After being ordered back into a horizontal position, Captain Picard obediently spent another hour lying on the biobed - but not a minute more! He sat up energetically - fought off an unexpected wave of dizziness - then looked around in Sickbay. Unlike an hour before, it was generally quiet all around. Apart from an ensign consulting with Doctor Selar, there was nobody around. Though it was understandable: it was already night-time. He took a deep breath and getting off the biobed walked to the nearest panel.

He pressed a button "Computer, locate Commander Data."

The computer chirped in response: "Commander Data is in the guest quarters with Doctor Juliana Tainer."

The Captain grunted with a bemused grimace. He'd have to postpone talking to Data to let him talk to his mother. She seemed quite upset when he last saw her in Sickbay a few hours ago. Anyways, he could use a good shower and a change of clothes too - and a few hours of sleep as well. Even though he had the opportunity in the last hours, he couldn't doze off for more than a few moments in the busy room. He decided to head for home and started for the exit. Then stopped before he stepped through the doors. He turned back gazing toward the operating area - Beverly. She hadn't been seen ever since she'd told them about Lieutenant Jones' condition. And she must have been just as exhausted as he was. Or even more so, as she did a difficult operation on her friend. He sighed slouching and walked up toward the operating rooms.

He looked in, but there was nobody inside, so he asked a nurse to point him in the right direction. He then found Beverly in a ward sitting at a console tapping in a padd - and next to her lied Ms. Jones on the biobed. The room was dark except for the faint lights coming from the various instruments and panels betraying the values characteristic of Emma's condition.

He stepped in, and Beverly looked up from the padd at the sound of the door closing behind him.

She looked strangely hostilely at him "Jean-Luc! I've told you and the others: nobody is to visit Emma as long as her husband is here!" she stood and went to the neighbouring console "Please, leave. I'll send you my report every three hours." she told him dismissively looking only at the console.

He frowned at her strange behaviour but didn't get discouraged. He stepped further in and walked up to stand next to her "I did not come to visit her, but to see you."

She stopped reading the values and looked at him taken aback for a moment, then went around him to stand next to Emma's bed "I suppose, it goes without saying, that this is not the best of times." she remarked and started to program the biobed with the values on her padd. "...eleven point three, five point zero one three..." she mumbled tapping the panel of the bed, she suddenly frowned and shook her head as if she wanted to clear her vision, then wiped her eyes "We can talk later, Jean-Luc, now, I'm busy." she dropped without a glance at him.

Picard stepped up to her and could see circles under her bloodshot eyes. He made a quick calculation and estimated that she'd been on her feet for at least a straight 36 hours - in which she was arrested, beaten up and had to do a difficult operation. She desperately needed rest, and seemingly needed someone to order her to bed. Now, if he knew how to go about that with her being so single minded at the moment...

"What are you giving her?" he asked to at least try to start a conversation.

"Alkysine, it's to rebuild damaged nerve endings and a new type of cortical analeptic. It's only been out for a few weeks. I haven't used it on anyone yet, but the experiences of other doctors are very promising." she pushed a few more buttons on the bed "I also need to cut back on the dosage of Lectrazine, so it wouldn't overstimulate her system."

He nodded with a grunt then looked at the woman lying on the bed. After a long moment, he spoke up on a thoughtful voice "She seems so strange lying here." Beverly looked at him annoyed that he wouldn't obey her, but then she followed his look and fixed her gaze on Emma's face too as he went on "She is such a formidable woman. And now... she seems so frail... almost small on this bed." he shook his head slightly taking a deep troubled breath "I talked her into taking this mission, which she wanted to avoid almost at all cost. It needed to be done, that's without question. She's a Starfleet officer, and this mission is for the sake of the Federation, which we all swore to protect. But... at such times I really hate to be the Captain." he admitted on a bitter voice.

Suddenly, he heard a stifled sob and looking at Beverly, he saw her covering her mouth with a hand. On impulse, he crossed to her and took her by the shoulders "Beverly..."

She pushed his hands away "I'm fine..." she wiped her face and took a step backwards "Please, leave Jean-Luc, I need to work." she told him on a small moan still trying hard to get a grip. He watched her going to one of the consoles. She started to tap the padd, but her hands were trembling so much that it simply fell out of her hand.

"Ah, damn this..." she swore on a low voice crouching, and then moaned in pain as she wanted to stand.

He squatted next to her and putting his arm around her waist, helped her to a standing position "Are you alright?" he asked worried.

"Ah, sure..." she moaned rubbing her hip "It's just... I had no time to heal my bruises."

He gaped at this stunned "You haven't been checked since we got back from the planet?"

She pulled away "I'm sure I mentioned that I had no time!" she snapped "I have a friend to wake from coma, if you might have forgotten about the fact." she then seeing his expression, shrugged and went on on a lower voice "Anyways, these are really just bruises. Nothing serious."

"Still you should be checked." he started, but she cut him off.

"Sure, I'll do that the first thing as soon as I've read through the latest research of Doctor Lshoo. He's an expert with coma cases." she told him stubbornly and was about to sit back in front of the console with the padd - but she dropped the padd again.

"What's with this thing today?!" she growled and was about to pick it up again, but this time, he didn't let her bend for it. He took her by the shoulders again and turned her to him "Beverly, you are thoroughly exhausted. You cannot help Emma in this state. Stop being so stubborn!"

"I'm fine, just a little sore and tired. I just need a doze of metheffedrine, and I'll pull through at least one more shift. I don't have time to rest." she declared pulling her arms out of his hands.

"Exhausting yourself over your limits is not helping her. And she would never want you to, even wouldn't let you do this to yourself!"

"You see, that's the point! She's not awake to tell me off for it! And I'm not going to rest until I figure a way out to revive her!" she told him determined and stepped back to Emma's bed. He let her, and stood there unmoving, watching her. She wiped her friend's hair out of her forehead gently "I wish I could let Data see her. It might do some good - I read that there's empirical proof that comatose patients may even hear people talking to them." she said on a low voice.

He walked up to her and watching her wistful face looking at her friend, he gently touched her arm "You're here to talk to her." he told her silently.

She took a shaky breath "I wish that was enough."

"She loves you as a precious sister. It IS enough, Beverly." he told her with a faith she always admired he had. And suddenly, she felt bad about pushing him away so hard - he wanted to help her so much. And he actually did with his relentless belief.

She turned her head to him, her eyes glistened with unshed tears and without a word, she cuddled up to him. He took her in his arms, holding her close and patting her back comfortingly as she let herself cry for the first time, she'd learned about what happened to Emma.

"She'll be fine." he whispered.

"How do you know?" she asked on a breaking voice, and sniffed, now openly sobbing into his shoulder "How can you be so sure, Jean-Luc? Ah..." she moaned.

He cradled her gently letting her cry into him "Too many people came to love her for her not to want to come back. Data and you, your cast at the theatre. She found a surrogate family here." She pulled away a little to look at him as he went on "Besides, she's just too damn stubborn to simply live out a life like this... Have I ever told you that she once called me a hard-ass? Me! After I told her off nonetheless!"

"No!" a small chuckle rippled through her tears "Oh, god, it's so much like her!"

"Do you think that a woman with a skull as thick as hers would succumb to illness or injury? She'll pull through!" he gave her a small encouraging smile, stroking her arm comfortingly.

She took in a shaky breath finally getting a grip on her emotions "I hope you're right."

"I am right! And now, come! I want you to check in with Doctor Selar, and then I put you to bed! Ah-ah, no buts! You NEED rest! You'll be able to do your research work rested a lot more efficiently than now! Come!"

Beverly frowned annoyed at his being so assertive "You ARE a hard-ass!" it slipped her tired mind, and at his surprised look, she just blinked just as taken aback by what she'd just uttered.

He grimaced bemusedly "I might be a hard-ass, but that woman is one hell of a bad influence!"


An hour later, Picard was sitting in Beverly's quarters and was waiting for her to finish her shower. He offered to escort her home, and she invited him in, which he reluctantly accepted. Sitting there in her quarters, waiting for her, he felt a little... ill at ease to say the least. His mind kept wondering back into that dark cell, to what she'd told him there. She was so bluntly honest! Of course, they were in a situation that could have ended in a much worse scenario. Still... She said she loved him! She did love him!

He cleared his throat and straightened his back to sit a bit less comfortably. This is not the time to think of all this! he reprimanded himself. Beverly's mind was on her friend and on finding a way to cure her. And he actually had a lot of things to do too, even if it was late at night: he had to talk to Data and Riker, because the Admiral wanted a briefing in the morning, and he didn't want to go there with holes in his mind! No, as soon as he put Beverly to bed, he'd go and look after business.

He didn't have to wait too long for Beverly to emerge from the bathroom. In a few minutes time, he heard the water stop, and she stepped into the living room in nothing more than a thick, warm bathrobe. Her hair was damp, and she walked up to the couch bare-footed, having a few drops of water on her neck and what was visible of the skin of her shoulders. She sat down only half a meter from him with a weary but at least a little bit relieved expression on her face. He watched her as if he saw a vision. Where did his mind left off about going after business? he nudged himself. But just couldn't recall whatever else he needed to do that night but to watch Beverly sitting next to him.

"You made steamed milk for me?" she asked on a silent voice pointing to the cup on the table, and he finally woke from his day-dreaming.

"Eh, yes." he blinked absently, then smiled embarrassed "Aunt Adele recipe. You know already."

She nodded and gave him a small smile while taking the cup into her hands. She took only a sip and then put it back on the table - she really felt her stomach as small as a head of a pin.

He cleared his throat and pointed to the dining table "There's also a light supper for you over there! Please, eat it before you go to bed. We didn't have the chance to have food since having dinner at the Residence, and that was a day ago." he looked into her eyes and as she was just sitting there without any answer, he turned his palms up "Well, now that I made sure that you're provided for, I'll be on my way."

As he put down his two fists on the couch to raise himself, she suddenly took him by the lower arm "Please, don't go!" she asked on a low voice, and as he turned his stunned gaze to her, he could see the distress in her eyes. He conceded and settled back searching her gaze. She then let him go and bowed her head "I don't want to be alone." she admitted on a whisper then looked at him with begging eyes "Could you stay with me, Jean-Luc?" she asked, and he felt his insides melted at the way she asked that.

"Of course." he breathed and gazed away a little lost. Desperately trying to think of something to get themselves out of the uncomfortable silence, he came up with the most obvious "You know what, I haven't had the chance to eat either. Let's have supper together, shall we?"

Beverly glanced away seemingly considering then nodded her assent, hoping that her appetite would come while eating.

They ate their meal in almost complete silence. He watched her wistfully, realizing how much he'd missed having breakfast with her in the last month. But he felt he had no other choice. The last thing he wanted was to knock into her special friend or to be turned down because of him. It was easier this way. At least, his pride remained unhurt by walking away in dignity...

She sighed, and he noticed that while he'd forgotten his gaze on her, she was watching him too. He suddenly felt really embarrassed again. He was just about to excuse himself, when she spoke up.

"Jean-Luc, would you stay for the night?" she asked simply, and as she didn't go into any details on what exactly she meant by 'staying for the night', he felt his cheeks suddenly burn from thoughts he knew he should have buried in that cell. In that cell, where she told him, she loved him! Oh, just stop this!

His lips turned upward in an embarrassed wince - which was intended to be a smile "Well... I'm not sure if that would be..."

She sighed a little impatiently and told him on a disillusioned voice "I don't mean to make you do things that you don't want to, Jean-Luc. You can sleep on the couch, or wherever you find comfortably distant from me. I... I just feel... terribly alone." she confessed on a small voice.

He watched her face a moment longer feeling his heart sink: she was embarrassed by her earlier confession! Did she regret her words too? Or was she simply in such a distress that she was not able to deal with their cat-and-mouse game right now? He sighed seeing her being so lost and lonely, and on impulse, simply took her hand in his "But you're not alone. I'm right here." he gave a gentle squeeze to her hand and then let it go as the tender touch awoke some more unbecoming thoughts in him... "Well, I'd need a shower too, if you don't mind."

"No, please, just go ahead."

He nodded and went to the bathroom.

When he came out again, wearing a newly replicated pair of shorts and undershirt to sleep in, he found that Beverly had already gone to the dimly lit bedroom. He needed to check if she was alright, so he went to stand in the doorway.

Seeing him, Beverly sat up and looked at him for a long moment with a soul-searching gaze. He felt his pulse quicken under it - and by seeing her in a thin nightgown in her bed... It was so intimate - he imagined it so many times, always a little differently... but reality was more enchanting then his imagination could ever have been.

At that, he stopped reprimanding himself for his guilty thoughts. She had been honest with him a few hours ago - he needed to be just as honest to her.

He walked to the bed and sitting on it, slid close to her. She looked at him surprised. Locking his gaze on hers, he raised his hand and gently swept her long hair back. She closed her eyes and sighed contentedly tilting her head slightly backwards. He then leaned to her and kissed her upturned lips. She slid her arms around his neck as he traced her jawline with his thumb up to her ear. Then took his hand away to be able to wrap his arms around her and pulled her close to him deepening the tender kiss into a sensual one.

When he released her lips, they both were breathless and ready for more. But he slid a little backwards on the bed to put some distance between them and gently took her hands. He could tell that she was taken aback by his stopping, but he knew that this night was not theirs.

"If I believed in a deity, I could say that god can see my soul, how long I've been wanting this. Wanting you. And... how much I love you. Because I do love you too, Beverly. For a very long time." he shook his head with a wistful smile "Was there ever a doubt that I do." he mused almost only to himself. He cupped her cheek tenderly, and she leaned into his coveted touch as he went on on a hushed voice "But tonight. You don't need a lover. You don't need the love of a man. You need the love of a friend, Beverly. So let me be the best friend that a man in love can possibly be."

She bowed her head, and her eyes glistened from tears once again. He slid close to her again "Come here!" he whispered, and she cuddled into him and let her tears fall. All the stress of the day, all the pain of their imprisonment, all the worry she felt for Emma poured out of her under his gentle words of an ever-faithful love. It was somehow so climactic to sob into his shoulder, inhaling his clean scent with every ragged breath she was taking, that it almost bordered on pleasure. He gently made themselves lie on the bed and stroked her hair whispering soothing words for her until she quieted, and finally, they both fell into an exhausted sleep.