The Rescue
"Captain, I am receiving an emergency transmission from the transport ship, Na'Va. Audio only." Worf reported to the captain from his position at tactical.
"Let's hear it Mr. Worf." Replied the captain as he rose from the command chair with a familar tug of his uniform.
<crackle> This is the Na'Va. We are experiencing <static><cough> anti-matter cascade chain <static> Uncontrollable <crackle>
"Sir, radiation is interfereing with the transmission. Sensors indicate that their ship will explode in approximately 13 minutes." Replied Worf as the transmission cut out.
"Data, how far are we from the Na'Va?" Picard asked the android.
"12.45 minutes at warp 9, Captain."
"Lt., Warp 9. Engage! Picard to Crusher."
"Go ahead Captain." Came the familiar reply from his CMO.
"Doctor, prepare sickbay for emergency transport from a ship with an anti-matter cascade."
"Understood Captain." Oh my God, thought Beverly as she rushed into action preparing sickbay for the casualties she was sure to get. An anti-matter cascade was one of the worst type of accidents that could happen. The victims were worse off than those affected by coolant leaks. Almost no one survived when exposed to the unique radiation that was released when anti- matter reacted in the unusual way characterized by a cascade effect.
Back on the bridge, Captain Picard stood tensely as he waited for the Enterprise to arrive within transporter range, "How long Mr. Data?"
"We will be in range in 45 seconds Sir" replied Data with his usual calm.
"Picard to O'Brien, transport as soon as we are within range"
"Aye Sir. . . . . Captain, I was able to transport six lifeforms to sickbay." Reported O'Brien.
"Understood Chief. Mr. Worf, how many people were on that ship?"
"It's registry states a crew compliment of 24 Captain."
"Number One, you have the bridge." The Captain quickly walked toward the turbolift, his destination sickbay.
* * * * *
Picard entered sickbay, but hung back by the doors so as not to disturb the work of the medical staff. He noticed that there were already 4 dead, sheets covering their now silent bio-beds. A flash of a familar red mane caught Picards attention. Beverly was furiously working on one of the two remaining survivors.
Dr. Selar called from her position on the other survivor, "Call time of death, 1430 SFT (Note:standard federation time)".
"NOooooooo!" cried the patient that Dr. Crusher was working on. He started thrashing around, becoming uncontrollable. Picard rushed over to help Beverly control the large male, who was trying to verbally soothe her patient, while Nurse Ogawa prepared a sedative.
"It's all right. You're going to be ok," Dr. Crusher said to the man while putting her hand on the side of his face, attempting comfort.
"Help...can't live without...hurts..." the man croaked out pitifully.
Beverly looked into his face gently, "I'll help you any way I can".
The man looked at her with a gaze so intense Beverly almost blushed. Then in a flash, his hands reached up, and firmly grabbed her head. Beverly struggled at first, but then subsided as she started to feel the man inside her mind. She felt a rush of intense feelings...sadness, love...then intense desire. It was so intense she didn't know where she stopped, and he began.
As soon as the man had grabbed Beverly, Picard jumped into action as he tried to break the man's hold on her. He felt a rush of intense desire coming from the two. Surprised, he quickly let go. Before he could order Dr. Selar to sedate the man, he let go of Dr. Crusher. When the contact was broken, Beverly fell backwards to be caught in Picards arms.
Jean Luc easily lifted her to a nearby bio-bed as Dr. Selar came over to examine her. Weakly, Beverly tried to sit up before the Captain gently pushed her back on the bed. "Oh no you don't. You're staying right where you are." he gently scolded her.
"How is my M'Barue?" Beverly asked.
Dr. Selar's eyebrows rasied in surprise, "He will live, but now you must get some rest." Dr. Selar gave her a hypo and she fell asleep.
Giving the Vulcan doctor a questioning look, Picard asked her, "What is an M'Barue?"
"It is an ancient vulcan term with an emotional conotation. It means 'bond mate'."
* * * * *
The Captain of the Enterprise stormed into the briefing room. He wanted answers, and he wanted them now. Dr. Selar was in place of the conspicuously absent Dr. Crusher, who upon awakening from her sedation, promply went to the side of the last survivng member of the Na'Va, and refused to leave until he awoke.
"Dr. Selar, I want to know what happened back there in sick bay. Who is that man, and what did he do to Dr. Crusher?" Captain Picard asked trying not to show his dismay at the condition of his CMO.
"The lone surviving male, according to DNA reults, is 50% Vulcan, and 50% Deltan. From what I can deduce, the female that I was working on was his bond-mate. When she died, he was unprepared for the separation. And it appears that he bonded Dr. Crusher as a replacement," replied the Vulcan doctor, cooly logical as always.
"How soon can we break the bond?" Asked the Captain, not wanting there to be another option.
The vulcan doctor eyed her commanding officer, not sure how to procede. She had suspected for awhile that there was a deeper relationship between the CMO and Captain, but since it was none of her business, stayed out of it. "Captain, the bond can not be broken from the outside. It has to be voluntarily dissolved by both parties. At least this is how it works with Vulcans. As I stated before, this man is not 100% Vulcan. In fact, I have never heard of a Vulcan/Deltan pairing. It's not very logical, considering."
The other officers around the table nodded their agreement with the last part of Dr. Selar's statement. If there was a species of humanoids in the federation that were diametric opposites of Vulcans, it would be the Deltans. Whereas Vulcans held their emotions in to the point of appearing repressed (sexually that is), Deltans were considered one of the most emotionally and sexually advanced species known.
Counselor Troi took the opportunity to voice her concern, "How is Dr. Crusher reacting to the bond?"
"I did a full work up on her, and there seems to be no adverse physical effects. I also ran the standard psycological battery, and compared it to her last psych exam. It seems that Dr. Crusher was already pre-disposed to be bonded, having been bonded before."
"It's been 25 years since Dr. Crusher's husband died. And humans don't "bond" in the way that Vulcans do." the Captain stated, clearly confused with Dr. Selar's reference.
"I was not referring to Dr. Crusher's marriage Captain. I was referring to the time that you were bonded to her. Although it was accomplished through the use of implants, the psycological effect was basically the same when they were removed. In fact, I don't think he would have been able to bond her had she not already been in a similar condition to his," Dr. Selar said as she observed the effect her explanation had on Captain Picard, and she admired that he was able to cover his emotions. For a human, that is.
"What condition was she in Doctor?" Riker asked.
"The loss of a bond can be a traumatic experience. On vulcan, a person is surrounded by family who help in the transition. I am not sure how such a loss affects a human. From the information I have now, I would say that all the emotion from the loss was suppressed to the point that Dr. Crusher was not aware of it."
Captain Picard's mind was racing. Was that the reason why she turned me down that night? Was she so traumatized by the loss she couldn't feel the love anymore? I've been so stupid, and now what am I going to do...she's bonded to another. And when he thought about it, a surge of jealousy ran through him. He would just have to make sure that it didn't last.
Suddenly, Captain Picard was aware of another presence. He looked behind him to see who was there... nothing.
"Captain, is there a problem?" asked Counselor Troi. She had been sensing the Captains strong emotions for the whole briefing, including the surge of jealousy.
"I'm fine counselor. However, Dr Crusher is not. I want you to talk with her. Dr. Selar, I want more information on this "man", and his bond to her. Dismissed."
Captain Picard sat alone in the briefing room, and the feeling of another presence returned. Only this time he didn't turn around to see if there was someone there. He knew this presence, it was in his mind...
* * * * *
Dr. Beverly Crusher sat by the side of a man she had only "met" a few hours before, but it seemed like she had known him all her life. She took the opportunity to study his features, he was a large man, she estimated he easily was more than 2 meters long, and over 100 kilos. He had dark hair, and very noticable vulcan features. Pointed ears, upswept eyebrows... then he opened his eyes, and she was stunned. Looking back at her was a very un-vulcanlike feature... a pair of the greenest eyes she had ever seen.
*Beverly* He called her name directly into her mind, as he gently reached out to hold her hand.
*Valen* She thought back to him.
Just then, Dr. Selar entered, and spoke, "I see that you are awake. How do you feel?"
Valen looked at the vulcan doctor, "I feel...better. When will I be able to leave here?"
"Well considering what you've been through, you are in relatively good health. However, there is the matter of what you did to Dr. Crusher. Bonding against someones' will is...is just not done." Selar eyed him as a parent would an errant child.
"I did no such thing. She offered to help, and I found her to be in just as much need as I."
Jean Luc Picard entered sick bay, and looked directly at the man in the bed. Valen was stunned when he walked into the room, he could "feel" this man. What was this about? And before it could go further, Valen made sure he blocked the man's bond to the red haired woman sitting next to him.
Beverly knew Jean Luc had just walked in without even turnung around. For a split second she was reminded of a familar feeling she had had once before, on Kes Prytt. Then just as suddenly, the feeling was gone. And all she felt was her bond to Valen.
"How is your patient Dr. Crusher?" the captain asked trying to keep his tone neutral.
"He is fine Captain. As a matter of fact we were just going to release him from sick bay." Dr. Crusher rose as she answered him.
"And when were you planning on dissolving your bond?" the captains voice was low and accusing.
"I don't think that is any of your business captain. It doesn't affect my job as a doctor, and it's just not possible at this time. Not until Valen is ready. Well Valen, since Dr. Selar is giving you a clean bill of health, would you care to join me for dinner?" Beverly turned her full attention on the green eyed man in front of her, pointedly ignoring a stunned Picard.
Rising from the bio bed, Valen took the doctors arm, "I would be honored, but first I think we had better find me some suitable clothing," he finsihed by making a sweeping gesture at the plain outfit afforded to him in sick bay. His own clothes being destroyed.
"Of course. I'm sure we can get something from the replicators in my quarters. Captain." She said as she passed him by on the way out the door.
* * * * *
Beverly and Valen walked in silence to her quarters. As the doors slid shut behind them, Valen enveloped Beverly in a warm embrace.
"Thank You," he whispered softly into her soft red hair.
Pulling back so she could look into his eyes, "For what?"
"You saved my life back there. If it wasn't for you..." he stopped as Beverly gently put a finger to his lips.
"It's my job. I am a doctor."
"I'm not talking about the physical injury's. When Jayna died...I just couldn't...I wasn't prepared for it. Then you were there, soft and calming, and so beautiful. I just didn't think of what I was doing. I'll understand if you wish to dissolve our bond now." Valen finished.
Up to this point he had been blocking his feelings through the bond, so she wouldn't be able to tell how he truly felt. He wanted this bond. In the short time he had been with Beverly, he already knew so much about her. He suspected he even knew things about her that she didn't. Like the bond she had to that Captain. Ironic, he thought, that if it hadn't been for her suppressed bond to Captain Picard, he would never have been able to bond her himself. And then of course, there was still the problem of the bond they still shared.
"I still don't think your ready yet. Why don't we give it some time before we make any decisions. Now, let's get you some clothes, and some dinner." Beverly successfully diverted him from the subject of breaking the bond. At this moment, the thought of dissolving the bond frightened her. In the last few hours, she found that she liked how it felt. How he felt. Something about it was so familar...
* * * * *
Deanna Troi was walking to ten forward when she caught sight of Beverly and Valen. She instantly felt the closeness between them. She decided to take this opprtunity to talk to her friend.
"Hello Beverly, how are you feeling?" she asked her friend as she covertly observed her companion. He was definately attractive, tall, dark, and those eyes. Suddenly the counselor had a strong sense of forboding. She was definately going to have to talk to the captain about this situation.
"I'm feeling fine Deanna. I don't believe you have met Valen. Valen, this is the ship's counselor, and my friend, Deanna Troi."
Valen was aware of the counselors telepathic ability, and immediately moved to block any probing of the bond. No point in letting her sense any "irregularities".
"Counselor Troi, it's a pleasure to meet any of Beverly's friends," Valen reached out and softly grasped the counselor's. "Would you care to join us for dinner?"
Deanna released Valen's hand, "I would love to, but only on one condition...Please, call me Deanna."
* * * * *
Jean Luc Picard paced the floor of his quarters, furious. Not only at Beverly, but at Valen too. He knew the presence he had felt before was Beverly, but he knew he could also feel Valen. And as soon as he walked into sick bay, he knew that Valen knew too. And that is when the other man had blocked the bond.
How had he become part of the bond in the first place? It must have been when he tried to pull Valen away from Beverly. But now how was he going to get Beverly to see what happened. How was he going to get her to see how much he...damn! I'll just have to make sure that their bond is dissolved.
"Computer...location of Dr. Crusher."
"Dr. Crusher is in Ten Forward."
* * * * *
Dinner finished, Deanna, Beverly and Valen talked while sipping after dinner drinks. Truth be told, they were all a little drunk. Deanna found Valen to be an utterly charming man. And she could see that her friend did too.
Guinan approached the table with another round, "All right you three, it's not often I break out the real stuff, so you'll have to humor me. Here, I want you to try something ." With that, Guinan set down three shot glasses full of red liquid.
"What is it?" Beverly asked dubiously.
"It's something I used to drink when I was on earth. It's called a Red Hot."
All three people at the table picked the glasses up, then drank them in one gulp. Deanna and Valen choked, but managed to keep the firery liquid from coming back up. Beverly was smiling at her two companions.
Just then, the doors to ten forward opened up, and Captain Picard walked through. Deanna was instantly aware of his emotions, but became confused by what she felt from Valen. All night she was not able to feel a whole lot from him, except for brief moments when she felt the bond between him and Beverly. For a brief second, it felt as though the Captain had been part of the bond. *Must be the alcohol* Deanna thought to herself.
Captain Picard walked over to their table, "Dr. Crusher, I need to have a word with you." And with that, he took her by the arm, and started to lead her towards the door. Beverly Crusher was incensed that he would just come over, and yank her away from her friends like she was some misbehaved child. She pulled her arm free from his grasp, and stopped in her tracks.
"What's this about Captain? " she demanded, trying her best not to sway slightly.
"Beverly...please, can we just go somewhere, and talk?" Jean Luc looked into her eyes, and saw them soften a little.
Valen was worried when Beverly went with the captain. He saw his opportunity to make sure they wouldn't be alone
together when Beverly abruptly withdrew from the captain's grasp. He approached Beverly from behind, and smoothly wrapped an arm around her waist. "When am I going to get that tour of the arboretum you promised me? You don't mind if I steal the beautiful Doctor away, do you Captain? She did promise..."
Picard flushed hot with anger, Valen's double meaning was not lost on him. His fist clenched so tightly, Picard thought he could feel blood from his fingernails. "Well, as a matter of fact..."
"Excuse me Captain, but do you have a moment?" Deanna interupted. *Just in time* she thought to herself.
Distracted just enough by the counselor, the captain bit back the anger that was about to erupt. Taking a moment to get back in control before he answered, "Of course counselor." He shot Valen a warning glance before exiting with Deanna in tow.
* * * * *
"Would you like something to drink Counselor?" Picard asked as they entered his quarters, and directed her to take a seat.
"Yes sir. Some coffee please." Deanna usually would have refused, but she needed something to clear her mind from the lingering affects of the alcohol.
Handing her her drink, Picard sat down in a chair with his tea. "What did you want to talk about?" He asked, even though he had a pretty good idea. You didn't have to be an empath to know what happened. Knowing the speed at which gossip flowed on a starship, half the crew knew by now what went on in ten forward.
"Captain, it's about Beverly and Valen...."
"Counselor...Deanna, I'm aware of the scene I caused, but there are .."
It was now Deanna's turn to interrupt him, "Sir, please...let me finish. It's about Beverly, Valen, and YOU. I thought it was just the alcohol we were drinking that made me sense what I did. But when you were alone with Beverly for those few seconds, I felt it again. Beverly and Valen are definitely bonded, but you are part of that bond. I think that your bond with Dr. Crusher was never completely severed when the implants were removed. And now, for some reason, it resurfaced when Valen bonded her."
Picard was silent for a few moments, "I know about the bond Deanna. I think it happened when Valen bonded her in sickbay. When he grabbed her, I tried to pull him from her, and I "felt" them. I hadn't realized what had occurred until later on when I felt a presence in my mind. Then, when I went to sickbay, Valen blocked the bond. Beverly is not even aware..." he left off, and put his head in his hands.
Deanna could feel the captains pain. She gently laid a hand on his leg attempting comfort before she spoke. "Captain, if what you say is true. And judging from my own perceptions at dinner tonight, I would say they are. Then Valen is not being totally truthful with Beverly."
Suddenly, a realization dawned on Deanna, "Captain, Valen is half Deltan!"
"Yes, I know Counselor. But what does Valens' race have to do with..." Realization began to dawn, as Deanna voiced it.
"Deltan's not only bond mentally, but physically. If he and Beverly..."
"Computer...location of Dr. Crusher." Picard deamnded, as he quickly rose.
"Dr. Crusher is in her quarters."
Captain Picard left his quarters almost running. Deanna was close behind.
* * * * *
Beverly and Valen walked arm in arm through the lush plant life of the arboretum. Beverly always liked this place. The smells faintly reminded her of Caldos. She chanced a look at the man beside her, and found that he was staring at her. His face looked almost sad for a moment, but the slight frown was replaced with a warm smile.
No words were spoken, but Beverly could tell what he was feeling through their bond. The sadness she felt from him was quickly replaced by the warmth of desire. She decided that she liked this feeling. This knowing in no uncertain terms that he wanted her. So unlike the uncertainty she always felt around Jean Luc.
Valen tentatively reached up, and lightly touched her cheek with the back of his hand. Beverly closed her eyes, and leaned into his touch. She reveled in the feel of just a hand. Suddenly, Valen enveloped her in a tight embrace. Opening her eyes, she was confronted with Valen's green eyes, burning desire for her.
"Perhaps we should retire to your quarters?" Valen said, his mouth close enough to her face that she could smell him.
"Yes...perhaps we should." Beverly answered, as she took his hand, and led him from the arboretum.
* * * * *
As the doors slid shut behind them, Valen pulled Beverly into his arms and kissed her. As she began to respond to the passion of the moment, Beverly felt a familar presence through the bond. Somewhat confused, she broke contact.
"What's wrong?" Valen asked, concerned.
"For a moment there, I thought I felt...I don't know. It was like...someone else was with us."
Valen knew immediatley what had occurred. He realized more than ever that he would have to seal his bond to the beautiful doctor, and soon. Using the Deltan part of his heritage, Valen started to produce phermones from his body that most humanoids find impossible to resist.
"Beverly, I hope you know that I would never hurt you. When I first bonded you, it was a desperate attempt to fill a void. But since that time, I have come to care for you." Valen slowly approached her, taking the time to make sure that his words andthe sexual signals he was putting out, were having the desired effect on her.
Beverly was barely able to hear the words he was speaking. She felt a fire start to burn somewhere below her stomach. Valen was a scant centimeters away from her, staring expectanly into her eyes. Seeing the last bit of reslove disappear, Valen engaged her in a passionate kiss.
Lost in their desires, Beverly and Valen failed to hear the door chime.
* * * * *
Getting no response from the occupant behind the door, Jean Luc Picard used his emergency override code. The doors slid open, and he was greeted by the scene of his CMO in one of the most passionate kisses he had ever seen. Jealousy and anger coursed through his body at the thought that it wasn't him who was kissing her like that.
Again, Beverly felt the familiar presence. But this time the feeling took her breath away. It wasn't Valen, it was Jean Luc! She could feel his thoughts and feelings just like she had on Kes Prytt. Struggling through the haze that clouded her mind, Beverly tried to push herself away from Valen, but he held onto her tightly. His hands biting into her arms.
"Let me go!" she said through clenched teeth.
Jean Luc approached them, and laid a hand on Valen's arm attempting to pull him away. Wrenching free of the Captain's grasp, Valen said, "This isn't your concern Picard. She is no longer your concern. You had your chance...Hell, You've had 20 years! Did you expect her to wait?"
Valen was quite an imposing figure when drawn up to his full size. Picard figured that he had 30 kilos, and 10 cm on him. But size never stopped him before.
Sensing the dangerous turn that the situation had taken, Deanna Troi decided to step in to try and defuse it, "Valen, we are very concerned about Dr. Crusher. She is our friend. We just want to be sure she knows all the details. Humans don't "bond" the way that Vulcans or Deltans do. And we have discovered that the bond you have with her is not exactly what it appears. Is it?"
As Deanna was talking, Beverly was looking at Jean Luc. Sensing her eyes upon him, he turned toward her, *Beverly* he thought mentally.
Stunned, she thought back *Jean Luc?*
Sensing the communication between the Doctor and the Captain, Valen realized that he could no longer keep the truth hidden. Dropping his head slightly, he answered the counselor's question, "No...it isn't. In a way, Beverly was already bonded. I sensed this when I first entered her mind. But I had no idea, it was so different. She had repressed the bond so deeply, that she didn't even know it was there. I didn't even know it was the Captain until he walked into sick bay."
Feeling ashamed, but determined to do right by her, Valen looked up at Beverly. She looked back at him, but he saw no anger in her eyes. Coming forward, he took her hands in his, "Beverly...I'm so sorry. I have no excuse for what I have done. I hope that you can forgive me."
"Valen, I don't condone what you did, but if it wasn't for you, I never would have realized what I had lost." She looked at Jean Luc as she said this last part. "However, I would like you to dissolve the bond we have."
A small smile appeared upon Valen's face, "I think I can do better than that, Doctor."
* * * * *
EPILOGUE
Jean Luc Picard was sitting on the bridge of his ship, watching his crew go about their business, when quite suddenly, he felt extemely ill. In fact, it felt as though breakfast wasn't going to stay down much longer. Turning command over to Cmdr. Riker, he made a hasty retreat to his ready room before he embarrassed himself.
Emerging from the washroom, Picard decided that maybe he better make a trip to sickbay to make sure he didn't have a virus or something. While in the turbolift, he started to feel his stomach start to turn again. He hoped he wouldn't have to run the last leg to his destination.
Entering the doors to sickbay, Picard no longer felt sick to his stomach. He looked around for Beverly, and found her seated on the edge of a biobed, Alyssa Ogawa by her side. Urgently walking over to make sure she was allright, the Captain heard the tail end of their conversation, "...that should take care of most of the symptoms."
"Alyssa, I think I know a little bit about..." Seeing Jean Luc, Beverly cut short what she was about to say.
"Ok, Dr. Picard. Just make sure you follow your own advice," Noticing the Captain, a big smile appears on Ogawa's face. "Hello Captain." She said, as she left the couple to be alone.
Beverly looked at Jean Luc, but it's what she felt from him that worried her. "Jean Luc, are you ill?"
"I think that's my line. What symptoms was Alyssa talking about, are you sick too?" He asked, thinking that maybe they had caught the same thing.
"Well, I was sick to my stomach, but..."
Jean Luc interupted her, "I was too. It was all I could do to get off the bridge before I threw up. Maybe we caught a virus on the last mission. Or perhaps food poisioning?"
Beverly smiled nervously, "No, that's not it."
His heart dropped a little as he started to think that it was something more serious. Then he felt the warm joy and excitement that radiated from the bond he shared with his wife. "Out with it. What about being sick to your stomach has you so happy?"
Instead of replying, Beverly turned on the biobed monitor that she sat on. Jean Luc was perplexed by what this had to do with his question. All he heard was the heartbeats the monitor was producing.
Heartbeats...HEARTBEATS!
"Merde." Was all he could think to say as he embraced his wife.
After a few moments, "Is that all you can say 'Papa'?"
Leaning back, his eyes glistening with unshed tears, "How about, I love you," and he kissed her gently.
Helping her off the biobed, Picard thought of something, "Beverly, I know why your sick, but that doesn't explain why I am."
Thinking for a moment before answering, "It must be some sort of sympathetic pregnancy phenomena that is amplified by our bond," Then a mischievious grin appeared on her face, "Which should make for a very interesting delivery."
Jean Luc Picard, Captain of the Federation Starship, visibly paled at his wifes statement.
Seeing his "discomfort", Beverly recued him, "But I'm sure we can figure something out by that time."
Knowing that she had baited him, he playfully grabbed for her, but she scooted out of reach with a yelp. Jean Luc pursued her toward her office.
Not letting him get the advantage, Beverly said, "By the way Captain, there's one more thing?"
"And what's that, Doctor?" He made a move for her, and caught her in his arms.
"How do you feel about multiple births?"
Once more that day, the color drained from the Captain's face.
fini