WOW! Thank you for all of the reviews! I appreciate each and every single one! This will be a 2 part chapter. I have to do some final tweeking with the next one so that should be posted soon! Thank you again for the reviews.

This chapter begins when Locutus shows up on the screen towards the end of the first part.

The Best of Both Worlds:

Beverly's POV

"I am Locutus, of Borg."

My God.

I can't believe it… I can see him and I can hear him, but that's not him.

"Resistance is futile."

Despite the black cloud that surrounds him, he looks like Jean Luc, however...

It's his eyes… they are devoid of life, cold, as if they would never see beauty again.

And it breaks my heart.

"Your life, as it has been, is over."

With a jolt cursing through my stomach, my heart cries out; don't give up!

Is he still there? Is my Jean Luc still there?

Like a bubble of anticipation, I can feel my body lighten with joy. I can't quite explain it but I can somehow feel it in the pit of my stomach. He is still there. He just needs us to save him.

"From this time forward, you will service us."

Or are we too late?

Just as I am about to say something, I hear Will give the order to destroy their ship. In my head I know it's the right thing to do; but in my treacherous heart, I hope with everything that I hold dear that it fails.

Come on Jean Luc! Fight through this! There are so many things that I need to say to you…

However, the energy discharge has no effect on the Borg ship. For the first time in what feels like forever, my despair turns into triumph.

Feeling someone's eyes on me, I turn to see that it's Data. Did I say anything out loud or are my feelings so transparent that an android can sense them?

With defeat in his voice, Will says, "Cease fire."

Then Locutus says, "The knowledge and experience of the human, Picard, is part of us know. It has prepared us for all possible courses of action. Your resistance is hopeless, Number One."

My God.

We have lost the battle before it has begun.

The screen goes black and we watch the Borg ship disappear into the starry distant.

Feeling like I am about to be sick, I turn on the spot and head towards the turbolift. Before reaching the doors, Will stops me and quietly says, "Doctor, there will be an emergency staff meeting in ten minutes. Could you please bring any and all information you have on the Borg from your recent trip to their ship?"

Not trusting my stomach, I nod as the doors close. Knowing the turbolift needs a direction, I swallow the bile that threatens to come and croak, "Sickbay." Closing my eyes, I thank any and every deity for this short bliss. If it were only true that these doors could shut me out of everything that is happening around me.

Sensing that the turbolift has come to its destination, I straighten myself up just as the doors open. For one tiny millisecond, I imagine that Jean Luc was standing in front of me, smiling at me with his crooked little grin. Then within a blink of an eye, he is gone.

Gone.

Clutching my stomach, I march towards my office.

"Doctor, is everything okay? Were you able to retrieve Captain Picard?"

Looking around, I notice that most of Sickbay, patients and workers in all, have their eyes on me. Concern is etched on each of their faces and it breaks my heart all over again.

Closing my eyes, I shake my head slowly. Opening my eyes, I try to put on my best smile, "However, we are regrouping and hopefully, our next attempt will be successful."

A crewman stands from his biobed and confidently says, "The Captain will return safely. He is strong."

Knowing that it is not likely, I try to put on my best smile. "The best thing that we should do is to carry on with our duty. It is what Captain Picard would expect out of his crew."

Turning around, I walk into my office. Sitting at my desk, I gather every information that I have on the Borg.

While it's downloading onto my PADD, I have a minute to think about all that has happened. Jean Luc is part of the Borg now. But it doesn't make sense. I just saw him not even a day ago… he can't be gone.

Gone.

I feel a small bubble of hope gather within the pit of my stomach. But how can it? I saw with my own eyes. Covered in all of that machinery, there was no life within his dead eyes. However, with all of this damning evidence staring me in the face, I can feel his spirit still with us. I can't explain it, at least with none of the instruments within my reach, but I just know it.

"Riker to Doctor Crusher. Our meeting is beginning in the observation lounge. Please join us."

Gathering my PADD, I tap my communicator as I walk out of my office, "I'll be there soon, Crusher out."

The trip back to the bridge is a blur. After the doors open, I notice that Wesley is at the helm. He is so brave, just like his father. Catching myself, I gently place my hand on his shoulder.

He looks at me and instantly he becomes worried. "Are you okay, mom?"

I want to tell him no. I want to scream it, but my problems are not his problems. I smile as best as I can and nod my head. He doesn't seem convinced but he doesn't question it either. I pat him on the shoulder one more time and I walk towards the observation lounge.

I'm greeted by stony faces that are all too determined to catch up to the Borg. Commander Shelby is still in shock, Geordi is mentally kicking himself, Worf is readying himself to go into battle, Deanna is distraught and Will… he's a culmination of all.

Admiral Hanson blinks onto the screen. As we tell him what happened, he is at first shocked then his face shades to anger and determination. He then goes over their plan of attack at Wolf 359.

Commander Shelby disrupts him by warning him that Jean Luc will know what moves are coming next. He goes into this story of when he ran the race on Delula 2.

I know of that race. Jack had somehow retrieved to footage from it. I remember watching the footage with Jack, Jean Luc, Walter and his sister. The popcorn, the cheering and eventually the whiskey that followed…

This idiot is blinded by his own pride and knowledge of Jean Luc Picard.

I ask if there is no hope of recovering him. Again he reiterates that he is a 'casualty of war,' and that they will try to destroy the Borg ship with everything they have.

But he isn't dead…

He's alive! I know he is and he's trying to fight his way out. But what can I say to convince them that he's worth saving?

Are they all content with the notion that Jean Luc is dead?

As soon as Will dismisses us, I jump out of my chair and march towards the turbolift. Somewhat to my dismay, Geordi and Data follow me in. I would just rather be alone, however, it seems like they are in a deep conversation with each other to notice me.

"We need to infect them somehow, debilitate their programming." Geordi punches his fist into his other hand. "Hell, it would be great if we could just slow'em down. It would give us a chance to at least recover Captain Picard. But what could be small enough to be transported without them detecting it?"

"Nanites." The answer simply falls out of my mouth. I don't know what made me say it. Maybe I just became lost within their conversation.

Data turns to me and says, "That is an innovative idea, Doctor. I will look into it. Thank you." The doors open to engineering, and they exit out eager to start a new project.

Closing my eyes, I shake my head. It would take weeks, possibly a month to engineer a new breed and infect the complete Borg system, but I don't have the heart to deflate their potential idea.

Hearing the beep from the turbolift wanting me to choose a destination, I shrug my shoulders and sigh, "Anywhere." For a moment, I think about going back to Sickbay, but we have been preparing for this since going to the recently destroyed Federation Outpost. I don't want to go back to my quarters. Without Wesley there, it would be cold and lonely.

Exiting the turbolift, I begin to walk around aimlessly, not really sure where I might end up.

However, to my surprise, I find myself facing Jean Luc's quarters. Without a moment's hesitation, I press a few buttons and murmur, "Crusher, B., Omega 232."

Briefly allowing myself to smile, I stroll in noting that he has not changed my password to gain an undisclosed entry. Smelling the air, I realize that I never got a chance to tell him that I liked his aftershave.

I never got a chance to tell him a lot of things, both important and miniscule.

Feeling goosebumps erupt all over my skin, I think of the many times we have kissed here and wanted to take things further. How things could have gone further if our duties didn't get in the way. Lightly sliding my finger across his desk, I wonder for the hundredth time what were to have happen if I didn't go to Starfleet Medical. Would more of my things be in here? Would other people know about us?

Then a picture of a baby girl with dirty blonde hair and steely gray eyes floats through my mind. Falling into a nearby chair, I feel like I am about to be sick again.

Hunching over, I close my eyes as I feel my stomach drop to the floor. In my mind, I see myself on the Borg ship. With all of the sights and sounds of machinery surrounding me, I am instantly drawn to Jean Luc lying on a hard steel cot. They are poking and prodding him with several medical instruments and although I cannot see his face, I can sense his agony and grief. He wants to leave, he wants to break through, but something else is holding him back. Can he sense me? I open my mouth to scream his name but nothing comes out. Then trying with all of my might, I move towards him but something pulls me away.

"Beverly!"

Stirring out of my vision, I keep my eyes closed, praying to be brought back to him.

Feeling a friendly hand on my shoulder, I hear Deanna's concerned voice. "Beverly, are you okay?"

Reluctantly, I open my eyes. Instantly, I feel that familiar bile return to my throat. Using some very familiar Vulcan breathing techniques, I sense my stomach trying to return to normal after a few moments.

"I have been looking for you everywhere."

Glancing through my fingers, I remain quiet as I try to gain my bearings.

"We have resumed our course. Will has chosen his new first officer and he wants us there to discuss any new ideas to defeat the Borg." She gives me the same worried look Wesley did on the bridge. "I know this is a silly question, but are you alright?"

I open my mouth, prepared to tell her that I'm fine, but out of pure exhaustion, I confess, "No I'm not alright, but hopefully when we catch up to the Borg, we can finally recover Jean Luc."

Then she gives me a look of pity, like she feels sorry that I'm the only one holding on to the conviction that Jean Luc is alive. "Beverly…"

"Deanna, he's alive, I know it." Shutting my eyes, I try to will my subconscious back to him. "I can feel him, Deanna. I can feel his willpower. I know he's there and I know he's fighting. We just have to figure a way to help him."

Feeling her hand leave my shoulder, I glimpse through my eyelids expecting to see more pity, but I saw something different - understanding and a deep sense of sadness. "He is your Imazadi." By my look of confusion she clarifies, "You two have bonded so closely to each other that you share a very deep and powerful connection. In essence, you can feel each other's existence and feelings." Biting her lip, Deanna confesses, "I had my beliefs that you two had bonded, but I didn't know it ran this deep."

Feeling that my stomach has finally settled, I lean back into the chair and ask, "Why are you so upset about it?"

"No matter if he stays Locutus or if he comes back to us as Jean Luc Picard or if he dies; he will always remain with you, part of you, until you die. It is very painful when you mourn the life of your Imazadi and very hard to forget."

Still confused, I slowly say, "But I'm not a Betazoid and neither is Jean Luc."

"You don't have to be Betazoid or telepathic to experience what you are going through. Your souls are connected to each other and that type of bond will never yield. I believe on Earth, you call it soul mates."

Taking a deep breath, I slowly stand up and quietly say, "Then that just means we have to get him back as soon as possible." Feeling determination course though my body, I walk out of his quarters towards the turbolift with Deanna following closely behind. "Bridge."

Turning towards me, Deanna gently says, "Will has something planned to get back Captain Picard. We will get him, Beverly."

Her words are comforting and I'm glad to hear that Will has not given up. I just hope his plan, whatever it is, works.

Within a blink of an eye, we walk into the conference room. Immediately after it starts, Will announces his first officer. I'm actually amazed that he chose Commander Shelby. For a while there it didn't seem like they did not see eye-to-eye, however, his logic makes sense. Moving on, I am surprised that Data mentions my name with the idea of the nanites. Knowing from my research with Wesley, I explain that it could take weeks to infect the Borg. Then Gerodi and Worf give their ideas, but just like the nanites, it is either too weak to use or it just won't work.

After Will dismisses us, I walk up to him and ask, "Is there any chance that you will be attempting a rescue mission for Jean – I mean Captain Picard?"

For a brief moment, Will glances over to Deanna and slowly says, "I have an idea but that is if we can catch up to them."

Clasping my hands behind my back, I straighten myself and confidently say, "I would like to volunteer for the job." Noticing that Will is nervously regarding Deanna, I persist, "I am sure he will be in need of medical support and I have been in the Borg ship. And although we were over there for a short time, I know I would be able to find Captain Picard."

Noting that he is still looking at Deanna, I glance behind my shoulder to find that they are telepathically speaking to each other.

Knowing that I have caught on to their game, Will clears his throat and says, "Thank you, Doctor, but like I said, we have to catch up to them first."

Feeling my anger boil within my chest, I simply ask, "Do we know where they are heading?"

Shaking his head, he quietly murmurs, "No, but we are heading to Wolf 359. Hopefully, they have had more success than us. If you are to excuse me." Looking at Deanna one last time, he turns and heads towards the bridge.

Turning on the spot, I march to Deanna and yell, "Why did you interfere? What did you say? I know you said something to him, don't deny it."

Deanna stands her ground and firmly says, "If you can sense Captain Picard, what makes you think he won't be able to sense you?"

Opening my mouth, I am surprised that nothing comes out. What if he can sense me? Would he hide away from me? Would the Borg side sense my presence? Would they know that we had infiltrated? Would Locutus kill me? Would Jean Luc?

Feeling defeat overtake my tired body, I collapse in one of the chairs. "Deanna, I just want him back safely. There are so many things I need to tell him. Things I should have told him a long time ago."

Sitting in the chair next to me, Deanna grabs ahold of my hand and says, "If we are lucky, you will get a chance Beverly. Just hold onto that feeling of hope rather than despair."

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