Disclaimer and author's note in Part I
Part IX
"I want to loose all your demons and go
I want to tear off your chains cause I know"
All the Way to Heaven--Melissa Ethridge
The doors to Beverly's quarters slid open and she stepped in. When she realised no one had followed her in she turned to see what the hold up was. The little girl was standing in the doorway staring wide eyed into the room. Jean-Luc stood behind her politely waiting until the girl entered, always the gentleman.
"What's wrong?" Beverly asked.
"I'm going to stay here?" the girl asked poking her head in and looking around.
"What's the matter? Don't you like it?"
"Oh it's very nice. I just never been allowed anyplace so nice."
"Well your very welcome here. Come in."
The girl hesitated but finally went in followed by Jean-Luc who was looking on with a concerned expression.
"Will I have a bed too?"
"You certainly will. Come here and I'll show you."
They went into the bedroom and Beverly pointed to a small bed that had been set up near her own.
"Mine?" the child asked in disbelief.
"All yours. Now would you like something to eat or a bath first?"
The girl looked down at herself. Though she had been cleaned up earlier she was still a little grimy, and looking at the spotless Captain and Doctor made her feel slightly embarrassed. "A bath please."
Beverly led the child to the bathroom and turned the water in the tub on. "Jean-Luc could you..." Glancing about she realised he wasn't there. She went back to the bedroom where Picard was still standing with an uncertain look on his face. "Aren't you going to help?" she asked.
"I'm sure you'll do just fine on your own Doctor."
Beverly realised, with quite a bit of amusement, that her Captain was embarrassed. Laughing she said, "Honestly Jean-Luc. She's a five year old little girl. There's nothing to be embarrassed about."
"I am not embarrassed," he paltered. "I just thought I'd be in the way."
"Uuuh hu." She took hold of his arm and pulled him into the bathroom. "You know Jean-Luc you need to get over these things. What if we were to have children? Would you still act like this?" * Uh Oh. How the hell did I let -that- slip?*
"If -we- were to have children Doctor?"
"Umm well I just meant in general. You know, a what if." She turned away from him to the little girl who now stood naked by the large tub. "All right, hop in." * I really gotta be more carefull,* she thought to herself.
The child climbed into the tub and practically disappeared into the bubbles Beverly had added causing Jean-Luc and Beverly to laugh heartily. Beverly rolled up the sleeves to her civilian shirt and brushed the bubbles away revelling the far too thin child who did not look at all amused. Beverly began to scrub, surprised that the child allowed her to, and after a moment Jean-Luc joined in.
When the child was scrubbed from head to toe Jean-Luc sat himself down on the wet floor. "I remember my mother doing this to me when I was a little boy."
"You were a little boy?" Beverly asked in mock surprise.
Jean-Luc pulled a face at her, to which Beverly scooped up a large amount of bubbles and blew them into his face.
"Doctor, such inappropriate behaviour will not be tolerated."
"Oh? And what are you gonna do about it?"
"This," he said, and smacked his hand across the water sending it and a large heap of bubbles in Beverly's direction. She squealed and sent a volley of water at him. They were soon in the midst of a full blown water war. There was so much screaming and laughing that even the little girl sent a splash now and then unable to resist joining the fun.
Ten minutes later when it finally ended Beverly got a towel for each of them and sent Jean-Luc and the child into the main living area. Jean-Luc sat on the couch and the girl sat next to him on the floor warped in a towel while Beverly remained in the bedroom.
"You know we still need to find you a name," Jean-Luc said to the child. "Are there any that you like?"
The child looked thoughtful for a moment then said, "I think you ought to pick one."
"Me?"
"Mm hm", she replied looking hopefully at him.
"Maybe you had better let the Doctor do that. I'm sure she would do a better job than I could."
"But I want you to do it."
She had him then. He was getting wrapped around her little finger. "All right. I'll think of something," he said.
Beverly came in then holding a piece of deep purple cloth in her hand. She held it up and it unfolded into a small, very pretty, dress.
"For me?" the child gasped.
"Well we can try it on the Captain, but I think it will fit you better. Come here and try it on."
The child stood and followed Beverly into the bedroom.
A few minutes later Beverly came out and stood in the doorway smiling. "Come on and let the Captain see."
The little girl walked shyly out into the room staring down at her feet clad in the purple dress, her long blondish brown hair neatly brushed. Picard couldn't help but smile broadly. The girl looked up at him and he could have sworn that she smiled back. It was then that he saw it. Those eyes, they were the same fierce blue eyes he had looked into a million times , over countless breakfasts and dinners. They were the same eyes as Beverly's.
Part X
"Sometimes there are things a man just knows
that he really can't explain"
I Sure Can Smell the Rain --Blackhawk
Jean-Luc had said nothing to Beverly about it yet, but every time he looked into the little girls face he saw the face of his best friend looking back at him. Elizabeth (as he had finally named her) had the same bright blue eyes, the same nose, and the same soft, full lips that his eyes had lingered over so many times. He couldn't understand it and he couldn't explain it, but that little girl wasn't just any little girl. Somehow, no matter how impossible it seemed, that little girl was Beverly's own little girl. He could see it every time he looked at them, and even more than that he could feel it. He had to do what he had been avoiding. He had to talk to Elizabeth and find out all he could about where she had come from and how she had gotten here. He couldn't help but think that she held all the answers he was looking for.
********************
"Come in," Beverly called.
The door slid open and Jean-Luc strode into Beverly's quarters. He wore a loose fitting low cut shirt, a pair of tall black boots, and breeches, that Beverly couldn't help but notice, hugged all the right spots.
"Hello Jean-Luc," she said trying not to stare.
"Hello Beverly. Is Elizabeth ready?" he was completely oblivious to his friend's lingering gaze.
She took a deep breath. "She should be out in a second." As she said it the little girl came out of the bedroom dressed similar to Picard.
"Ah there she is. Are you ready for your first riding lesson?"
She nodded eagerly.
"Well then let's get going." He turned to go with Elizabeth close at his heels.
"Jean-Luc wait. Maybe this isn't such a good idea. I mean she hasn't been out of sickbay that long." She wrung her hands nervously.
He placed his hands on her shoulders and looked reassuringly into her eyes. "Beverly she's going to be fine. I'll take good care of her."
She smiled feeling more at ease. "I know you will." She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you Jean-Luc."
********************
"Does it take you back
Is the vision intense"
Shriner's Park--Melissa Ethridge
They walked in silence to the holodeck, Picard trying to ignore the surprised looks on the faces of the crew members they passed. When they reached the holodeck the doors swished open to disclose a small lush green meadow edged with numerous trees. Tied to a hitching post near the doors was a grey Arabian and a black Highland pony each saddled and ready to go.
"Oh Mr. Jean-Luc he's beautiful," Elizabeth said as she stroked the pony's nose.
"I thought you'd like him. Come here and I'll show you how to...." But the little girl needed no help. Just as though she had been doing it all he life she swung up onto the pony's back with perfect grace. "Are you sure you've never done this before?"
The girl looked at him, ignorant as to why he had asked, and shook her head. "Nope, never."
Picard swung up onto his own mount and they were soon loping easily across the meadow. Riding came perfectly natural to Elizabeth and she had no trouble controlling the quiet pony. After several rounds in the meadow Picard led the way to a wide trail through the woods. They rode side by side in silence as he tried to think of a way to bring up the subject he had brought her here to discuss without frightening the child. She had come far from when she had first been found in his quarters. He and Beverly were gaining her trust a little more everyday and he didn't want this to set them back.
* Might as well just plunge right in. No use in putting it off any longer,* he thought before saying, "Lizzie (he had taken to calling her by this shortened version of her name) where is it that you came from?"
She avoided looking at him and instead glued her eyes to the piece of the pony's mane she was twisting in her fingers. "I already talked about this with Dr. Beverly. I don't know. I can't remember."
"I think you can."
"I can't! I can't remember and I don't want to!" Anger flashed in her eyes, and he was reminded of Beverly and her infamous Howard temper.
Picard reached over and took hold of the pony's reigns pulling it to a stop. They had reached a small pond so he dismounted and tied the horses to a nearby tree. Elizabeth dismounted as well and followed Jean-Luc to the edge of the pond where they stood quietly for a long while looking out over the still water.
Picard finally spoke, "Lizzie, I know it hurts to remember, but I need you to tell me. I need to know."
She looked up at him with wide frightened blue eyes that were filling with tears. "Do I have to?"
"I need to know," he repeated.
"All right." She sat down on the sandy ground and Picard did the same. "I don't know the name of the planet, but I'll tell you anything else you wanna know."
"The people there, do you know what kind they were? Do you know what they were called?"
She squinted as if the answer were there but, she just couldn't see it.
"If I name some do you think you would know which one it is?"
"Yes, I think so."
"Were they Romulan?"
She shook her head.
"Were they Klingon?"
Again she shook her head.
Picard closed his eyes dreading the answer to his next question. "Lizzie, were they...were they Cardassians?" He opened his eyes and looked down at her. Slowly, she nodded.
Picard could feel the anger growing inside of him as could Elizabeth. He dreaded this next question even more than the last. "Do you remember any of their names?"
She hesitated. Repressed memories were bubbling up and the anger welling up inside the Captain was frightening her. "You already know his name," she said quietly.
"Tell me. Tell me his name."
"Gul Madred." Her voice was low and when she said it she shrunk away from Jean-Luc. She could sense his struggle to control his anger. He had his eyes closed and was taking slow deep breaths.
Several minutes later he was able to control his anger enough to speak again. "What did he do to you?"
The memories she had been shoving away washed over her now and she began to tremble. "I was in a cell most of the time. It was small and dark and there was heavy metal door. Sometimes I was taken to another room. It was big and there was a desk and a chair and..."
"And four bright lights above the desk," he finished for her. He too was now trembling, but mostly with anger.
Elizabeth was not surprised that he knew. She had been able to feel it from him. "There was a lab too. I went there a lot. They did tests and experiments. That doctor was mean, not like Dr. Beverly."
"He hurt you didn't he? He beat you. They all did."
She nodded gravely.
Picard leap up and slammed his fist into the nearest tree. Elizabeth sat motionless. The rage she felt from him was paralysing. There was a distinct loud crack as the bones in his hand snapped. He leaned his head against the tree and clung to it as if it were the only thing keeping him standing.
It was a long time before he regained his composure. Then he had he ended the program and they headed for sickbay so Beverly could heal his broken hand.
"She'll go one more time down that lonesome road
Till she finds that turn off that leads back home"
One more Heartache--Blackhawk
*******************
"Something's on my mind
It's been for quite some time"
F.O.D.--Green Day
"Take it easy with that hand for a few days. It'll be sore for a while." Beverly released Jean-Luc's hand and looked him square in the eye. "Now would you like to tell me what caused you to slug a tree?"
Jean-Luc told her all that Elizabeth had told him. When he finished Beverly's face was ashen. She then flew into a rage.
"I can't believe they would do that! She's just a little girl. Where the hell did they get the idea that they could treat children like that! How dare they take a little child and do experiments on her!"
Jean-Luc grabbed her by the arms. She was near tears. "Beverly, calm down."
"Don't you tell me to calm down." She tried to break away from him, but he held tight.
"There's nothing you can do about it now. You need to calm down you're scaring her."
Beverly looked at the little girl who was trembling, she could feel her fear. She collapsed into Jean-Luc's arms and began sobbing. He held her tightly until she calmed down.
Jean-Luc decided it was time to tell her. "Beverly...Beverly I think she's your daughter."
"What? That's impossible."
"When you really stop and think about it, it almost makes sense." He began to explain. "The temporal disturbance. It is possible that it opened a hole in time and that Elizabeth was transported through that hole from some time in the future. She said the Cardassians were performing experiments. Well perhaps one of them had to do with, with time and she was somehow thrown back in time during one of those experiments."
"But how does that make her mine? Are you saying that sometime in the future I'll give birth to a daughter who will be taken from me by Cardassians? That's crazy Jean-Luc."
"It may be, but it's the best explanation anyone has been able to come up with yet."
Beverly stood dumbfounded trying to take it all in. She looked at the little girl and for the first time noticed the resemblance. Elizabeth looked exactly the same as she had at that age only without the red hair. As crazy as it sounded it was beginning to make sense to her too. "And the experiments would explain why she can sense things too."
Jean-Luc nodded. "I wonder who the lucky man is that got to be her father."
Revelation showed on Beverly's face as she said, "You. It's you Jean-Luc. You're her father."
"Now lets not get carried away Beverly."
"I'm serious. Look at her. She acts just like you sometimes. She even has some of the same habits. And her hair. You had that same colour hair. And you felt the same thing I did, like she was familiar somehow. She can sense things from you and me, but not from anyone else. It's like she is connected to us. It would also explain why he took her. He wanted to hurt you...to get back at you."
He was silent for a long time as it sunk into his brain. He ran a hand over his smooth head. "Well if she inherited my hair colour let's just hope she didn't inherit my hairline as well."
They all laughed, even little Elizabeth.
********************
They left sickbay without any real destination. Jean-Luc and Beverly walked side by side down the corridor in contemplative silence not knowing what to say. They were each trying to figure out the next move, which somehow seemed to escape them. Elizabeth, who had been trailing along behind them, couldn't understand why they didn't see what was so obvious to her (and just about everyone else). Feeling rather bold she marched up and pushed herself between the two adults. Then, ever so cautiously, She reached up and took hold of their hands. Beverly and Jean-Luc looked down at the little girl. If she no longer felt the need to be afraid then why should they? Their eyes met over her head and they smiled. Suddenly there they were standing in the middle of the corridor kissing with the little girl standing between them holding their hands, and they knew.
Epilogue
"You told me you loved me
That's all I believe"
I Want to Come Over--Melissa Ethridge
3 months later
With the help of Deanna Troi and her parents (Beverly and Jean-Luc as the tests had confirmed) Elizabeth Beverly Picard's nightmares were beginning to subside and she was getting over what had happened in her past. The memories would still haunt her now and then, as they always would, but one look at her newlywed parents was all it took to make her smile again.
"Out of the ashes alive and free
No longer a slave to a memory
Got the rest of my life right out in front of me"
Like There Ain't No Yesterday--Blackhawk
********************
Jean-Luc Picard walked into his quarters and looked around for his wife who was nowhere to be seen. "Beverly?" Then all he could see was a blur of red and blue as Beverly pounced on him knocking him to the floor. She kissed him passionately and began tugging at his uniform. "Beverly do you really think it's wise to do this with a child around?" he said when they stopped for air.
"Deanna took her to the holodeck and then to dinner. They won't be back for a while."
Beverly smiled at her husband and pulled him to his feet. He followed her to the bedroom with a dazed look and lecherous grin on his face. He had a wife who loved him and a daughter who had come to absolutely adore him. Life couldn't be better.
The End (or just the beginning)