Forwarded by the ASC-VSO Posted: 20 Jan 2004 19:24:14 -0800 In: alt.startrek.creative From: louiseell@aol.com (louise ellis) Title: "Still There" Author: Louise Ellis Series: TNG Rating: PG Code: P/C Part: 26/? Archive: yes Summary: An alternate universe story that picks up ten years after Disclaimer: no infringement meant, and comments welcomed (thanks for all the comments so far!). "Still There" (26/?) By: Louise Ellis While they ate, Jean-Luc and Deanna watched the girls talk to each other, Felisa asking hushed questions about different people and Naomi patiently answering. "I wish Beverly could see this." Deanna leaned toward Jean-Luc, her voice pitched so only he could hear. "Or even some of the Admirals. That would convince them she's nothing more that a young, inquisitive, intelligent girl." "I don't look forward to telling Beverly about their latest line of questioning." He winced slightly. "One of us should call her to let her know how everything is going, don't you think?" "We can take them back to your office, I'll call her while you help Naomi with her homework questions." Deanna suggested. "And I can get a decent cup of tea." He took another sip of the cup he'd gotten in line and winced. "There is that." Deanna laughed at his expression. Directing her attention to the girls, she raised her voice. "Are you two done?" Felisa looked back at her and nodded. "Can we call now?" "We'll go back to my office." Jean-Luc nodded, then looked at Naomi. "You're welcome to remain with us, Miss Wildman. I can assist you with that homework problem while Felisa speaks with her mother." "Really?" Naomi smiled. "Thank you Admiral." Together, they stood and carried their dishes to the disposal area, then left the room, Felisa still asking Naomi questions. Ten minutes later, Jean-Luc was seated at his assistant's desk, helping Naomi with the astrophysics problem she'd been having difficulty with, when his office door opened and Deanna looked out. "Jean-Luc, she'd like a word with you." He winced. "I was afraid of that." Standing, he smiled at Naomi, "I'll be back shortly to see if you've found the answer." As she nodded, he moved across the room, entering his office as Deanna and Felisa exited. Pulling the door shut behind him, he crossed to his desk and slid into his seat. "Hello there." "Felisa made a friend?" Beverly gazed out at him. "Kathryn and Chakotay both mentioned Naomi this morning." "You would approve." He smiled slowly. "You should have heard them at lunch. They didn't stop talking." "Good." Beverly glanced off screen for a moment, then cocked her head to the side and said something he couldn't quite make out. Returning her attention to him, she lifted an eyebrow. "Kathryn said to ask you if you'd like Naomi to spend the weekend out here with us, with Felisa." "That's generous of her," he hesitated as Kathryn appeared next to Beverly on the screen. "Her mother's off planet, and she's stayed with Phoebe and me before, it would be no problem, she can use the other bed in Felisa's room." Kathryn smiled. "And you two could go on to Paris this weekend without worrying Felisa would be lonely with just us around. I can check with the Prep School and call her mother to get permission as well. Just tell her that after classes today, to pack her overnight case and she can return with you." "I know they'll both enjoy that." He still appeared reluctant. "Jean-Luc, she's young, but she's been through all the debriefings and a lot of what Felisa is dealing with now." Kathryn nodded. "She'll be a big help. Trust me." "Very well," he sighed and ran a hand over his head. "I'll ask her before she returns to class." "Good." Kathryn touched Beverly's shoulder, "I'll leave you two alone and go let Phoebe know she's coming." "Well." Beverly let out a soft breath and waited until Kathryn had left, then gazed at him. "Something's wrong. Deanna wouldn't say anything in front of Felisa. Tell me." "There's nothing wrong." He shook his head. "Not really." "Not really?" Her eyes widened. "What?" "Beverly," Jean-Luc paused, "did you by chance teach Felisa anything about mental shielding?" Her face grew evasive. "What do you mean? And why would anybody ask anything about that if they hadn't tried to probe her mentally?" "Beverly. You know what I mean." He leaned toward the screen. "And it was the results of her psi testing yesterday." "Oh." She blinked, then sighed. "Her psi testing was that extreme?" "Let's just say they had more than a few questions for both Deanna and myself about it." He paused. "I don't suppose you'd want to join us for a bit." "I'll be there as soon as I change." She pushed back from the table, "I'll have Kathryn call for transport for me to wherever you are at the time." "We'll be in my office for a bit, then returning to the debriefing." He reached out and touched the screen. "I'll see you in a few minutes." Beverly managed a slight smile. "Indeed you will." As the screen went dark, he sighed and remained where he was for a long moment before standing. Returning to the outer office, he glanced at Deanna. "She's on her way." "She's coming to see me?" Felisa looked alarmed. "What's wrong?" "Nothing," Deanna smiled down at her. "They just had a few questions for her." "Maybe I should go," Naomi stood. "Thank you for helping me Admiral Picard. I do understand it better." "Good. Before you go, Admiral Janeway requested that I ask if you'd like to return with us to her house tonight and remain for the weekend." He smiled at her as her eyes lit up and Felisa let out a delighted laugh. "Really?" Naomi looked at Felisa, then back at him. "I'd like it very much!" "Very well." He chuckled at their excitement. "You'll have the other bed in the room Felisa's staying in, we'll be here until about sixteen hundred, which I believe should give you plenty of time to pack some things and meet us back here at my office." "Be here, sixteen hundred." She nodded, then froze, eyes widening even more, causing Jean-Luc to turn. "Maman!" Felisa pushed past him and threw her arms around Beverly. "You came!" "Hello cherie." Hugging her daughter tightly, she glanced at Deanna, then focused on the other girl. "You must be Naomi." The girl, still speechless, nodded as Felisa leaned back slightly to look up at her mother. "And Maman, she is coming to stay with us for the weekend." Felisa laughed. "She's been telling me about so many people, and her school, and…" "I'm sure she has." Beverly smiled down at Felisa as she released her, then returned her attention to Naomi. "You'll be able to show her your new puppy." "I thought…" Naomi stuttered, "but you said…" "I said Beverly Crusher wasn't my mother." Felisa tilted her head slightly as she gazed at Naomi. "We have my father's name." "She's being technical, but, I'm Beverly Picard, officially." Beverly, understanding Naomi's confusion, laughed softly. "You couldn't have known. But yes, I am her mother. And we'd appreciate that being kept…" "Quiet?" Naomi nodded slowly. "Wow." "We need to get back to the debriefings," Jean-Luc leaned over Felisa and kissed Beverly lightly. "Hello there." "Hello." She smiled and slipped her hand into his as Felisa moved towards Naomi. "Here as requested." "You're leaving your hair down?" He looked surprised. Except for the day she'd faced the media, every time she'd been in the interviews, she'd left her hair up, and come to think of it, she seemed to have a bit more make up on today as well. "She looks perfect." Deanna said with a perfectly straight face, then turned to watch the girls say goodbye. Beverly sighed and leaned toward him, murmuring in his ear. "We got a bit carried away last night on my neck. It's either hair up and a higher necked shirt than my uniform or my hair down with a bit heavier makeup. All right?" "Really?" He blushed. "I…" "I used to have a medkit and certain…tools at my disposal." She teased softly, running a finger along his ear. "It's all right, Jean-Luc. Deanna just happened to point it out last night after we got back." As his blush deepened, she laughed softly, then straightened and looked at Deanna. "There's questions?" "Just a few." She avoided Jean-Luc's eyes as she moved toward Beverly, linking her arm with the older woman's. "They're expecting you and Felisa, I'll fill Beverly in as we follow you." "Very well." He smiled at them, then turned toward Felisa and held out a hand. "Shall we?" "You'll be behind us, Maman?" She looked toward her mother and waited for the answering nod. "Then yes, Papa. We shall." With a smile, she took his hand, then left through the door Naomi had left ajar a minute earlier. "What are a few questions about Felisa's psi rating?" As they followed at a slower pace, Beverly glanced at Deanna. "It surprised them." Deanna explained. "She's human, but has a mental shield ability rarely found in human children. They were curious how it came about, and how she gained the level she has. I know both you and Jean-Luc have received training, but I didn't realize the extent you'd trained her." "I see." Beverly shook her head slowly. "I didn't realize it myself. All I did was teach her some basic techniques, it was part of what I taught her…how strong are her shields?" "You and Jean-Luc both have fairly strong shields, as I said through training, and you both had a fairly high natural level before that training, due to your self discipline. I can only assume some of it was genetic, and some was what you taught her." Deanna explained. "They just want to know what exercises and techniques you taught her." "We also had a lot of time to practice." Beverly stated softly. "I used it as an exercise to take us away when…we needed to." (end part 26) -- Stephen Ratliff ASC Stories Only Forwarding In the Pattern Buffer at: http//trekiverse.crosswinds.net/feed/ Yahoo! Groups Links To visit your group on the web, go to:http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ASCL/ To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:ASCL-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. From ???@??? Sat Jan 24 18:53:57 2004 Status: U Return-Path: Received: from n9.grp.scd.yahoo.com ([66.218.66.93]) by emu (EarthLink SMTP Server) with SMTP id 1aKxxy5qt3NZFnx0 for ; Sat, 24 Jan 2004 15:50:11 -0800 (PST) X-eGroups-Return: sentto-1977044-12982-1074988126-stephenbratliff=earthlink.net@returns.groups.yahoo.