked out of sickbay. "Deanna."

"Hmm?"

"Who were you talking about?"

"When?"

"Earlier, when you came into my office, you told me to 'tell him the truth.' Who did you mean?" Deanna just smiled up at her friend, and kept walking down the hall.

'One of these days.' Deanna thought to herself. 'I just hope they come to their senses sooner rather than later.' As Beverly started a new topic of conversation, Deanna quickly reminded herself to find Will afterwards about a certain couple and a related money pool.