Author: Jadeblueafterglow17

Title: A Beat in My Heart

Summary: Beverly's nightmare begins

Chapter 2: Montezumas Revenge

Captain Picard strode quickly from his ready room, and pulled down firmly on the bottom of his tunic. The sounds of his footfalls faded as he sat at his command chair.

"Ensign Crusher, set coordinates for sector 001 Warp five."

"Aye. Sir..." He replied hoarsely.

"Engage." Wesley engaged the engines in a few easy steps as he was besieged by a fit of coughing. The harsh cough got the attention of Counselor Troi and Captain Picard as they exchanged a perplexed glance.

"Ensign Crusher, is everything alright?"

Wesley took a deep breath to try to ease his sudden cough and swallowed, he didn't know what was happening to him but his head was pounding and he felt like he'd been tackled by a Klingon .

"Yes Sir." He replied quietly.

"Ensign, What is our estimated time of arrival?" Picard stood from his seat and began to approach Wesley from the rear. He punched in the information to verify the calculations he'd already done in his head. Wes tried to stifle another cough as he felt a wave of unease fall over him. His stomach was churning. As he turned to answer, his body betrayed him as hot liquid erupted from his mouth.

Wesley moaned, leaned over and promptly threw up on Captain Picard's pants and shoes. He was mortified but too weak to stop himself or even offer an apology as he wiped his mouth and looked pitifully horrified up into the disgusted eyes of his captain.

"Kill me now..." he thought to himself as he met the angry stare. He saw Picard's fist clench tightly closed as though he was trying to break his own fingers and then an exasperated sigh escaped his lips. Picard's eyes somewhat softened as he met Wesley's worried stare.

Picard groaned audibly and slapped a large cool hand to Wesley's forehead as the boy nearly fell back into the console. He tapped his comm badge tersely.

"Picard to Dr. Crusher."

"Crusher here."

"Ensign Crusher has just... defiled me ... could you come and collect him from my bridge?" His teeth were gritted together so tightly as he spoke it was amazing they did not break.

Beverly Crusher stood dumbstruck with her gloved hands staring at a sample of blood of one of her patients. Picard's statement had caught her off guard.

For a long moment he was greeted with silence as Dr. Beverly Crusher conjured up many unpleasant images of what his words could possibly mean. She glanced at Nurse Ogawa who shrugged her shoulders.

She placed the vial down, and finally collected her thoughts and was able to form words with her shocked mouth.

"I beg your pardon?" she said...trying to suppress a giggle.

"Ensign Crusher, your son,... is ill. Would you like to collect him or shall I have him beamed there?"

The smile instantly vanished from her face. "I'm on my way."

Picard managed to wipe down his pants and shoes with a cloth. Commander Riker tried not to laugh as he relinquished the towel to the captain but failed miserably at the Captain's discomfort as Counselor Troi got up from her seat and attempted to assist Wesley.

"Something you ate Wes?" Troi asked.

"Haven't...eaten..." he said softly, his eyes threatening to close. He tried to sit up straight in his seat.

Wesley peered up at Picard timidly.

"I'm ...very sorry sir..." Wesley whispered.

"It's quite alright Ensign...I needed new shoes anyway." he replied placing a firm hand on his shoulder. "We can't afford to have our best navigator sick, you need to take better care of yourself son."

His use of the word son to describe the young Ensign didn't go unnoticed by the rest of the crew, or Wesley. It wasn't unusual. They all knew that despite his gruff exterior, he had come to regard Wesley as the son he'd never had.

"Why did you come on deck if you knew you weren't feeling well?"

Wesley sighed heavily. He honestly didn't have a logical answer for the captain. He'd felt mildly uneasy in his quarters but now felt like he was easily as sick as he'd ever felt.

"It was a poor decision sir, I'm sorry."

Deanna touched his neck with the back of her hand and unzipped his tunic.

"You are rather warm, I doubt you are thinking clearly with a fever."

"I'm quite certain you are at the top of the list of our CMO list of priorities now. I'm sure she'll have you back in tip top shape in no time."

"Yes sir." he replied quietly.

"Commander Riker summon a replacement for Ensign Crusher's shift."

"Aye Sir."

Wesley took a deep breath and was nearly choked by an attack of coughing. He was suddenly frightened...he couldn't catch his breath.

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