Disclaimers: I love Wesley Crusher. He is not mine. The others aren't mine either...no money exchanged hands except the bribe to get me to post the next chapter!

Author's note: Wow you did it, awesome reviews and suggestions...of course they all say *don't kill Wesley* but that's okay. I promise you an ending that you should be happy with. But this is Character death...and he is the central character : ( Please stick with me...I'll try not to let you down.

Chapter 9: Don't Say Goodbye

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1300 hrs July 29, 2366

A bright sun beamed down on a clean crisp California day. A light warm breeze came off the San Francisco Bay and had the fresh smell of the beautiful but often tumultuous Pacific Ocean with it. On the grounds of Starfleet, along the perfectly manicured lawns, a glistening pond surrounded by tall redwood trees in full bloom, had a perfect mirror image of the gorgeous sky above. Normally this area would be filled with families but there were few patients that were in hospice or that could leave their room.

The hover chair that carried Wesley was equipped with all of his intravenous fluids, and a support to help him keep his head up. As they walked through the pathways, officers saluted the Captain and Commander courteously but it was their sympathetic glances towards Wesley in the chair that broke her heart. As the path opened up and the bright sun hit his face, a shaky trembling hand came up to block the near blinding light at first. From seemingly nowhere a San Francisco Allstars baseball cap was produced by Jean Luc and it sat upon Wesley's chestnut brown hair.

He watched as a seagull swooped down effortlessly across the sky and scooped up an errant piece of food as it straightened its wings and lunged back upwards resuming its daredevil looked up at the horizon and the sky. He hadn't remembered how beautiful the sky could be on a sunny day. He didn't think he'd ever see the sky from Earth again. The clouds were thin wafers that seemed to dance in an endless circle, and the wind gently caressed his cheek.

Wesley struggled to pull the offending cannula away, and found a strong hand atop his as the cannula was suddenly removed. He took a chance and tried to inhale deeply. For once, just this once, his lungs allowed him to savor the feel of the oxygen rich Earth without feeling the fire that burned afterwards. Beverly stared at him, watching his child like eyes take in the scene before him, she couldn't help but see a small glimmer of happiness on his face.

She knelt down beside him and thumbed away a tear from his cheek. After a few minutes of enjoying the beautiful scenery in silence, a multitude of shadows suddenly surrounded them. Wesley looked up to see nearly the entire Bridge and Engineering complement standing near or beside him.

"Happy Birthday Sweetheart..." Beverly choked out. The crew sang an abbreviated version of the song Happy Birthday, as Wesley bit his lip trying not to cry. Beverly held on to his hand as it shook, she didn't know if it was from the pain or from the feeling at that moment. In her other hand she held onto a cupcake with swirled blue frosting and a single candle that danced back and forth in the wind.

"Make a wish..." Wesley stared into his mother's tired eyes. She was trying so hard to appear jovial but he could see the fear in her eyes.

There was only one thing he could think to wish for now. Sure, he would love to have a cure, more time with his family, but miracles like that didn't happen to him.

He thought for a moment and made the most altruistic wish that he could. He wished that his mother could always have someone to take care of her and love her when he no longer could. He took as deep a breath as he could and blew out his candle to thunderous applause from everyone.

Beverly reached in her jacket pocket and placed an object in Wesley's palm. It was a round piece of metal, dulled by time. As he ran his pale thin fingers over it, he looked up into his mother's eyes questioning.

"It was your father's." she smiled.

"Thanks mom." he said softly. He stared at the metal intently. It had a cross, and a man carrying a child. He recognized it at his Dad's St. Christopher medal. He'd always wondered what became of it as he clutched it tightly.

A shadow suddenly blocked the sun from above him as he stared at the medal. Wesley looked up and found he was face to face with Data, his metallic skin nearly glowing in the sun's reflection. He held in his hand a large red bowl that had vapors of frost blowing off of it.

"Hello Wesley"

"Hi Data..."

"You once told me that ice cream could solve any problem Wesley. I want you to have some." Data knew there were some problems too big even for ice cream, but he had remembered the prefered dessert had given the Ensign much comfort many times.

Data took a spoonful and came close to Wesley's lips. Wes hesitated. He knew it would make him sick and he really did not want to be sick, not now, not in front of everyone. Data tried his best facial expression of a smile and Wesley had to laugh. It turned into a few coughs that at first alarmed Beverly but Picard held her back.

Wesley opened his mouth and took the offered treat.

Beverly and the others watched as his dull eyes lit up at the flavor that melted in his mouth. Had he forgotten how good ice cream was? A small smile graced his lips as he closed his eyes and savored the feel of it sliding down his throat. When he opened them again, Data offered another spoonful.

His smile was contagious as the others soon found they had smiles on their faces as well.

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Soon, the sun was sinking lower in the sky and the once warm breeze was much cooler.

As members of the Enterprise crew started to slowly fade away, each saying their goodbye and well wishes, to Wesley or Beverly, Deanna removed Wesley's cap. She had been sensing waves of emotions from everyone but he was the one person stood out in strong contrast. Seeing Beverly's attention diverted, Picard knelt down and looked at the young man in the face. He could then see that Wesley was panting, his skin was hot to the touch and he was in obvious serious pain again.

"He begged me to let him stay until they all left." Beverly remarked as she quickly removed a hypo spray from her pocket and pressed it to his neck in two long bursts. She then placed the oxygen cannula back on his nose.

"Beverly is there anything that I can do...?" Riker questioned. He was one of the last of the bridge's senior staff to remain behind.

"No,...there's nothing...nothing anyone can do. Just pray. " she whispered, her voice stoic.

Deanna leaned down and kissed both of his warm cheeks.

"Good night Wesley, Sweet dreams."

Riker stepped towards him. There was so much he wanted to say to Wesley himself, he knew he was running out of time. He couldn't bring himself to say goodbye. It was like saying goodbye to his little brother. He reached out and grabbed Wesley's left hand and gave it a firm shake. Wesley could barely meet his eyes.

"I still owe you that fishing lesson...I won't forget Wes..." he squeezed his hand one last time as he gently let him go and carried Deanna away from the smaller gathering.

Just before they made it past the outdoor pavilion, Deanna suddenly turned towards Will and buried her head into his chest. He stroked her long brown and held her tight.

"What is it Deanna?"

"I sense so much pain... so much terror." she nearly moaned. Her words came out in sobs as he tried to keep her walking but without much success.

"Please God...help him...if you can't take away his pain then please... please take away his fear..." Riker had no words to console her. He knew that she was able to feel extremes in emotions.

As he carried her towards the gangway he could only hope that God had indeed heard her prayer for Wesley.

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Picard gathered up the other belongings and stood beside mother and son.

"We'll go back to the room now. You need to rest sweetheart, it's been a long day."

Wesley reached and grabbed her hand. "I want... to go... home..."

She squatted down beside him and looked into his eyes. How did she ever learn to say no to those big brown eyes. She ran her hand gently across his cheek and he seemed to lean in closing his eyes savoring her touch.

"Ok Wes."

There would be no argument from her. They considered the Enterprise their home, and she could take care of anything he needed from there. Literally, no one on Earth would try to stop her. Picard knelt beside him again. "I'd better finish up a few things down here. But I ll see you first thing in the morning. You should get some rest, you look...you look exhausted Ensign."

Wesley tried to smile.

Another shuddering pain lanced through his body as Picard held on to his hand tightly through the wave. He felt Wesley clutch so tightly he thought he might draw blood. When Wesley opened his eyes again he could see tears in Picard's eyes and it shocked him.

He loosened his grip as the man before him tried to contain his emotion. Wesley had been toiling all day about what he wanted to say to his captain. He didn't have the strength for a long conversation and he couldn't just write something on a PADD. When his mother had injured him by firing a phaser at him while under the influence of the alien parasite, he had made Picard promise that he would take care of his mother if something happened to him. He only hoped he remembered that promise was longstanding. He took a deep breath and said the first words that came to his mind.

"It's been a pleasure serving with you sir."

"Don't you give up Mr. Crusher...you keep fighting..." he said trying his best to sound confident. Wesley merely stared at him as if trying to memorize his face.

Picard cocked his head to the side, unsure of how to say the words coming to his lips. He glanced at Beverly her eyes filled with tears, she nodded her approval.

"Jack Crusher was your biological father, and your dad. I know for a fact that he thought you "hung the moon". I know he would be proud of the young man you have become, your strength, your character. Wesley, I know we had some rough patches, but I think we have smoothed them all out nicely." He reached and held Wesley's face in his hands so he could look into the young man's face.

"I am so grateful you came into my life, you and your mother, and I think of you as my son in every sense of the word. I care deeply for you. I am so proud of you Wesley Crusher. The pleasure has been all mine. You will never be forgotten, you will always be with me." he released his hold and kissed the top of Wesley's head.

Wesley buried his face in his own chest; he could take no more of this.

"Is this goodbye...?" a small voice deep inside Wesley whispered.

Picard released his grip and being the ever strong leader that he is, he turned on his heels and walked away and did not look back. ************************************************** ************************************************* *************************
I'm sorry...but I warned you... : ( Grab a tissue...We'll get through this together! Just one more chapter... this next one's the hardest *sniff* and I'll try to wrap this up... Reviews...welcomed like warm Gulf coast sunshine : ) Lets go for 9...and a new update..