Forwarded by the ASC-VSO 
Posted: Sun, 07 Mar 2004 13:06:51 GMT  
In: alt.startrek.creative 
From: "Heather Smyth"  
 

Title: Vengance From The Past
Author: Heather Smyth
Series: TNG
Part: 8/?
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.


     Beverly was late in arriving, an emergency surgery keeping her in
Sickbay longer than she expected. She entered his quarters to find him
asleep on the sofa, a book on his lap. Her irritation had cooled somewhat
and she looked fondly at her best friend and lover, noting that he wore her
favourite shirt and pants.
She carefully sat beside him and gently shook his shoulder.
"Hey you, wake up."
His eyes snapped open and he blinked before a warm smile appeared.
"Hello Beverly."
"Hello yourself. You should be in bed."
"I wanted to wait up for you. Have you eaten?"
"Not yet.how about you?"
He shook his head and leaned forward to get into his wheelchair.
"Come on, I've programmed the replicator, it'll be ready in a moment."
Beverly sat at the table while Jean-Luc brought the replicated food to her.
She set it out and soon he joined her. He asked her about her day and she
made appropriate noises until they had finished their meal. He wheeled
himself around the table until he was next to her. He took her hands in his
and looked deeply into her blue eyes.
"Beverly I'm sorry for my behaviour today. You were right.I was embarrassed
and ill tempered. It won't happen again. If you will forgive me, I would
like to show you how much better I can be."
"It's alright Jean-Luc. You were tired and in considerable pain. I
understand."
He shook his head.
"No, that's no excuse. I took my bad temper out on you and I regret it. It's
not your fault.none of it is. Forgive me.please?"
She withdrew her hands from his and cradled his head, kissing him softly.
"You're forgiven Jean-Luc. How could I stay mad at you.you're adorable when
you're contrite."
He smiled at her and leaned in for another kiss.
"Come to bed Beverly."
Together they entered his bedroom and slowly undressed each other. Naked,
they climbed into bed and began the foreplay that would culminate in an
extraordinarily tender love making, leaving them sated, content and
blissfully happy.





        With his improved attitude, Jean-Luc threw himself into his therapy
with renewed vigour and made good progress. He mastered the ramp and soon he
was crisscrossing the room with relative ease. A week later Beverly
introduces a short flight of steps.
"Now this is a little different Jean-Luc. You'll be placing more stress on
your feet and it will increase the pain exponentially. Also, your knees will
be asked to work harder, so be ready when they complain."
He placed himself at the foot of the steps and steeled himself for what was
to follow.
"Brace yourself on the crutches and place your foot on the step. Push up and
shift the crutches onto the step when you've got your balance."
He did as instructed and paused as a wave of intense pain surged through his
foot.
"Are you ok?"
He nodded taking a large breath.
"Just give me a minute."
He regrouped and stepped again, slowly making his way up the steps. He
rested and the top and Beverly squeezed his arm in encouragement.
"You're doing fine. Now take it easy going down."
Concentrating fiercely, Jean-Luc made his way step by step and expelled a
large breath when he was once again standing on the floor.
"Well done Jean-Luc, I'm proud of you."
He smiled and went to a nearby chair and sat, catching his breath. Beverly
pulled up another chair and sat with him.
"Are you ready for a hypospray?"
He nodded and closed his eyes as he heard the telltale hiss. He relaxed as
the pain diminished and leaned back in the chair.
"We'll have you back on the Bridge soon at this rate."
He opened his eyes and looked at the Doctor.
"I must admit I've missed it."
"You can go back if you want."
"What, back to duty?"
"Uh huh. Restricted of course, but there's no reason you can't return to
duty.there never was. You relieved yourself remember."
"Yes.well.I'll give it some thought."
Beverly patted him on the knee and straightened her back.
"Right then. I want to show you a better way of walking on flat surfaces.
Are you up for it?"
He sighed and smiled ruefully.
"Whatever you desire Doctor."
Over the next hour, Beverly showed Jean-Luc how he could walk by using the
crutches in tandem with his legs for covering short distances quickly. He
mastered the technique with ease. They tried the steps again several times
until he felt completely confident then stopped for the day. He waited in
Sickbay, enduring some scans of his bones and, when Beverly finished her
shift they walked back to his cabin, a first for him.
He was tired when they entered and Beverly suggested he bathe. When he
re-entered his bedroom he found Beverly waiting for him with a bottle of
massage oil. He sprawled face down on the bed and groaned his appreciation
as she went to work on his exhausted muscles.  She was not surprised when he
drifted off to sleep well before she finished.
He awoke some hours later to the aroma of food. His stomach rumbled as he
rolled over and he lay for a while feeling relaxed and content. He thought
about his command and decided Beverly was right. It was time he strode the
Bridge again, albeit with his aids. He donned the robe Beverly had left out
for him and pulled the wheelchair within reach. He gained his seat and
rolled out into the living area to find Beverly setting the table.
"Hello there sleeping beauty."
He snorted and made his way to the table.
As she put the dishes out he smiled and said softly,
"You were right."
"Oh I know." She grinned saucily then relented. "About what?"
"Returning to duty. I want to take command again."
She nodded and came to squat before him.
"Not before time Jean-Luc. We've all been waiting."
"What sort of hours can I expect?"
She pursed her lips and cocked her head.
"For the first week no more than six hours a day."
He nodded and sighed.
"And I suppose you're going to enforce rest periods."
"Yep."
"Why am I not surprised?"
"And there'll be regular check ups in Sickbay, not to mention all the
 scans."
He held his hands up in resignation.
"Alright I get the message. I'll comply. When can I return?"
"How about tomorrow morning?"
"Sounds good. I'll contact Will."
"No need, I already have."
His eyebrows shot up at that.
"A little pre-emptive aren't we Doctor?"
"No, I just know my Captain."
He smiled and reached for her.
"As well you should, but in future.leave the instructions to me.please? At
least let me think I'm in control."
"Aye Sir."





        The next morning, as he pulled his trousers over the braces, he felt
a moment of trepidation. How would his crew treat him? How would they react
to his incapacity?
He stood, fastened his pants and pulled on his jacket. Looking at himself in
the mirror, he straightened his shoulders, smoothed a wrinkle in his uniform
and raised his chin.
"Only one way to find out."
He picked up his crutches, placed them on his arms and walked out into the
living area.
Beverly was waiting for him and her breath caught in her throat when she saw
him. He'd lost some weight and still looked a little pale, but she thought
he'd never looked quite so handsome as he did at that moment.
"Ready?"
He nodded and he they left his cabin to begin their day.





         The turbolift came to a halt on the Bridge and the doors whispered
open. Jean-Luc steeled himself and stepped out onto the command centre of
his ship. Will rose from the command chair and faced his Captain as he made
his slow way down the ramp. Jean-Luc felt the eyes of his staff on him but
ignored it, concentrating on gaining his seat. He lowered himself into his
chair without help and placed the crutches on the floor beside him.
"Report Number One."
"Alpha shift has just begun. We're travelling at warp six to the Honarra
cluster to mediate in a trade dispute between two corporations on Brekka II,
the details have been downloaded to your Ready Room terminal. ETA, four
days. Engineering reports a slight fluctuation in the integrity field of the
aft port quarter and is working to rectify it. Other than that we're running
straight and true Sir."
"Very well. Thank you Commander, you may be seated."
Will sat and leaned surreptitiously towards his Captain.
"Welcome back Sir." He said softly. Jean-Luc smiled.
"It's good to be back Will."
He stayed on the Bridge for three hours then retreated to his Ready Room to
familiarise himself with the upcoming mission.



The four days passed quickly, Jean-Luc finding even his restricted duty more
than enough for him. He continued therapy, improving all the time and was
delighted when Beverly announced she would downgrade his braces to a smaller
type that would support his legs from the knee down. She fitted them and
smiled with the ease at which he adapted to them.
"How do they feel?"
"Much better.lighter and freer and there's easier movement at the knee."
"Not rubbing at all, no chafing?"
He frowned and swung his leg experimentally.
"Yes, a little, behind my left knee."
"Ok let me see."
She made some adjustments and refastened the padded closure.
"Try that."
He walked around the room and shook his head.
"No, it's still rubbing a little."
"Hmm, I think it may do that no matter what we do. I'll check the area
tonight. Are you ready for the delegation this afternoon?"
He sat in a chair and held both crutches in one hand.
"Oh I think so, it's pretty straight forward. The warring parties are a
trifle bloody minded.intractable my mother would've said.my job is to get
them to see each other's position. If I can achieve that, everything should
fall into place."
"Usual thing then?"
"Uh huh."
"Ok then, you're free to go play Captain."
Jean-Luc raised his eyebrows and said dryly,
"Thank you Doctor."




        Later that afternoon he was standing tall and proud in the
transporter room when the first of the delegates beamed aboard. The second
party arrived shortly thereafter and everyone was escorted to the port
observation lounge.
Seated opposite each other, pleasantries were exchanged and the delicate
dance of diplomacy begun. Will left the room and took the Command chair on
the Bridge.
Deanna leaned over to him and said surreptitiously,
"You got out of there quickly."
Equally sotto voiced, Will responded,
"You're not wrong! They were at each other's throats the minute the
introductions were complete. I don't know how the Captain does it."
Deanna sat up and gently squeezed Will's arm. He took comfort in the
empathic warmth that flooded his mind.




It was several hours before the observation doors opened. A tired Captain
emerged with some equally exhausted delegates.
"Number One, would you escort The Kussum delegation to their quarters?"
 He turned then to the remaining Degg delegation.
"Counsellor Troi will see you to your quarters."
Will and Deanna left the Bridge by different turbolifts and Jean-Luc entered
his Ready Room. He didn't emerge for another three and a half hours, having
made a detailed report to Starfleet.
Beverly was waiting for him when he finally made it to his cabin. He slowly
crossed the room in silence and sank gratefully into the sofa's cushions,
resting his weary head back, closing his eyes and letting the crutches fall
to the floor.
Beverly sat beside him for a while, before gently easing his upper body
forward so she could get her fingers to work on the knotted muscles of his
neck and shoulders.
He sighed and relaxed allowing his hands to fall limply between his knees.
"How was it?"
"Like butting my head against a brick wall."
She found a particularly tense muscle and pushed her thumbs into it,
demanding its release.
"So is there any hope at all?"
He sighed, his whole upper body moving with the effort.
"There's always hope.they're still here after all. Perhaps tomorrow."
She continued the massage until she felt his muscles soften. She left him
then and returned with a light meal for them both. They ate in silence and
Jean-Luc placed his feet on the low table as he sipped his Earl Grey.
"What time do the talks start tomorrow?"
"First thing after breakfast."
"Well we better get to bed, but I want to check that sore spot on your leg.
I'll do it in the bedroom."
After he undressed, she checked the spot and found an area of reddened
chafe. The quick application of a tissue regenerator remedied the situation
and he went off to shower.
Later she snuggled into his arms and drifted off to sleep, her last thoughts
being of the recalcitrant delegates.






         For three seemingly endless days the talks raged without an end in
sight. Meals were taken in the observation lounge and it took every bit of
Jean-Luc's diplomatic guile to keep the delegates from doing each other
physical harm. Each night he returned to his quarters exhausted and angry at
his inability to resolve the differences between them.
It was late on the evening of the fourth day that the Captain's door chimed.
Jean-Luc and Beverly had just eaten and were considering bed when the
Captain scowled at his door.
"Computer who is at my door?"
"Delegate Rumm."
"Damn! What the hell does he want?"
Beverly shrugged and said,
"Do you want me to leave?"
"No, stay." In a louder voice he called,
"Come."
The door whispered open to reveal the ruddy second delegate of the Degg
team. A large being, he was tall, hairy and broad shouldered.fearsome to
look at and intractable in nature.
"Delegate Rumm is there something you need?"
"I need to talk with you!"
Jean-Luc pursed his lips and raised his chin.
"Delegate it is quite late and the talks are over for the day. I will be
glad to talk to you tomorrow."
Rumm stepped into the room and the doors closed behind him.
"No! You will talk now!"
The Captain could see he would not be placated, so instead he gestured to a
chair.
"Very well, would you like to take a seat?"
"No! I want to know why you favour the Kussum! You're strangling us.you won'
t."
Jean-Luc stared forcefully at his opponent and said sternly...
"I favour no one! I have been impartial throughout the talks and you have no
right."
"I have every right!"
"And what do you think gives you that right?"
"This!"
In the blink of an eye, Rumm pulled a large dagger from his boot. Pointing
at Beverly he motioned her to join the Captain in the middle of the room. He
stepped up to Jean-Luc and placed the blade at his throat.
"The rules have just changed. I now have a bargaining chip."
"I will not help you."
Rumm grabbed Beverly by the hair and sneered at Jean-Luc.
"Then perhaps she will!"
As his eyes slid over Beverly's body, Jean-Luc seized his chance. He hit
Rumm forcefully in the stomach and tore Beverly from his grasp.
Rumm whirled around and slashed at Jean-Luc, cutting him across the face. He
then lunged at the Captain, stabbing him twice in the shoulder as they fell
to the floor. Jean-Luc rolled as he could hear Beverly calling desperately
for security. He felt the knife enter his back and the blade break as the
metal encountered the bone of his shoulder blade. He rolled again and
realised his useless arm that was trapped beneath him. Rumm got to his feet
and kicked the Captain cruelly in the chest Ribs broke under the onslaught
and his breath left him. He managed to get a braced leg between Rumm's and
tripped him as he attempted to kick him again. He heard the crash of
breaking glass and saw Rumm stagger as Beverly hit him with a vase. She was
looking for another weapon when security burst in and felled the assailant
with a well-placed phaser blast.
Will came in behind the security detail and joined Beverly at Jean-Luc's
side.
"How is he?"
"He's bleeding badly.we need to get him to Sickbay."
Will looked up.
"Transporter room, three to beam from the Captain's quarters to Sickbay!"
As soon as they rematerialised, Beverly and her staff had Jean-Luc lying on
his side on a bio bed. His uniform was removed and he was taken into
surgery, the cuts too deep for the regenerator to repair. Two hours later he
was in recovery, drowsy and sore.
Will met Beverly in her office.
"Will he be ok?"
"Yes Will he'll be fine, in fact he can be discharged tomorrow. We repaired
all the damage; thank God nothing important was hit. Do you want this?"
She handed him the broken blade.
"I took that out of his back. It was embedded in his shoulder blade. He had
two deep wounds to his upper chest and three broken ribs, as well as the
slash to the face."
"All that because the delegate was pissed off with him?"
"Uh huh. He accused the Captain of taking sides.decided to alter the playing
field and use Jean-Luc as a bargaining chip."
Will shook his head and snorted with disgust.
"His delegation is protesting their innocence. They're making him out as a
rogue with his own agenda; apparently they want the talks to continue. What
do you think?"
"I tell you one thing.I don't like what it's been doing to him. He's been
exhausted! I know he's not eating.but you know the Captain. He won't give up
Will, no matter what I say, short of relieving him of duty and I'm not
prepared to do that.yet."
"So we wait until tomorrow?"
Beverly nodded and walked to the door with her tall visitor.
"Yep. We wait and see."




--
Stephen Ratliff
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