Author's Note: This is not a crossover story. This is an orphaned idea that I had on an old jump drive (I have about a freaking thousand of the stupid things from the old 128MB to a neat 1TB that is like the size of booger.) I had no idea where to put it, did not want to just delte it and so here it is for your consideration.
It begins just after the second episode of the series Star Trek: The Next generation. The one called The Naked Now with the poly-water intoxication that caused everyone to act drunk and showed why Wesley was an annoying character...
Captain's Log Stardate 41210.2
I have been considering the ramifications of the recent poly-water infection aboard ship. Several important crew positions are going to be rearranged as well as personal relationships. The revelations of the core personalities of my crew was quite enlightening. As a result of this consideration I have called a staff meeting in the Observation lounge.
Captain Picard sat at the head of the table as his officers took their seats. Weasley Crusher was among them looking very confused and concerned. For the last week he had been worrying about what would happen to him for his actions during the Tsiolkovsky incident.
Once everyone was settled Picard smiled, "Thank you. I have been considering the recent events and come to a few conclusions. Officially Mr Crusher your actions, if you had been a crewman, would have constituted mutiny."
"Captain, he was operating under diminished mental capacity." His mother, and the chief medical officer stated quickly.
"I am aware of this doctor. I merely want to impress upon him the seriousness of the actions he took. As a civilian the charges would be piracy. The lives of every individual on this ship were endangered."
"Yes sir. I understand. I am very sorry about what I did." Wesley squared his shoulders ready to accept his punishment. Beverly looked like she was ready to go on the attack though.
"I see the regret and desire to atone for your actions in your face. So young man I have come to the decision as to what to do about you." Picard paused as he glanced at his first officer. The only other person he had discussed his ideas with. Riker nodded his agreement.
Picard smiled as he stood up and walked to Wesley. "Wesley please stand up."
Wesley looked at his mother with a weak smile but stood facing the captain. Beverly looked like she was ready to hypo Picard into the next galaxy over.
Picard looked into the eyes of his best friend's son. A young boy who had the intellectual ability beyond many adults. "Wesley. You have made a grievous error and as such we are going to punish you by giving you the burden of learning the grave and heavy responsibility of being a Starfleet officer. Therefore effective immediately, and barring the disapproval of your mother, you are appointed an acting ensign aboard this vessel. With all appropriate duties, privileges and requirements of such position until such time as you resign, fail to perform to the highest ability or enter the academy to make this appointment permanent."
Wesley's mouth dropped open as he looked at Picard in shock then turned to look at the other officers who were smiling at him. His mother looked at the captain with a surprised and wry smile that widened when her son turned to her. "Mother?"
"Congratulations Ensign Crusher." Beverly said standing up to hug her son.
"Thank you sir but why?" Wesley was still in shock that he was not being marched to the brig.
"You showed a great deal of skill and ability in your tricks. I would rather you learn the responsibility to go with that intellect than for you to waste it. As such you will be tutored by all of the officers aboard this ship. You will rotate among the various postings and divisions as the junior most officer aboard this ship. You will get your hands dirty and your brow sweaty but you will learn what it means to be responsible for yourself, and those around you. Are you ready for that Mr Crusher?"
Wesley nodded, "Yes sir."
Picard smiled as he clapped the teen on the shoulder. "Very well Commander Riker has worked out a duty schedule that will be heavy on learning and light on fun. Once we are done here he will give you your assignments."
Riker grinned and said, "First one will be to get a proper uniform."
Wesley said, "Yes sir. I won't disappoint any of you." He was grinning but the tone of his voice showed he was taking this very seriously.
Picard nodded curtly, "Of course not. I would not expect anything less than your best." Turning he walked until he was standing behind Geordi LaForge. "Now there is another crew member at this table I have a change in their duties to assign. MR LaForge."
Spinning his chair around the officer addressed said, "Yes sir?"
"Given recent events in engineering I find that I do not feel comfortable with the command abilities of our current chief engineer. As I understand it, your primary specialty in the academy was engineering?"
"Yes sir. Conn was my secondary course of study. I received high marks in both so when a posting as Chief Conn on the Enterprise came up I applied for it." LaForge explained.
"Very good. And we are fortunate to have you here. However I feel your talents are being wasted at Conn and therefore am promoting you to full lieutenant and assigning you to be chief engineer. Do you have any objections?" Picard asked with a warm but firm tone.
Geordi's grin was almost as wide as his VISOR. "No sir. No objections at all. Although what's going to happen to MacDougal?"
"She will be your assistant. She is technically very proficient and skilled however she needs to brush up on her department head training." Picard said as he resumed his seat.
"Sir? May I ask who will replace Geordi at Conn?" Data asked.
"Lt T'vel. She will be arriving tomorrow when we rendezvous with the Bonaventure." Riker said.
Data nodded.
"Well unless there is anything further to discus I believe we have an acting ensign that needs to be put to work." Picard smiled.
Riker stood up and striding to Wesley nodded to him, "Ensign, let's get going. I have a grindstone to introduce you to."
Wesley grinned, "Yes sir." He enthusiastically agreed.
The other officers filed out laughing and congratulating Geordi and Wesley. Beverly Crusher said she would catch up and turned back to the captain who still sat in his chair. When the door shut she came over and took the seat beside him.
"Thank you Jean-luc. He has been going crazy with worry about what would happen to him."
"I know Beverly. I considered the various options. This seemed the least onerous one for all involved. I told Will to not go easy on him."
"He'll do fine." She paused and looked thoughtful, "I have been doing some thinking as well."
"Yes in regards to what?" Picard looked expectantly at her.
"Us." She flatly said with a brief ghost of a smile.
Picard raised his eyebrows in surprise before licking his lips. "I see. The confessions from when we were under the effects of the poly-water."
"It acted like an inhibition inhibitor. Letting what we were really thinking and feeling come out unedited." She explained, "I have been thinking about that." She stopped talking to take a deep breath.
Picard waited for her to continue before he said anything else.
"Well Jean-Luc. Its been a little over a decade since Jack died. I still miss him. I will continue to miss him until the stars themselves grow cold and dark Jean-Luc. But I would not be opposed to developing a relationship between us." She said like she was hefting a great weight off of her shoulders.
Captain Picard. Jean-luc leaned back in his chair. He considered this for a long minute before saying, "Emotionally I would not be opposed to it either. I must admit that I have been thinking about this over the last few days as well. However there are several complications. As commanding officer of this ship having a relationship with someone under my command could be problematic."
"I think we are both professional enough to find a solution to that. Regulations are not as stringent as they used to be." She said.
"Perhaps, however you must agree that ordering you into a dangerous situation might become difficult." Picard said seriously. "Especially if either of us become emotionally compromised."
"Sort of like how Will won't let you leave the ship unless he says its safe." She chuckled.
Picard nodded with a chortle, "Yes, something like that."
"Well I have Dr Selar. She is capable and highly skilled. Graduate of the Vulcan Sciences Academy as well as Starfleet Academy. She also interned under Admiral McCoy briefly. She could be assigned to away teams. I have full faith and trust in her abilities." Beverly said.
Picard inhaled through his nose with his lips pursed. He smiled, "I believe you have thought this very through."
"Let's just say I know you rather well Jean-luc."
Picard smiled as he leaned forward to take Beverly's hand. "One last potential objection. How do you think my newest ensign will react?"
She shrugged, "He may find it a bit awkward but he'll adjust."
"Then I suppose we can take the chance." Picard said warmly.
===xxx
Wesley came into the quarters he shared with his mother wearing a gray and black version of the normal uniform. He had a single square pip on his collar as he stood smiling his mother nodded approvingly.
"Wes. You certainly look good in the uniform. Your dad would be proud of you."
Wes looked melancholy for a moment before saying, "I hope so. This is something major. I thought I was going to be sitting in the brig for the next month."
"I doubt Jean-Luc would have left you there for a month. More like a week." She teased leading him to the dining table. "But what all did you do so far?"
"I got my uniform. Then Commander Riker handed me to Shrak down in waste reclamation. He had me learn how to realign replicator waveguides on deck 32. I've spent the entire afternoon calibrating every replicator on that deck."
"Well that could be a very important thing for the people living there." She said handing Wes his plate.
"I know. I suppose he did that to show me its not all excitement and glamour of bridge duty."
"Oh there is a lot of boredom and sitting around on the bridge too." Beverly laughed as they chatted about some of the things that happened during his brief shift and speculated on his next shift.
"So what did you do today?" Wesley asked as Beverly twirled her fork in the remains of her salad.
"Well. Jean-Luc and I decided to try and be more than just friends and co-workers."
Wesley looked at her with a uncertain smile, "Oh. Uh. I'm not going to have to call him dad am I?"
Beverly paused then laughed, "I have the feeling that it would be far too uncomfortable for both of you to do that."
Wesley smiled, "Okay, good then."
"So you don't think I'm doing anything wrong?"
"Of course not mom. You deserve to be happy." Wesley grinned. "Now I better get busy. Commander Riker wants me to write him a report on the moral implications of the Prime Directive."
"Well you better hop to it mister Crusher." She said with a sad smile.
"Mom?"
"Sorry. I was just thinking." She said taking his hand and squeezing it.
"Thinking about dad?" Wesley asked quietly.
"Just a bit." She confessed.
Wesley looked down at the table briefly before taking a deep breath, "I know he died in the line of duty and risk is part of the job. But I really want to do this mom."
Beverly looked at her son and realized that he was going to be old enough soon to choose his own path no matter she felt. "I know Wes. And while as your mother I will worry about you until the stars grow dark I will be very proud of you."
Wesley smiled at her widely, "Thanks mom. You have no idea how much that means to me."
Review Responses
Katmom: usually I would agree with you but this time the cheating was a catalyst for something bigger that finally broke free and will eventually get resolved. So it was kinda essential for the plot.
Dennisud: I am working on these. It may be 1 or 3 paragraphs a day but when I get a chance to squeeze in I am working on the tier one ideas. As for Chapter 84 (Hermione Sandwich) It is a tier 2 but will get worked on.
Roon0: You're welcome. It does rewrite canon a bit to give a happy(ish) ending.
FreddieRindklip: True. Sometimes life and the way the world goes is just too much.
OfficerDonNZ: Oh yes. Such a poor girl...