Forwarded by the ASC-VSO Posted: Sun, 25 Apr 2004 15:13:06 GMT In: alt.startrek.creative From: "Heather Smyth" Title: Alone Inside Author: Heather Smyth Series: TNG Part: 5/? 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. Will was at the bar in the lounge when Geordie came in at shift's end. He sauntered up to the Commander, ordered a drink and leaned his elbows on the bar. "Commander, we need to talk." Will took a long draught of his ale, swallowed and turned his head. He looked at Geordie, nodded and pointed to an empty table, privately situated near the viewports. The two friends seated themselves and drank quietly for a time. Geordie put his stein down and addressed his friend. "Commander I have a problem." "With what?" "Not what.who." "Ok, who then?" "Ensign Fullarton." Will lowered his head and ran a hand through his hair. "Oh hell." "What's going on Sir? She's gone from being a very competent, able officer to a teary, flustered parody of her former self." Will sat back in his chair and crossed his legs. "Let's just say.she had the stuffing knocked out of her." "Is it true that Captain Picard confined her to quarters?" "Yes." "And yet she's back on duty." "Yes." "Did the Captain change his mind?" "No." Geordie raised his palms and shrugged his shoulders. "Well?" "I countermanded the order." "I see. Does the Captain know?" Will shook his head. "Why?" "Look Geordie.you know the Captain was injured in the accident." "Uh huh." "Well he's not been quite.himself. He's off duty for a while and he's really pissed off about it. He's got a few.issues.to deal with right now.he's not really thinking all that clearly. I released Ensign Fullarton because she'd been punished enough. I'll wear Captain Picard's objections later. Right now I just want the ship to run smoothly." " Ok I hear you, but Commander somebody better speak to Amy, she needs to hear something good about herself.and soon." Will sighed and watched as Geordie left the bar. He wasn't alone long. "Mind if I join you?" "Guinan! Not at all, have a seat." The bartender settled herself in the chair, placed her hands on the table and laced her fingers. "What's happening with Picard?" Will stared at the woman, his eyebrows raised. "He's off duty for now. Perhaps you could." "No. Tell me.what's wrong?" "Guinan." "Riker look, you know Picard and I have a relationship.well let's just say it's deep. I know something's wrong and I'm asking you to tell me what it is." Will stared at her hands then brought his own hands onto the table. "The Captain was injured recently and, as a result, has a very Borg-like prosthesis on his right arm. He hasn't reacted to it very well and we've failed to help him. Everything we tried only made him angry. Anger is all he seems to be capable of at the moment." "Anger? Anything else?" "He damn near polished off a bottle of vintage scotch." "Anger and drinking?" "Uh huh. He also chewed out the Ensign who was responsible for the accident and I mean really chewed her out. She hasn't recovered yet, the performance of her duties has been terrible and she's in danger of washing up. This from one of our brightest recruits." "Very un-Picard like." "You bet. If something's not done soon.well let's just say something will have to give. He can't keep this up." Guinan nodded and drew her hands back. "I will talk to him." Will looked up and grimaced. "Good luck!" Beverly lay on her bed idly drawing patterns on her stomach. Deanna wandered over and sat on the bed. "Eight weeks? Why didn't you ask what sex it is?" "Because I don't want to know." "Why?" "Oh I don't know.maybe I just love the mystery." "Do you think Captain Picard will want to know?" Beverly shrugged. "I haven't a clue." "What would you prefer, a boy or a girl?" Beverly chuckled and playfully bit one of her fingernails. "I don't care, as long as it's healthy." "Ok then.what about names?" "Hmm. That's something I'd need to discuss with Jean-Luc." "Oh come on, don't tell me you haven't been thinking about it?" Beverly frowned and flicked her hand at her friend. "Of course I have! But I still think it's something between the two of us." "Don't you mean three? Are you going to contact Wesley?" "Only after I've spoken to Jean-Luc. I'd prefer it if we both told him the news." Deanna took Beverly's hand and said softly, "How do you think he'll take it?" Beverly sighed softly and studied their joined hands. "I don't know. He's twenty two now, I don't know what he'll think of a baby brother or sister." "Well look on the positive side. Maybe he'll be delighted." Beverly sighed again. "That's if we can find him. All I can do is contact Tau Alpha C and hope for the best. Who knows where he is now?" "The Captain will track him down I bet." Beverly smiled sadly. "I hope so." "How long has it been since you heard from him?" "Almost a year." "That long? That must hurt." Beverly sat up and pushed her hair back. "Yes it does but I try and not dwell on it. Jean-Luc helps." "I bet he does." That earned a pillow to the shoulder. "Now you stop that. I've got to give myself a dose of anti-nausea, then what say we take a stroll to the canteen? I don't know about you, but I'm hungry." "Ok. Lets hope they've got a new menu." The two women left the rooms, their laughter hanging in the air. Guinan waited patiently outside the Captain's door. She had pressed the chime three times and was wondering when he would acknowledge her presence. Suddenly the overhead speaker burst into life. "Who the hell is it and what do you want!" "It's Guinan." There was a lengthy pause before the doors parted and she was confronted by the Captain. "Guinan.I really don't want." "I know. We have to talk." She stepped forward, but Jean-Luc held his ground. "No Guinan, I don't think so." She looked up at him, taking in his distressed appearance and the prosthesis on his arm. "Come on Picard.it's me, let me in." He shook his head, pulling his mouth down. "I'd rather be alone right now." "Picard." "Really Guinan, I'm fine.I just want some time on my own. I've got a few things to sort out, so if you'll." "Jean-Luc." His voice growing harsh, he snapped, "Guinan please! Just go." She blinked at him, feeling the anger wash over her. Stepping back, she hid her hands in her sleeves and lowered her head. "As you wish, but if you need." '.I'll be sure to call you. Goodnight." He stepped back and the doors whispered shut. Guinan stared at them a moment before slowly walking off down the corridor to the turbolift, lost in deep thought. Jean-Luc sat on his sofa, his eyes beginning to droop. It had been four days since the accident and he'd not slept, in fact he avoided sleep, fearing the nightmares he knew would come. He breathed deeply through his nose and let his head fall back on the cushion. Again his eyes sagged and he let them drop. He registered the slip into sleep, but could do nothing to stop it. His own scream woke him. Tears and sweat trickled down his face as he struggled to get his breath. Vestiges of the intense agony he'd experienced skittered through his tortured mind as images of the Borg drones and the unspeakable things they'd done to him clouded his vision. "No.please God no." He lurched to his feet and staggered into his bedroom. Pausing at the door, he gripped the frame and tried to focus on the bathroom, too far across the room. He stepped forward and collapsed onto the floor. Pulling himself to his knees, he crawled to the foot of his bed, turned around and sat, drawing his legs up. He wrapped his left arm around his legs and started to gently rock back and forth. Softly.very softly, he whispered as his body trembled, "Not the Borg.not the Borg." Will Riker stepped briskly along the corridors, intent on his present mission. He reached Ensign Fullarton's quarters and stopped only long enough to tug down his uniform. Pressing the annunciator, he waited to be granted entry. The doors whispered open and Ensign McKee gaped. "Commander Riker.Sir!" Will sighed and nodded. "Ensign." "Err, what can I do for you, Sir?" "Actually I'm here to see Ensign Fullarton and I'd appreciate a little privacy." Mark nodded but didn't move. Will sighed again. "So if you've got something else to do.somewhere to go.?" "Oh! Yes, right.I'll go then." Will stepped aside and allowed Mark to leave. He then stepped into the cabin. Amy was sitting on her bed and sprang to her feet when she spotted her superior. "Sir!" "At ease Ensign." "Yes Sir!" Will shook his head a grinned. "No I mean it, sit down. I'm here to talk to you as much as a friend as your Commanding Officer. Why don't we have something to drink? Do you like coffee?" Amy swallowed and sat gingerly on the edge of her bed. Clasping her hands nervously on her lap, she nodded at Will. "Yes Sir, I like coffee. Mark.that is Ensign McKee says I drink too much, but it helps me to study, you know?" "Oh I know. I must've drunk litres of the stuff in my youth and even now I'm not above a cup or two during night watch." Will grabbed a chair, turned it around and straddled it. He blew on his hot drink and gathered his thoughts. "Commander LaForge came to see me last night.about you." Amy bowed her head, her shoulders slumping. "Oh." "Amy you mustn't let what the Captain said get at you. He didn't mean it.not really. I've known him for a very long time and I can assure you he would never castigate someone as he did you. He's not.well let's just say he's not himself and leave it at that." Amy shook her head. "But it's true! I am an incompetent fool. If only I hadn't overloaded that antigrav." "Stop. We can all say 'if only'. It happened and you have to deal with the consequences, yes, but you don't have to beat yourself up over it. It's done, over, finished with. Let it go." Amy looked up and tilted her head. "The Captain's sick isn't he?" "Let's just say he could be better." "And I'm to blame." "Amy." "No Sir. Whatever's wrong with Captain Picard.it's because of me. I can't feel any better about all this until he recovers." "Amy if your performance continues to slide, you'll be issued with a formal reprimand. Do you want that?" She shook her head sadly. "Then get with it! Amy it's within you to rectify this episode. You're not dependant on the Captain for anything other than leadership. If he knew you were doing this to yourself he would be mortified! If you can't do it for yourself, then do it for him, because he can't help you right now. If he means that much to you." Amy blushed and lowered her eyes. "You know Commander.half the female Ensigns on the ship have a crush on him.and some of the men. He means the world to me." Will cleared his throat uncomfortably and sipped his cooling drink. "Ok granted, although I don't think we better tell the Captain that little snippet. Look just try, that's all I'm asking." Amy looked up at Will and managed a wan smile. "Ok I'll try." "Good!" Will stood, returned the chair to its rightful place and stood tall in the small room. "Well I'll be going. I expect to hear better reports from now on." "Aye Sir." After Will left Mark returned and poked his head around the door. "Is he gone?" "Yes." "What did he say?" "Oh you know.the usual pep talk, nothing new." "Did it help?" Amy slumped onto the bed, picked up her pillow and hugged it. "Not really. He doesn't understand. Until the Captain recovers, I'm under the cloud. I can't function Mark.God what the hell am I going to do? They'll be looking even more closely at me now. Shit! How did I get myself into this ungodly mess?" Tears came then prompting Mark to take her into his arms. It'll work itself out Amy, just hold on." The next day, when Captain Picard was an hour late for his check up, Selar asked the computer where he was. "Captain Picard is in his quarters." Selar processed that information. "Is he alone?" "Yes." "Is he asleep?" "That information is inconclusive." Allowing a rare frown, Selar picked up a med kit and left Sick Bay, headed to the Captain's domain. Her first press of the doorbell went unanswered as did the second and third. Using her medical override, she entered the cabin to find nothing amiss. She called to the Captain but received no response. She moved to the closed bedroom door and it opened to her. As her eyes adjusted to the dim light, she made out his huddled form at the foot of his bed. "Captain! Captain Picard." She knelt beside him and scanned him with a tricorder. Her next action was to summon Will. He came with alacrity, arriving slightly out of breath. He entered Jean-Luc' s quarters and soon found Selar kneeling beside the unresponsive Captain. "What is it? What's wrong with him?" "He appears to have entered a state of catatonia, not responding to any stimuli. "How long has he been like this?" "Judging by the fact he has voided his bladder several times, my estimate would be fourteen hours at least." "Can you help him.can you retrieve him?" "I do not know Commander. With so many of his files coded, I am working in the dark. We need Doctor Crusher and Counsellor Troi here.now." "Well let's get him moved to Sick Bay and I'll set about ordering the ship to Targus III. I'll send a subspace message warning them to be ready to beam aboard as soon as we arrive. "Very good Commander." -- Stephen Ratliff ASC Awards Tech Support http://www.trekiverse.us/ASCAwards/commenting/ No Tribbles were harmed in the running of these Awards ASCL is a stories-only list, no discussion. Comments and feedback should be directed to alt.startrek .creative or directly to the author. 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: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ From ???@??? Tue Apr 27 21:59:10 2004 X-Persona: Status: U Return-Path: Received: from n25.grp.scd.yahoo.com ([66.218.66.81]) by eagle (EarthLink SMTP Server) with SMTP id 1biEhf3wz3NZFji0 for ; Tue, 27 Apr 2004 18:54:21 -0700 (PDT) X-eGroups-Return: sentto-1977044-13500-1083117260-stephenbratliffasc=earthlink.net@returns.groups.yah