Ch. 4! Keep reviewing!:) Enjoy!

"Jean-Luc, I…" Beverly couldn't find the right words. There he was, standing between her and a life without the stars, without the Enterprise, and without him. There weren't words.

"Dr. Crusher," Jean-Luc began, "You have served this ship and you have served me, as the Captain, for the last fifteen years with nothing but the best interests of the crew at heart. There are lives standing on this ship, even now, which would not be here without your dedication to your profession and to them. Without a doubt, I am one of those people. Beverly, you are my oldest and dearest friend, and you have saved my hide more times than I can count. While I understand that everyone must move on at some point, I will miss you terribly." The Captain smiled sadly as he finished his words of thanks to the woman he loved.

Why doesn't he just ask me to stay? If he were to ask right now, I couldn't refuse him.

"Oh Jean-Luc, I will also miss you. We've been close friends for so long, it'll be strange to once again be apart, but we will keep in contact. That I promise you. I'm sorry I'm leaving…after everything that's happened over the last few months…I just need…I just need a new start."

With those last words, Beverly felt tears well-up behind her eyes.

I will not cry. I will not cry. I WILL NOT CRY! Damn it Beverly, pull yourself together. You know that THIS can't work. It's too complicated. It's too dangerous. You'll both just end up hurt…

She grabbed his hand, squeezed it, and took a step back, towards the transporter pad and away from the man she loved. Beverly couldn't help but notice how sad the Captain looked.

What am I even doing?

"Come to dinner soon, okay Jean-Luc? We will take advantage of your close proximity while we can."

"I will do that Beverly."

"Promise?"

"I promise. I look forward to it."

"I will talk to you soon then…"

Stepping up onto the platform and taking a deep breath, Beverly smiled one last warm smile at Jean-Luc and then nodded at the Transporter Chief.

Beverly was still looking at the painful image of a very sad-looking Captain in front of her. She knew she was hurting him. Heck, she was hurting herself, but she also thought that what she was doing was best for her and best for him.

I just wish this didn't hurt so badly. Why does something I know is right feel so wrong?!

And as the transporter energized and transported her to the planet below, Beverly caught one last look of Jean- Luc Picard. To this day she's not sure if it was a distortion of the transporter or not, but Beverly felt a tight knot form in her stomach as she looked out and saw a single hot tear run it's winding path down the face of the man she loved.

No words.