A Time for War, a Time for Peace - Keith R. A. DeCandido [109]
This is ridiculous. I need to get on with my life.
Just then, the door opened behind her to reveal Picard.
Until this moment, Crusher had never believed in fate.
“Jean-Luc,” she said, turning around.
Picard was yanking at his collar. “I swear, they make these dress uniforms more uncomfortable with each version.”
“I’m sure they do it just to annoy you.”
“Well, obviously.” Picard stopped pulling at his neck and smiled at Crusher. “You look divine, Beverly.”
“I look like a meringue.” She hesitated. “Jean-Luc, there’s something I need to say to you.”
The smile fell from Picard’s face. It looked like he knew what was coming.
Good. That’ll make it easier.
“I’ve decided to take Yerbi’s offer. It’s just too good an opportunity.” She put both hands on his chest. Owing to his rank, the middle of his uniform shirt was the same white as the sleeves and sides, as opposed to the gray everyone else had. “Seeing Will finally taking his own command, Worf leaving his ambassadorship—even seeing Wesley decide to stick with being a Traveler—it’s made me realize that I need a change. Honestly, Jean-Luc, I’m tired of the front lines. Helping the Dokaalan, curing the Bader and the Dorset—with something that wasn’t even a proper cure—and all those bodies on Tezwa. I’ve had enough.” And I’m tired of waiting for you to notice what’s right under your face. She couldn’t bring herself to say those words.
But the question was whether or not he would say the words she wanted to hear, the words that would make her turn down Yerbi’s offer and stay on the Enterprise for as long as he commanded it.
In all the years she’d known Jean-Luc Picard, she’d gotten fairly good at reading his facial expressions. She’d been with him through so much, from his brutal mind-meld with Sarek of Vulcan to his assimilation by the Borg to his torture by Gul Madred.
Therefore, she recognized his I’m-suffering-for-the—
greater-good look. And was fairly peeved that that was the look she saw.
“In that case, Beverly, I wish you the best of luck. We’ll miss you—but I can’t think of a better person to succeed Dr. Fandau.”
You couldn’t do it, could you? Damn you, Jean-Luc. “Good. Honestly, this is a big weight off my mind,” she lied. “I’ve been thinking about this since Rashanar.” She smiled. “Yerbi will be relieved, too—now he can have his retirement party.”
“Beverly, I—”
Before Picard could continue, Crusher felt a cold wind in the room. Wrapping her arms around herself, she wondered if the pavilion’s environmental system was breaking down and letting the cool Alaskan air in.
Then the wind died down, and the room started to warm again.
“Hi, Mom—Captain Picard.”
Whirling around, Crusher cried, “Wesley!”
“Hey, I wasn’t gonna miss this for the world.”
Crusher ran to her son and embraced him with all her enthusiasm. Suddenly, nothing mattered, except for the fact that she was going to share this union of her two good friends with her son.
Picard frowned. “Er, Wesley—”
“Hey, why’re you guys in dress uniforms? Isn’t this a Betazoid wedding?”
Breaking the embrace, Crusher looked at her son. “Uh, Wes—this isn’t the Betazoid wedding. We’re having that on Betazed.”
“However, since we’re on Earth
” Picard said slowly.
Wesley winced. “I guess walking out that door naked probably wouldn’t be such a hot idea.”
Crusher smiled. “Well, some of the women on the guest list might not object too much.”
“Mom!”
Picard tapped his combadge. “Picard to Enterprise.”
“Wriede here, sir.”
“Lieutenant, have the quartermaster beam down a dress uniform.”
“Er, okay, sir. Ah, what size?”
“I believe the measurements of Wesley Crusher are on file.”
“Yes, sir.”
To Crusher’s embarrassment, she hadn’t even noticed Wesley’s unclad state, so happy was she to see him. She noticed now that he was completely unself-conscious about it. I guess Travelers aren’t big on modesty. After a moment’s thought: And why should they be?