When We Two Parted
Disclaimer: If only the rights belonged to me, then I would have gotten P/C together in the TV series. But as it is, I don't own them so please don't sue. I am only using for the enjoyment and not for the profit.
Summary: Beverly spends time with a man she thought dead and truths, deceit and broken promises are revealed.
Rating: PG-13
A/n: Many thanks to Jamie, my utterly wonderful beta and who is also a great sounding board for my ideas, whether they are good or are utter tripe.
When We Two Parted
Chapter Four: Confusion at the Recital.
Beverly Crusher was sitting behind the desk in her office and staring at the blank screen in front of her. She had decided to drop into Sickbay to catch up on some reports while Walker had gone to visit Jean-Luc. But instead of working, she simply wondered what was going on in the captain's quarters. She discreetly contacted Worf to see if any security had been called to the captain's rooms and she the security chief informed her that no teams had been dispatched to anywhere on the ship. She took that as a good sign and then had tried to get on with work, but her mind hadn't been able to concentrate.
"I'm sure you told me it was your day off," said Walker as he poked his head around the doors of her office. "All work and no fun makes Bev a very dull girl."
"Walker," she said as she immediately rose to her feet and made her way over to him. "How did it go?"
"Good," replied Walker as he took her hand and looped her arm through his. "Come on, let's blow this joint."
"Is that it?" she asked. She had expected more than 'good' and she had hoped he would finally let her in on what had caused the rift between the one-time close friends.
"I bumped into Data on the way down here and he told me that there was a recital on ten-forward tonight," Walker said, steering the conversation away from his meeting with Jean-Luc. "I got the impression that we have to attend."
Beverly chuckled, Data had been in to see her shortly before Walker had turned up at her office and had told her about the recital. She'd also got the impression from the android that she was expected to attend, and because it was Data, she couldn't refuse him. At times, she regarded Data much like her own son, Wesley. Sometimes she enjoyed mothering Data when he would come to her for advice on certain matters and she had enjoyed teaching him to dance. Occasionally, she and Data would book an hour on the holodeck and she would teach him a new dance. He would pick it up instantly and the rest of the hour would be spent dancing and chatting.
"We could have something to eat beforehand," suggested Beverly. "I'll invite Jean-Luc to join us for the meal and the recital. We usually attend these types of things together."
"Good idea," said Keel as they made their way towards Beverly's quarters.
Beverly glanced over at the chronometer and then back at Walker, who was sat on the couch looking at her. They were waiting for Jean-Luc to appear, but he had yet to, and Beverly was growing impatient. When she had contacted him to invite him for dinner with her and Walker, she thought he'd sounded surprised at her request, but he'd assured her that he would be by for dinner unless something came up. He was now half an hour late and he hadn't bothered contacting her to let her know his plans.
"Bev," Walker said gently, "it doesn't look like he's coming. Let's eat now, otherwise we'll miss the recital."
"He could have let us known he was busy," she said with a sigh.
Walker pulled out the chair for her and helped slide it under the table before he seated himself and began helping himself to the spread she had laid out for the three of them. Beverly chuckled as she watched Walker pile the food on to his plate. He was the only one beside herself whom she knew to have such a healthy appetite, though he did tend to put weight on around the middle. They had had matching stomachs when she had been pregnant with Wesley and Walker's excuse was that he was sympathy eating with her.
"Perhaps he's caught up with something on the bridge," said Beverly, picking at her food. Little did she know that he was not on the bridge or doing anything that would detain him from joining them for dinner. He sat in his quarters in the same place as Walker had left him, staring out of the window.
"Maybe," agreed Walker. "No doubt we will see him at the recital."
The meal progressed nicely for the two old friends; they spoke about the summers that they had spent at Walkers aunt's. They laughed at the memory of Jack losing his swimming trunks after diving in and how Walker had hid them behind a rock before running back to the house to pretend that nothing had happened. They could have continued to chat for longer, but time was drawing near the time of the recital and they did not want to be late.
Ten-Forward was surprisingly packed for a mid-week night. Guinan was busy playing hostess and she and Walker struck up a conversation about LerAn Rum and the merits of it. Beverly kept her eye on the doors and was disappointed each time they opened and a crewmember that wasn't Jean-Luc stepped in. She'd hoped her invitation to the meal and also the recital would be seen as an olive branch on her count. They hadn't seen each other since the argument in her quarters and she had wanted to put it behind them.
"Bev," she felt Walker's hand on the small of her back. "It's filling up, so we should grab some seats together before we end up sitting miles away from one another."
"We need to save Jean-Luc one just in case," she told Walker as they made their way over to some vacant seats.
They found three vacant seats near the makeshift stage that had been erected in Ten-Forward for Data's recital and made themselves comfortable. Beverly craned her neck to the right so she could get a good view of the doors and who was coming and going. Data was already onstage when Jean-Luc finally arrived in Ten-Forward. As soon as she spotted him, she waved him over and pointed to the seat beside her. She was taken back when he simply nodded in recognition and went to sit somewhere else.
She tried to turn her attention back to Data's recital, but couldn't concentrate on what he was saying or catch the meaning of the words. The captain's behavior troubled her and she looked back over at him. He sat with Worf and Geordi and he seemed to be looking down at his hands, not paying any attention to Data. She felt Walker's hand on her arm and she turned to look at him.
"You al; right?" he asked, leaning into her.
"He ignored me," she whispered back.
"Maybe he didn't want to walk past all these people who are trying to listen to Data's recital," he said. "So he found the nearest, easiest seat."
"I suppose you're right," she said.
"When am I not?" he asked with a chuckle.
Beverly bit her lip to prevent a small laugh from coming out. It wouldn't look good to laugh during Data's recital especially when at the moment he was reciting 'When We Two Parted' by Lord Byron.
I secret we met—
I silence I grieve,
That thy heart could forget,
Thy spirit deceive.
If I should meet thee
After long years,
How should I greet thee?
With silence and tears.
Date concluded his recital and the gathered crowd broke into rapturous applause. Beverly felt overwhelmed by the poem and she discreetly dabbed her eyes with the corner of her sleeve before clapping along with the others. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jean-Luc making his way to congratulate Data on his successful recital. She rose from her seat and looked over at Walker, who had slipped back into conversation with Guinan and was now discussing a brandy from a remote Federation outpost. Leaving Walker in the capable hands of Guinan, she approached Jean-Luc, who was still talking to Data.
"Doctor Crusher," said Data. "Did you enjoy the recital?"
"Yes, I did," she answered with an encouraging smile.
"From the comments I have received," he said, "I can conclude that it was well received. I am most happy, Doctor."
"If you will excuse me Mr Data, Doctor," Jean-Luc said in his command voice. "There are something things I need to attend to. You read well, Mr. Data."
"Thank you, Captain," Data replied.
"Captain, may I have a word?" asked Beverly, using his title just as he had with her.
"I have Admiral Denby waiting on subspace," he said, matter of fact. "I really should be getting back."
"Of course, Captain," she replied coolly. "Excuse me, gentlemen." She turned away from them both and made her way back to where Walker was still sat. He had never publicly dismissed her in such a way before and his behavior had hurt her. As far as she knew, she had done nothing to warrant that and so she had no explanation.
"Walker," she said, interrupting his conversation. "I'm going back to my quarters. I'm sure if you ask Guinan nicely, she'll break out some of the strong stuff she keeps in the back." She kissed him on the cheek and smiled over at Guinan before making a quick exit from Ten-Forward. She could feel Walker's eyes on her and she knew he would be confused by her sudden disappearance, but she also knew that Guinan would subtly let him know why she'd had a early night.
To be continued...