Title: A Beat in My Heart: Patient X

Author's Note: This Epilogue is for the Alternate ending only.

THANK YOU Fluttershy29 for finding the critical error of two missing chapters! So nice of you to pay attention! Thanks!
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Chapter 14-A: Simple Nuances

Dr. Beverly Crusher returned to duty a mere four days after waking up in sick bay at Starfleet Medical. Her body's ability to make antibodies for the horrible Leutscher virus would soon help people all over the galaxy fight this deadly disease. Somehow her son had also been saved. As she sat in her office she stared for possibly only the hundredth time at Wesley's test results. He had Epstein Barr, a rare immuno deficiency syndrome, he also had the same rare blood type as the captain.

Those were the simple answers.

She had watched him die. Held him as they both cried, saw him take his last breath. She remembered the urn bearing his name and could vividly recall seeing his name etched on it.

No evidence of any of this could be found. She had dreamt of her son's death? Forseen it? What kind of mother does that?

A full body shiver surged through her bringing gooseflesh to her skin as she quickly rubbed at her arms and tried to displace the morbid thoughts in her mind.

There were other small nuances. He drank coffee instead of tea now. For the past few nights he'd fallen asleep on her sofa...something he hadn't done since long before the incident with the alien parasite, and most importantly he seemed at peace...with everything, like he had no fear of anything any longer.

She closed her computer and walked out of her office.

Deck 3

Before she could rang the chime the door before her slid open and Counselor Troi was mere inches from her face.

"Beverly! It's so good to see you."

"You too Deanna." she said hugging her friend. "What are you doing here?"

"I came to see Wes, but I'll go now...we'll talk soon." she hurried down the hall. Beverly stared after her wondering who suddenly lit a fire under her.

As the door opened, she noticed her son sitting at his desk.

"I hope I'm not intruding."

Wesley regarded her with a bright smile, he reached over and hugged her around her waist.

"No...till the Warden Crusher springs me...I'm just catching up on some of my classwork." He walked over and flopped down on his bed without the first argument.

"What did Counselr Troi want?"

"She wanted to talk about how I was feeling, and if I was realy ready to go to the academy after everything that happened."

"I've been wondering that myself."

"I am as ready as I'll ever be. As for this illness...I don't remember much. I remember throwing up on the Captain's shoes and passing out on the bridge, but that's about it. "

"You're lucky that's all you remember..."

"I wish I could remember more...apparently I missed a massage from Counselor Troi..." he smiled dreamily.

"Wesley Crusher!" a blush came to his cheeks.

He did look better, color had returned to his pale skin, and his appetite was coming back with much vigor...in fact he didn't seem as sick as his test results had indicated.

"Mom?" she shook her head as she sat down on his bed next to him.

"Yes Wes?"

"Are you okay...you don't seem yourself?"

" I could say the same thing about you." she replied. He sat up next to her on the bed and held her hand squeezing it gently.
In his other hand he absentmindly fingered the the crystal around his neck.

"Wes...you seem...I mean...I guess...I don't know...I can't believe I'm complaining about this..."

"Mom what is it?"

"You seem so much more affectionate than before..."

He suddenly pulled his hand away as if he'd been burned. Cursing her words, she quickly grabbed his retreating hand and kissed it clutching it in both of her hands.

Wide brown eyes met calm blue ones.

"I'm sorry...I just meant, I'm not use to you being this way...I guess this brush with death affected both of us in different ways. I know I shared with you part of the nightmares I had when I was unconscious...but your death..." A head was now gently on her shoulder staring straight ahead.

" Mom, I'm alive. I'm right here and I'm only going to Starfleet Academy. I promise...I'll always do everything in my power to come home to you." he squeezed her hand and stood up from the bed. The trinket on his neck suddenly began to glow blue, a testament to his statement. He'd noticed that the crystal glowed certain colors based on his mood or feelings...but especially when he was fearful. Beverly caught a glimpse of the crystal as he walked towards the replicator.

"Would you like something to drink?"

"Coffee please. Wesley...I've been meaning to ask, where did you get the necklace from?"

He handed her the drink.

" I dunno. I thought you gave it to me. I thought it was a birthday present." She pulled him down to sit him next to her.

"It didn't come from me. Wesley, I've seen it before...but it was ...in my dream." A slow growl came from his lips.

"I'm beginning to think you wish I'd died mom..." he sighed, his head falling to his chest.

She quickly grabbed his chin and looked into his eyes. They held more sadness than she could measure. She had been dwelling so much on the past -on what was different about her son -about this change in circumstances, she hadn't concentrated on everything that was so right.

"Never Wesley." She sat down her cup and grabbed him in a full bear hug.

"I am so grateful that you are alive...I don't know how the Captain's antibodies were able to restore your damaged cells, and I don't care my love...but I am thankful for every second I have with you. Please believe me." she said quietly stroking his back.

"I believe you."

"I won't speak of this again. And I promise I'll announce myself before I jump out of your luggage when you go off to the academy." Wesley giggled.

"I think they'd frown upon that Mom."

"Maybe you're right...but I'm not giving you up without a fight."

"I would expect nothing less."
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The End

This ending leads to my story Final Mission. Thanks for reading : )