Part 2

""She's got a bit of an infection in her chest. I can give her something to clear that up and she should be better in a day or two." Beverly discards her tricorder on the sofa in Picard's cabin beside her, reaching for the med -kit on the cushion to her left.

Hovering over the doctor perched on his sofa, Picard observes keenly as Beverly administers a hypo spray to his daughter lying in a blanket on her lap.
"That can't be good. How did she acquire it? Will it harm her?"

Beverly tucks the hypo back into her med-kit and smiles placatingly at Picard. "It's just a little infection. She'll be back to normal in a couple days. Was she in a primary care program when you were back on Earth?"

Nodding, Picard slides onto the sofa beside Beverly. "For a few days before we set off."

Setting the med-kit on the floor, Beverly looks at Picard. "Have you had her since she was born, by yourself?"

Bobbing his head, Jean-Luc watches as Beverly swaddles his daughter in a pink blanket on her lap. "Yes. She was born three weeks ago, at Starfleet Medical. I took custody of her. Her…biological mother is now somewhere on the other side of the quadrant."

Scooping the baby into her arms, Beverly blinks rapidly in bemusement. "Why?What happened?"

Running his tongue over his lips, Picard considers how to answer the relatively simple question. "Adele wasn't planned. Adele's biological mother is young. She had no intention of having a family. She has…a promising career ahead of her, and children weren't a part of her future. However, I…I just couldn't …I so desperately wanted the baby. I couldn't destroy that life…or give her up."

Drawing the girl to her chest, Beverly stares into Jean-Luc's fierce hazel eyes and has to blink back tears forming in her own eyes.

Smiling dismissively, Jean-Luc disengages their eye contact. "I apologize, Doctor. I've dragged you out of bed in the middle of the night to tend to my sick child. You don't need to hear all of this, as well."

Reaching for his arm, Beverly shakes her head. "Please, don't apologize. I'm happy to help. You'll just…have to excuse the informality." Glancing down at her terrycloth robe covering a nightgown, Beverly chuckles to lighten the mood.

"You're excused, Doctor," laughs Picard, taking a calming breath.

"I'm sorry, Jean-Luc," murmurs Beverly, her expression turning earnest. Rubbing circles across the baby's back, Beverly sighs.

"I'm lucky," replies Jean-Luc, watching Beverly cradle his little girl against her chest. "I'm grateful to have a beautiful daughter. I never thought I'd have children."

Pensive, Beverly exhales deeply. She transfers the sleeping infant into Jean-Luc's arms. "You're doing the right thing, Jean-Luc."

"Thank you for coming over and looking at her. This is beyond the scope of your duties," Picard admits sheepishly, settling the now contentedly slumbering child in his arms.

"I'm always happy to help a friend," Beverly assures him, laying a hand on his forearm.

Smiling lightly, Jean-Luc takes a long breath, relieved that his infant is safe. "Thank you, Beverly."

Standing off of the sofa, Beverly reaches for her med-kit. "She should sleep tonight. I'd like to check on her in the morning. Can you stop by Sickbay in the morning?"

Nodding, Jean-Luc follows Beverly to the cabin's main entrance, carrying the tiny pink bundle in his arms. "I'm being over protective, aren't I?"

Pausing at the door, Beverly offers a reassuring smile. "Not at all. I've been there, Jean-Luc. I can still get like this. I'm a parent, too."

Smiling in relief, Jean-Luc bobs his head. "Yes. Of course."

"This is new for you. It's okay." Beverly pads forward and strokes Adele's tiny head under the blanket. "You'll both be just fine."

"Yes," sighs Jean-Luc, gazing down at his dozing daughter.

"Drop by Sickbay tomorrow morning and see me," Beverly requests, opening the door.

Smiling gratefully, Jean-Luc watches Beverly back out the cabin door. "Thank you, Beverly."

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"So, she's alright?" asks Picard anxiously, practically pacing around the biobed in Sickbay.

Smiling broadly, Beverly scoops Adele off of the biobed and into her arms. "She's marvellous, Jean-Luc. Her chest is all cleared-up. She's in much better spirits now. Aren't you, sweetie?" Beverly rests the baby against her shoulder and pats her back.

Two days after he had initially ran into Sickbay in a panic with his sick daughter, Picard had returned for a quick exam to ensure the antibiotics Beverly had given Adele had rid her of the infection. Relieved, Jean-Luc nods in satisfaction. "Very good then."

Beverly shifts the baby into Jean-Luc's arms. "Any issues let me know."

"Actually, I was wondering if perhaps you could help me?" asks Picard tentatively, manoeuvring Adele onto his shoulder, his hand over her head.

"Of course," agrees Beverly easily, one hand in the pocket of her lab coat.

Lips quirked upward, Picard appears apprehensive. "I'm sorry to ask, but I was wondering if you could do a favour for me and look after Adele for a few hours tonight?"

Bobbing her head, Beverly watches the baby drift back to sleep in her father's arms. "Of course."

"I'm so sorry, Beverly," sighs Picard. "I hate to bother you."

"It's alright, Jean-Luc," laughs Beverly, stepping closer to him beside the biobed. "I'm happy to help."

Lips pursed, Jean-Luc nods. "We're hosting the Ambassador and her party tonight. I'm afraid it could go late."

"Don't worry about it. " Beverly waves her hand. " I can watch Adele. When should I get her?"

"Can you collect her from the primary care room whenever you're finished here?" asks Jean-Luc hopefully. "I can pick her up from you later tonight. It may be late."

"No problem," smiles Beverly in response. "That's fine."

Relieved, Picard relaxes. "Thank you, Beverly. I appreciate that."

"Any time," offers Beverly easily. Actually, she's looking forward to watching the baby. Her own son is a teenager, and sometimes she just longs for those days when he was little and still needed her for everything.

"So, this woman just abandoned her baby?" Wes asks in disbelief, perched on the arm of the arm chair in the living room of their quarters that night.

"Well…not abandoned, Wesley," corrects Beverly, not sure how to phrase her clarification. She's seated on her sofa feeding Adele a bottle of infant formula. "I guess…I guess the captain has just taken the responsibility of raising Adele on his own."

"Sounds like she abandoned her," Wesley points out.

Sighing, Beverly strokes the baby's cheek as Adele drinks from the bottle. "Well…"

"You'd never abandon me, would you, Mom?" jests Wes, a massive jovial smile on his lips.

Turning to her fifteen year-old, Beverly laughs lightly, shaking her head. "Don't test me, kiddo."

Grinning, Wes jumps off of the chair. "Well, it's pretty crappy. How's Captain Picard going to take care of a baby when he's commanding the ship?"

"Adele's in primary care most of the day," replies Beverly quietly, not wanting to admit that the same thought had been pervading her mind for the past three days.

Frowning, Wes stops in front of the sofa. "It's gonna be hard."

"Well, he has lots of support,"replies Beverly optimistically. Gazing down at Adele, Beverly watches as the baby's eyes grow heavy. "He has good friends here."

Laughing a little, Wes skips off toward the kitchen. "Yeah. Looks like it."

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"Thank you, Beverly," whispers Jean-Luc, sliding a small diaper bag over his shoulder. "Was she alright?"

"Any time," replies Beverly, pulling her terrycloth robe across her chest as they walk to her main cabin door. "She was a little angel."

"I appreciate this," Picard tells her, shifting the baby in his arms as they reach the front entrance. "You're…a life saver."

Smiling lightly, Beverly waves him off. "Happy to do it. "

As the door opens behind him, Jean-Luc smiles at Beverly genuinely. "Goodnight, Beverly. And thank you, for everything."

Waving, Beverly watches Jean-Luc disappear down the corridor with the one month-old little girl, her mind reeling. How in the universe is this man going to do this? For as intelligent, hard-working and capable as Jean-Luc Picard is, he's only one man. Can he really manage to command the Federation's flag ship and raise this little girl on his own?