"So, we're all agreed that it would be prudent if everyone were on the same page in choosing to do what is best for El… Beverly and Jack?" Dr. Talan Moata looked at all three individuals seated across from her. She didn't think she'd ever been tasked with navigating a patient through a more delicate situation.
Dr. Moata had been the psychiatrist overseeing Elspeth Aitken's recovery since the shuttle crash which had left her unable to recover her long-term memory five years ago. She had been, quite frankly, astonished that no one had inquired about the other woman before now.
She'd been equally stunned when Jentar had contacted her yesterday to set up the meeting now taking place in her office this morning, explaining that a representative from Starfleet had shown up out of the blue looking for a Dr. Beverly Crusher. That this Dr. Crusher was the former name of Elspeth Aitken, led to a whole series of questions on her part which Jentar had answered as fully and honestly as possible.
Jentar had requested a meeting with her at 09h00, just the three of them, in order to discuss some of their concerns before the Starfleet admiral arrived… Only, according to Jentar, this man wasn't *simply* a Starfleet representative. It would have been much simpler had that been the case.
Reading between the lines during their brief conversation, she thought he'd even been hinting at the fact that the other man might be the father of Elspeth's son. Both Jentar and Elspeth were her colleagues and although not *friends* per se, they all knew one another on a professional level and Moata's heart was not unmoved by this latest in a long line of difficult developments.
Professionally she was concerned that her patient had only just managed within the last eighteen months to accept her condition and embrace her life here on Da'al. She was aware that the pair had recently moved in together and that Jentar treated Jack as his own child. She'd thought things were finally stabilising for mother and son…
Earlier that same morning...
When Jentar and Elspeth arrived at her office, she'd wasted no time getting to what she saw as the heart of the matter.
"I know this has been difficult Elsie. After years of living with no memory, knowing only what information we could gather from records and having to rebuild and structure a new life, a new identity around what was presented in those records… And to only now discover that that person, that foundation for your current life, is not at all who you are after all…" Over the past six years she'd been amazed at this woman's strength and resilience, but everyone had a limit, and she wasn't at all sure that they hadn't finally reached Elspeth Aitken's.
"Difficult is a bit of an understatement." Talan waited to see if she would add anything else and was unsurprised when Elsie mutely returned her gaze. Elsie was nothing if not consistent, and consistently closed-mouthed and emotionally guarded more often than not characterised that consistency.
"Jentar and I discussed the repercussions surrounding these new circumstances in your life yesterday evening." That must have been when he'd closeted himself in his study, Elsie thought.
"It might not be what you'd like to hear, Elsie, but we *both* think that you would benefit from becoming further acquainted with your life as Dr. Crusher. It is the one thing that we haven't tried to attempt to help you regain your memory, because we simply *couldn't*. The information we had access to indicated no fixed address for Elspeth Aitken. No quadrant, no system, no planet… I believe we all now understand, to a certain extent, why." Elsie sat stoically listening to Dr. Moata but refused to actively contribute to this conversation. She *knew* Talan was right, but that didn't make the knowing any easier.
"What about you, Beverly? What do you want?" Elsie knew that she'd used that name on purpose and felt her anger rise.
"What I want doesn't seem to matter," she said and then immediately felt ashamed of her childish response. She drew in then released a deep cleansing breath and started again.
"Bev… *I* created an entirely false persona in order to escape whatever…. Situation… was happening in my life six years ago. I created an entirely new identity, a new person and fled. While pregnant. I don't know how to trust that I won't be returning to that very same situation, that I won't be exposing my son to someone or something that could be harmful, detrimental to him, his well being."
Dr. Moata looked to Jentar who responded. "I have looked into this admiral myself and called in a favour from an acquaintance at the governmental offices who has been involved in the ongoing talks with Federation officials. He *is* who he says he is. I can sense no duplicity nor ill intent from him."
He neglected to mention that he'd also sensed the man's more *personal* motives, but he'd already briefed Talan on that subject and to mention it now would only serve to upset Els… Beverly further. "I wouldn't *ever* agree to *any* of this if I weren't sure. By all reports he is a very reputable and moral man, and an exemplary officer."
"Still, I'll ask him to meet certain conditions before we move forward." She raised an eyebrow at her colleague in question.
"Agreed."
She shifted her attention back to Elsie. "Jentar has informed me that you had a discussion with Jack this morning. How did that go?"
Elsie seemed to shrug her shoulders helplessly, hands spread wide to indicate her confusion and inability to answer that question.
"About as well as could be expected. We... We told him that a Starfleet representative had come to see me. That during the time before I lost my memory… that I served with this man…". She looked pleadingly at Jentar to finish for her, and he reached over and took her hand in his before resuming her explanation.
"We've let him know that there will be changes, that in all likelihood he and Elspeth will need to travel to Earth and that… that they might be gone for some time in order to try to help his mother to regain her memory."
"Alright. That sounds…" Just then a buzzer sounded in the room and a voice filled the air. Talan could see her patient stiffen visibly then force herself to relax, no doubt using one of the many techniques they'd worked on to help her cope with the anxiety that had been part and parcel of the loss of her identity, a constant companion and reminder that all was not completely well.
"Dr. Moata, an Admiral Picard is here to see you."
"Thank you. Send him through, please."
—
When Dr. Zeneth had contacted him yesterday, Jean-Luc had agreed without hesitation to meet them in suite 102 in the East Wing of the medical complex at 11h45. He knew that he had no official status or authority to demand that Beverly return to Federation space with him, but, if necessary, he would call in a Starfleet representative.
She would at least be forced to return to Earth for an inquiry. He knew that Starfleet too had been looking for their missing doctor and would likely view the situation much as he did; she had been injured, her ability to reason and consent had been and continued to be obviously impaired, and all possibilities needed to be exhausted in order to return her memory to her, if only so that she could explain her disappearance.
When he stepped into the room indicated to him by Dr. Moata's assistant, he immediately noticed that Dr. Zeneth was holding Beverly's hand securely in his own. As Picard met the other man's eyes and took his seat on one side of Beverly, the Da'al man released it after giving it a slight, reassuring squeeze.
"I thought it would be a good idea for us all to meet on neutral ground. I am Dr. Talan Moata."
"Admiral Jean-Luc Picard."
"I think, Admiral, that we should begin with your…" For a moment she couldn't think of a word to fit the momentous changes that this man's presence portended in her patient's life, not to mention that of her young son. "Plans, your intentions."
Taking his cue from the woman across from him, he decided to be blunt. He understood that the Da'al possessed low level telepathic abilities when interacting with other species and decided to proceed with caution but to also be as forthcoming as possible.
"Starfleet has been searching for Beverly since she disappeared six years ago. Her colleagues have been looking for her. That's actually how I came to be here today. One of her former colleagues, my former First Officer actually, came to learn of her whereabouts and relayed that information to me." He was looking at Beverly's profile now, trying to discern any hint of recognition. Sensing nothing, he pushed on.
"I am here to escort her back to Earth. I will, of course, accompany her and… and help her to navigate any inquiries which Starfleet might launch. I…" He swallowed hard, noticeable to all three other occupants of the room. "I have known Beverly for three decades. We are good friends." The elephant in the room went unmentioned by all four of them as Jentar's eyes met Talan's in silent communication. It was Talan who broke the silence.
"So, we are *all* agreed that it would be best if everyone were on the same page in choosing to do what is best for El… Beverly and her son?" She paused , looking at them each individually. Jentar hadn't indicated to her whether or not Picard knew of Elspeth's son, so she elaborated. "Jack is five, so we all understand that this will potentially be difficult for him to understand, to process."
"Admiral, I'd like to know how you propose to move forward from here, the specifics in terms of logistics. I am not questioning you or your integrity, but I must ensure that Beverly and Jack's physical *and* psychological well being are factored into your plans. You have transportation, I assume? It is a lengthy journey back to earth. Will there be someone available to act as counsellor or a mental health support or professional?"
He didn't know if they were imagining the return trip to Earth in a shuttle, much like he'd arrived in, but Picard had been anticipating just such a conversation. For that reason he had moved quickly yesterday afternoon to make concrete arrangements, in order to eliminate as many doubts and hesitations as possible, not just Beverly's but those of the people around her and whose cooperation he would need.
"Yes, I have arranged transportation for the three of us aboard a Federation starship that is already near this sector and is set to return to Sol System within the next two weeks. As to your other point, the answer is yes. In fact, Beverly," He was still looking at her profile as she had yet to face him. "The Counsellor, she's someone you know, and who knows *you* quite well. Her son…" He stumbled on the words. "Her son is Jack's age, so I'm certain the two of you will get along well. At least, you always have." This seemed to satisfy Dr. Moata and she nodded at Picard before continuing.
"Admiral, I'll want to talk to this counsellor, as well as the ship's captain…"
"Of course. I can provide anything you need, access to anyone with whom you need to speak in order to assure you of the arrangements that have been made."
"You said the ship is near this sector?" This came from Dr. Zeneth seated on the other side of Beverly. Picard turned slightly to respond to the man.
"Yes, it just so happens that the ship is returning from a diplomatic escort mission in Klingon space and has agreed to collect us."
"When?" This was the first time since the park that Beverly had looked at him and addressed him directly.
"This evening. Their projected arrival is…"
"No. Absolutely not. There is *no* way that I can take my son away from *everything* he knows in a matter of hours."
"Elspeth…"
"Beverly…"
The two men looked at each other for a moment, then Jean-Luc nodded, indicating that the other man should proceed.
"Elsie, we agreed last night. Dr. Moata has agreed. We talked to Jack this morning…"
She pursed her lips and barely nodded at him but sent him a look that made it clear that she had much more to say. Jean-Luc silently released the breath he'd been holding. Before his arrival he'd been catastrophizing in his mind, imagining anything from Beverly refusing to see him altogether, to being accused of trying to kidnap the two of them.
He now felt like a weight had been lifted from him. The first step had been accomplished. He knew just what a long and protracted undertaking this would be, and the sooner they were away from here the more quickly that process could begin.