Resistance Is Futile - Pt 25

When he took his seat in his Ready Room, Picard was not surprised to find a message awaiting him from Virginia. In fact, he was fully expecting it to be her telling him what is was that was bothering her before they had went their separate ways only an hour ago. Instead, what he found was a message stating that Beverly Crusher was being released from General Arrest and was returning to duty ... with no charges pending.

That was surprising. To say the least. Admiral Hamilton was not one for bending the rules.

Often.

Virginia was one who knew that her life was under constant surveillance and behaved accordingly. And because whenever she did bend the rules, she ended up being punished somehow even if she did save humanity as it was known. Like Kirk, and those in the early days of the Federation and StarFleet...she was of the breed that did what they had to do at whatever cost...but times had long since changed for the admiral, as they had for the Federation and StarFleet. Probably the only rule she had broken within 'recent' years would have been the time with Jayden she had shared earlier.

Certainly there had been times in her early career when she had bent the rules. The instance with Khan, for example. Though, there hadn't been either StarFleet or the Federation then. However, the Romulan Peace Treaty at the end of the Earth-Romulan War had been because Virginia had bent some rules...violated at least three regulations and perhaps the Prime Directive...but peace had been won and the war ended with both sides happy.

He still didn't know what was bothering her from earlier though, and now he had this odd message from her to add to his thoughts.

Absently, Picard scrolled through his other messages, seeing very little of what was on the screen. He had thought that Virginia had enjoyed the morning as much as he had...but now he wasn't sure. Just thinking about their time together was enough to rekindle the desire he had felt with her, indeed, still felt for her. He had never had a partner quite like Virginia before...a woman far from being inexperienced, who yet exhibited the energy and delight of one who was experiencing things for the first time. Her very touch had been electrifying. And her voice, breathy and seductive as she'd 'whispered' in his ear the things she was liking, the things she wanted...asking if he was liking what she was doing. And oh, he had. He had let her know, voicing his pleasure as surely as she had.

It pricked Picard like a needle. Suddenly and sharply. He had called her the wrong name...he had called her Beverly...more than once, if he was recalling correctly.

Oh.

My.

Lord.

No wonder she hadn't answered him when he asked her what was wrong. Women were very sensitive to this sort of thing, and Virginia was far more sensitive than she let on. Not that he would have liked it had the tables been turned. She was hurt and angry and probably thinking all sorts of things that simply weren't true. He was going to have to talk to her...and soon. How was he ever going to make this up to her?

"There is no way, Picard. You've done it this time."

Picard started and turned sharply in his chair. It took only a second to register who had invaded the privacy of both his Ready Room and his thoughts - and who even now stood silhouetted against the star filled window. "Q."