Forwarded by the ASC-VSO 
Posted: Sun, 22 Feb 2004 12:07:59 GMT  
In: alt.startrek.creative 
From: "Heather Smyth"  
 

Title: Vengance From The Past
Author: Heather Smyth
Series: TNG
Part: 6/?
Rating: R
Code: P/C
Disclaimer: Paramount owns all Startrek and I derive no financial gain from
this story...just a little fun.
Summary: See part one.

          Two days and another surgery later, Beverly wheeled herself into
Jean-Luc's room and smiled at the sight of her best friend asleep with a
book open on his chest.
She rolled silently over to him and gently took the book, marked the page,
and set it on the bedside table. Having already consulted with Selar, she
knew that he was doing well and had, that very morning, spent five minutes
with his legs lowered in a chair. She was moving to the foot of the bed when
he awoke.
"What are you doing?"
"Hello Jean-Luc. I was going to have a peek at your feet.do you mind?"
He shook his head, a wry grin on his handsome face.
Beverly untucked the bedclothes and examined his feet. Gently running her
fingers up the sole of his right foot, she looked up with raised eyebrows.
"How does that feel?"
He snorted and sighed.
"It should tickle but it doesn't. I can feel your fingers though.that's
good, isn't it?"
"Yes, that's fine, about what we can expect at this point. There was a lot
of nerve damage, the microscopic connections are being made as we speak, it'
ll take time Jean-Luc."
"I know. In fact that's about all anybody says."
Beverly chuckled and brushed her hair back. She looked further up his feet
to his ankles and frowned at the dermaplast patches she could see extending
up his legs. She replaced the covers and tucked them in before wheeling up
to the bed head.
"Is there anything I can get you from your quarters?"
"No thank you. Deanna dropped by and picked up some personal items and some
books. Data is coming by this afternoon to play chess with me."
"Oh joy. Do you think he'll take pity and let you win?"
He glared momentarily before breaking into a rare full grin.
"Probably."
The sat together quietly just enjoying each other's presence. Jean-Luc took
Beverly's hand and studied it closely.
"Have I ever told you how much I love your hands?"
"My hands? No."
"Well I do. I love the way they fit in mine and the way they're so elegant,
yet so strong.  Surgeon's hands.a lover's hands."
Beverly smiled softly and leaned closer to whisper,
"I can't wait to touch you again."
He sighed and lifted the hand to bestow a delicate kiss. Also whispering, he
breathed,
"I ache for you."
Her heart missed a beat and colour rose to her cheeks. She watched his hazel
eyes darken and glitter as he gazed at her, mesmerising her with his desire.
She cast a glance at the door, then surprised Jean-Luc by hoisting herself
out of her chair and onto the side of the bed. Before he could say anything,
she snaked her arms around his broad chest and snuggled in under his chin.
Having made herself comfortable, she relished his warmth and solidity.
Breathing in his unique scent, she kissed his neck gently, slowly trailing
her mouth up to his ear.
His arms encircled her and settled her more tightly against the muscular
wall of his chest. He rested his cheek atop her head and closed his eyes as
she nuzzled at his neck.
"Beverly."
He whispered.
She slowly raised her head, her lips barely millimetres from his. His hand
slid up her back and entangled in her hair, gently drawing her forward.
Their lips met with a feather-like touch, ethereal and fleeting. They met
again and tasted. Their eyes drifted close as he applied gentle pressure and
brought her to him. His tongue flicked out and caressed her lips and she
opened to him like a flower. His arm tightened its embrace and he kissed her
with all the pent up passion he felt. She melted against him, returning the
kiss with equal fervour.  She pulled one of her arms free and wound it
around his head as he deepened the kiss impossibly more. She felt his desire
rising along her hip and thrilled at the thought that she could arouse him
so quickly.
They stilled at the sound of the door hissing open.
 Beverly broke the connection and straightened, Jean-Luc withdrew his hands
and bunched the covers over his bulging erection.
Selar stepped into the room and checked the bio readouts above his bed. She
then scanned him with a tricorder and frowned at the results. Noting the
reddened faces of the couple on the bed, she decided not to comment on the
elevated respiratory and temperature readings that had brought her to the
room. Instead, she addressed Beverly.
"Doctor Crusher you should not be out of your chair. Would you like me to
help you back into it?"
Beverly nodded and Selar quickly had her once again seated in the
wheelchair.
"Are you experiencing any discomfort? You have had your legs lowered for
some time now."
Beverly cleared her throat and shook her head.
"No, I'm fine thank you."
She then turned to Jean-Luc.
"Captain you are aware that you sustained significant damage to your groin?"
Jean-Luc nodded, not sure where this line of conversation was going.
"You have achieved an erection. Was there any difficulty? Any pain?"
Jean-Luc closed his eyes and lowered his red face. Through clenched teeth he
murmured,
"No Doctor."
"Very good Captain. Although I would have liked this to occur much later, it
is provident that it has occurred now. It is one less thing we have to
 test."
With that she left.
Jean-Luc muttered darkly under his breath and rubbed his hands over his bald
pate. He noticed that Beverly had said nothing and eventually sneaked a look
at her. She was trying to contain herself and failing miserably. Giggles
erupted from behind the hand clamped firmly over her mouth, her eyes
squeezed shut.
"Dammit Beverly!" he hissed. "This is not funny!"
Another fit of giggles overtook her as her arms wrapped around her middle.
"Oh Jean-Luc.your face!"
"I fail to see what you find so amusing. It was bloody embarrassing!"
"I know.I feel like a teenager caught making out. But your face.if only you
could've seen."
"Will you shut up! It's not that funny!"
She tried valiantly to control herself, then gave up and laughed out loud.
She stopped abruptly when the pillow hit her.
"What did you do that for?"
"To make you shut up dammit! This is ridiculous AND it's your damn fault."
"Mine? How do you work that out?"
He straightened the covers, now that he had returned to a more resting
state, and lifted his chin in defiance.
"If you hadn't climbed on the bed and started to seduce me, I."
"Seduce you? Come off it Jean-Luc, you gave as good as you got! Don't you
try and tell me you didn't want me to."
"Beverly, that's not the point. We're in Sickbay. We should have been more
circumspect. Anybody could've walked in, and did! In my position."
"Your position? You relinquished command, remember?"
He glared at her and chose not to comment. Beverly sighed and lowered her
head.
"Look Jean-Luc we got a little carried away and got caught. There's no harm
done.in fact you helped Selar. Now she knows.well, I think you know what I
mean."
Jean-Luc snorted and straightened the covers again. Beverly waited a moment
and when it became obvious he wasn't going to lighten up, she sighed.
"Ok, I'll go. I have a regen treatment in fifteen minutes anyway. I'll come
back later.alright?"
He slowly looked at her and a small smile crept across his face. Nodding, he
whispered,
"I love you."
"And I you. One thing though.I wonder how Selar was going to test your."
"Get out Beverly!"




       Three days later he was allowed in a wheel chair. He was taken from
his room and wheeled into the main body of Sickbay. While he sat, scans were
undertaken and some of the dermaplast patches removed. He lasted twenty
minutes before the pain drove him to ask for an analgesic. Using the
painkillers less and less, he was disappointed but Selar assured him that he
was doing very well. With the pain once again under control, he requested to
be taken to the starboard observation lounge. He was still there when
Beverly found him. She wheeled slowly up to him and watched as he stargazed.
"You miss them don't you?"
He nodded and sighed.
"It's been too long."
"Well now you're mobile, you can come and see them more often."
He nodded again then turned his gentle eyes on his lover.
"I've missed you."
It was her turn to sigh.
"I know, I'm sorry. They've got me walking and the therapy is very time
consuming. I tried to come down earlier.you know how it is."
"Yes. I've got more surgery tomorrow and Selar tells me they'll be bringing
my new shoes for a fitting soon. I suppose the braces will follow."
"Uh huh. Ultimately the braces will be connected to your shoes. They will go
from mid-thigh to your heels, with hinges at the knees."
"Will my trousers cover them?"
"Yep. No one will see them Jean-Luc, don't worry, they'll be very discreet."
He sighed and looked down at his bare feet.
"Hey watch this."
Mustering great concentration, Jean-Luc raised the great toe on each foot,
then gently splayed the remaining toes.
"Well how about you! That's great Jean-Luc, well done."
"It's my latest achievement.took me hours to accomplish. I can also rotate
my ankles, but Selar doesn't want me to do it often yet. And that's not all.
Look."
He slowly raised each bent leg until his feet were centimetres off the
padded footplates of his chair. Gently lowering them, he looked up at
Beverly and frowned at her reaction.
"I didn't mean to make you cry."
"It's all right, I'm happy. I just wish you were never injured Jean-Luc."
"That goes for you too my love. I hate seeing you in any discomfort, no
matter how small. Do you remember when that bee stung you.when you and Jack
and Walker and I were at the cabin?"
"Oh God yes! What a flap that caused."
"I thought Jack was going to call for an emergency beam out. I got the sting
out.it was the first time I held your hand."
"You remember that?"
"Oh yes. When Jack and Walker went inside for the med kit you let me hold
you.I was in seventh heaven."
"You've loved me for an awfully long time."
"Yes I have."
Beverly sighed and trailed her fingers down his face.
"And now I love you in equal measure."
He nodded and bent his head into her hand. They stayed like that for a
further ten minutes, until an orderly came to take him back to his room.





           The surgery didn't go as well as they had hoped. In the shattered
tibia of his left leg, a mild infection had taken hold and ruined some of
the joins in the healing bone. The infected piece of bone was removed and
the cloning procedure started to create a new piece. In the interim, his leg
was closed and put in a light cast. His right leg was responding well to
treatment and more of the supporting metal was removed.
Later that afternoon Beverly was with him when Selar and a technician came
in to fit his new boots.
First they slipped on soft socks then, opening up the elasticised boots,
eased them on one at a time.
"How do they feel Captain?"
Jean-Luc frowned and tried to move his toes.
"A little tight."
"They need to be snug Sir. They're meant to hold your feet firmly and stop
them spreading when you finally put your weight on them. We need to keep the
bones and muscles contained. In the long term, it will save you a lot of
discomfort."
"They're transparent. Can we make them black?"
"Yes Sir. When we have the final shape, they can be made in any colour you
like. See these holes at the heel? That's for the bottom stabilizer of the
braces. A metal rod will pass through the heel, connecting both sides of the
brace and allow it to pivot."
"I see. And my legs will be supported by the braces?"
"Yes Sir."
Selar came forward and spoke.
"We cannot finish the design of the boots until you stand in them but for
now, we need to see how well your feet fit in them."
"Well they feel fine.not too heavy, in fact they're surprisingly light."
"Yes Sir. The polysynthetic materials are very adaptable. Only the sole is
made of harder material."
They removed the boots with great care and made some further measurements.
Satisfied, they left the room and Beverly wheeled closer.
"So.next thing will be your training wheels."
"My what?"
"Your crutches Jean-Luc."
"Oh."
"Hey it'll be fine. You'll be up and about in no time, you'll see."
He nodded and smiled.
"Did Selar tell you about the surgery?"
"Yes, it's a little disappointing, but it's a minor set back. Once the
cloned bone is put in and takes hold, you'll be back on track."
"Yes, but it means I have to stay here in Sickbay longer than I hoped."
"Never mind. I'll still come and visit you."
He chuckled. "Well I should hope so! Tell me, when will I see you walking?"
"Two days. I've been walking unaided around my cabin for a few days now and
I only have one regen treatment a day so they're turning me loose the day
after tomorrow."
"No crutches?"
"Nope."
"Good for you. I am envious though. I suppose you'll come down here to show
off."
She reached up and gently grasped his shoulder.
"I'll be here, but I won't be showing off. Far from it. It still hurts too
much for that."
He nodded his understanding and was deep in thought when a familiar voice
made him look up.
"Hello Captain. How are you?"
"Will! What are you doing down here? Getting bored in the big chair?"
"Not at all Sir, I just came down to get an update from Selar. She told me
about the shoes.it sounds promising."
"Yes well.time will tell. So! What's been happening on my ship?"
"Everything is running smoothly Sir. We're transporting a contingent of
miners to Prelar V, Spot is pregnant again.Data wants to do DNA testing on
all the suspect suitors. Deanna has found a new blend of chocolate mousse
and Geordie is seeing a Lieutenant from Astrophysics. Other than that,
everything is normal."
"Hmm, it would seem you have everything under control. I learned this
morning that my stay in Sickbay has been lengthened. I will keep you
appraised of course, but I won't be discharged to my quarters for some time
yet."
Will nodded and frowned.
"Nothing serious I hope Sir?"
"No, just a damned infection in the bone. I have to have a new piece cloned.
It's a minor set back.more annoying than anything else."
"Is there anything I can do for you Sir? Do you need anything?"
"No, why do you ask?"
Will smirked and glanced at Beverly.
"Well Captain there's these reports."
"Oh yes, the reports. Piling up are they?"
"Yes Sir."
"And what do you propose?"
Will stood to his full height and placed his hands behind his back.
"Well Sir, I know that boredom can be a real pest when you're stuck in
Sickbay."
"And you thought I could use some sort of.distraction?"
"Yes Sir."
Jean-Luc let him stew a few moments while he feigned thought then seemed to
come to a decision.
"Very well, I'll do the reports for you.but you will owe me Commander."
A large grin split his face, making his blue eyes sparkle.
"Aye Sir."
After he left Beverly slapped Jean-Luc's arm.
"You had every intention of doing those reports! Why did you make him
squirm?"
"Captain's prerogative."





          Once Jean-Luc started to do the reports for Will, Deanna caught on
and started to bring him more work from the Bridge. Soon he had a computer
terminal brought to his room and spent many hours of his days happily
completing all the work sent to him.
The surgery to implant the cloned piece of bone came and went without mishap
and five days later he was very pleased to hear from Selar that the new bone
graft had taken without any signs of infection. The cast was removed and he
restarted the therapy on his legs.
Three and a half weeks after he first entered Sickbay, Selar entered his
room with Beverly and a pair of crutches. Beverly walked slowly to his bed
and smiled down at him.
"To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Beverly looked at Selar and received a nod of acquiescence.
"You're going to stand up today Jean-Luc."
He swallowed and took a deep breath.
"Very well."
He swung his legs over the side of the bed and waited patiently as Beverly
and Selar gently put the socks and shoes on him. Next they fitted his arms
into the circular holders of the crutches and encouraged him to grip the
handles. Selar then lowered the bed until his feet rested on the floor.
"Ok Jean-Luc, take the weight on the crutches and see if you can stand."
He did as Beverly requested and tentatively straightened his legs, taking
the bulk of his weight on his arms.
He frowned as he felt his feet spread into the confines of his boots. He was
about to comment on it when he felt sharp pain shoot up his right leg. He
winced and put more weight on his left leg. As soon as the weight came off
his right foot, agony bloomed in the foot. He cried out and sat immediately,
causing the same pain to bloom in his left foot. He fell back on the bed,
raising his feet off the ground. The hiss of the hypospray was welcome and,
as the pain receded, he sat up again.
"What the hell happened?"
Selar removed his boots and swung his legs up onto the bed and began to
massage the throbbing feet.
"It is to be expected Captain. When you stand, the blood is forced from your
feet. When you take the weight from them, the blood rushes back in and the
result is pain. You must remember the muscles and nerves are still
recovering. It will take ."
".Time, I know. Will it hurt like that every time?"
"Yes, at least until your feet and legs grow accustomed to the increased
blood flow. I think, with proper analgesia, we will be able to extend the
periods of exercise. In fact, if you're ready, I think we should try again
now."
She replaced the boots and Jean-Luc again slowly stood.
This time there was no pain and he gradually placed more of his weight upon
his feet until he stood fully on them.
"I know you feel no pain Captain, but how do the boots feel?"
He thought about that and decided they were a little tight.
"The toes are a little cramped and they're a tad snug at the heel."
"Noted Captain. We will make the required adjustments. Please sit now."
Jean-Luc sat and the boots were removed again. When his feet were on the
bed, Selar and Beverly massaged the legs and feet while Jean-Luc looked on.
Once they were finished, Selar left. Beverly sat on the bed.
"You know that they're going to ache when the painkiller wears off?"
"I thought as much. How are your legs?"
"Ok I guess. They hurt by the end of the day, but the regen treatments
 help."
"I must say it's good to see you walking again."
She stroked his face and smiled lopsidedly at him.
"Thank you."
"You know it would be a damn sight better if I could have the painkiller
before the therapy starts."
"Yes, but Selar wouldn't learn anything. How can she tell what's going on if
you can't feel anything?"
"I know, I know.it's just."
Beverly took his hands and looked deeply into his troubled eyes.
"Hang in there Jean-Luc. It will get better, I promise."




--
Stephen Ratliff
ASC Stories Only Forwarding

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