Holding On For You

[Saoirse_Granger]

Hello again!

It's me, Saoirse, the annoying writer that writes baaad stories.

This story was written last Christmas, which should explain the out of season festiveness. It is meant to be set in Season 2 of TNG, while Beverly is away at Starfleet Medical. But it worked out differently, so it is now set some point between First Contact and Insurrection. The eagle eyed among you will notice that the stardates are all season 2 episodes. I don't get the stardate thing, so I nicked them from the trek website.

I'll post it in bits, to see if you like it before I wate my time putting up more

Disclaimer: This story is mine. The characters are (sadly) Paramounts. I'll give them back when I'm done. Honest.

[Saoirse_Granger]

Holding on for you

Sunshine fades to grey
The second I’m away
Minutes turn to hours
Without you
Time keeps marching on
Now summer’s been and gone
And I’m still here alone
Still waiting
~
Stardate: 42073.1
From: Dr. Beverly Crusher, Starfleet Medical
To: Capt. Jean-Luc Picard, USS Enterprise

Dear Jean-Luc,
Not a moment here passes when I don’t think of you, or of life on the Enterprise. When I took up Starfleet’s offer, I had forgotten quite how boring the fat cats at Starfleet Medical were. I sit behind a desk, twiddling my thumbs, and letting inattentive/disobedient students away with blue murder, all day, every day. Unfortunately, Earth has a d�j� vu quality for me.
Anyway, less of me. How are you? How’s Wesley? I hope he’s not done anything drastic. And don’t forget to just tell him to shut up. While maybe as clever as Data, Wesley’s failing is that he has no ‘off’ button. Aren’t I awful? I do hope *Dr* Pulaski hasn’t killed too many people yet, and has not thrown my ‘A coffee an hour keeps the doctor awake’ poster out of an airlock yet. I understand that kind of light-heartedness irritates her. One man’s trash…
There’s so much more I could say, but it can wait.
Miss you and love you,
Beverly
~
Stardate: 42193.6
From: Capt. Jean-Luc Picard, USS Enterprise
To: Dr. Beverly Crusher, Starfleet Med.

Dear Beverly,
Thank you for your letter. It’s enlightening to discover that someone does really care.
I’m fine, thank you, so are Wesley and the rest of the crew. Will wants souvenirs. I think I have seen your ‘A coffee an hour…’ poster, possibly in one of the drawers in your desk. I may be mistaken, as it could be in small pieces being used as mug mats in 10-Forward.
I don’t mind if you have problems you’d like to share. It’s never a good idea to keep our emotions pent up, as I (and the bulkhead) know only too well. Just be thankful that ‘The Dancing Head of Starfleet Medical’ doesn’t have the same ring to it.
I have realised now how much I value the time I spend with you. Breakfast with Data just isn’t the same, and my commlink seems too quiet. I just want you to know that I truly appreciate the time I spend with you.
Love,
Jean-Luc
~
I’m on my own
A million miles away
Temptation all around
I won’t be long
So please be strong
‘Cause I’m holding on for you
~
Stardate: 42286.3
From: Dr. Beverly Crusher, Starfleet Medical
To: Capt. Jean-Luc Picard, USS Enterprise

Dear Jean-Luc,
Thank you for your letter, and kind words of support. I guess you never realise how much you love something until it is taken away. That is certainly the way I feel.
Rest assured that Dr Pulaski will get a piece of my mind when she next has the misfortune to meet me. The fact will still unfortunately remain that she will have the pieces of my poster
My days have brightened considerably since I was sent a code by Wesley, allowing me to access the secret Starfleet poker network through the computer terminal in my office. Unfortunately none of the other heads of department are as good as Riker, so I win quite a lot. Not that I’m particularly good, but I’d have a small fortune piled up here if the money I’d won wasn’t just a few pixels of colour on a screen.
I walk around expecting to see turbolifts, or you sitting on the bridge. I always catch myself thinking ‘I’ll need to tell Deanna…’ or ‘I wonder if Data…’ Then I remember where I am, and go back to daydreaming about home.
I’ve heard through the grapevine that a replacement might be found for me by Christmas. So I’ll hope to see you in about 3 months. Goodness, I must be so bad at everything!
Much love,
Beverly
~
Stardate: 42402.7
From: Capt. Jean-Luc Picard, USS Enterprise
To: Dr. Beverly Crusher, Starfleet Med.

Dear Beverly,
It’s great to hear that you might be back with us soon. It’s strange seeing so much hostility towards Data. Thank god you’re still the one who knows where his off switch is.
I mentioned not keeping emotions pent up, so I’ll write them down before I burst a blood vessel.
I miss you, Beverly, and I really mean that. I love you like I’ve never loved anyone before, even Vash, Marta, and Anij. I loved you the moment I set eyes on you. I know I’ve hurt you in the past, and I’m sorry. My world is empty without you.
I suppose I’ll see you around Christmas. Dammit, that’s another present to buy! Just kidding. I won’t get too excited, though, as Starfleet doesn’t like keeping arrangements like this.
Love forever,
Jean-Luc
~

[Voy_Girl]

That was not bad!

[PicardsTrueLove]

::glows with shippiness:: Aaaaaawwww!!!!

[Saoirse_Granger]

What's the not got to do with it? Lol, does that mean it was awful? Hope not.

I'll just torture you all by posting more....

[Saoirse_Granger]

~
Trust is all it takes
But we all make mistakes
‘Cause we are only human
Let’s face it
I struggle through the day
Pretend that I’m okay,
I make believe that you’re here
Beside me
~
Stardate: 42477.2
From: Dr. Beverly Crusher, Starfleet Medical
To: Capt. Jean-Luc Picard, USS Enterprise

Dear Jean-Luc,
I’m so glad that we feel the same way. I love you perhaps more than I loved Jack, and I think you’ll know just how much that is.
I do really miss you, and it’s beginning to take its toll. One day last week, I was in my office, reading your letter again and again. I started to cry, and the Depute walked in. He asked me if I was all right (I wish that phrase had never been invented – what a stupid and obvious question!), and I told him I was ‘Just fine’. Of course my worst incident was when I replicated tap shoes to cheer myself up. I was dancing around the office, and some unruly students were sent to me, and I had to try to walk quietly to the desk. They obviously heard me – when I let them in, they were looking at me like I was an alien. Which I am, to them. I came from *space*.
Anyway, there’s padds up to my ears, so I really should get some of it done. And I know just what to get you for Christmas.
Love you always,
Beverly
~
Stardate: 42437.5
From: Capt. Jean-Luc Picard, USS Enterprise
To: Dr. Beverly Crusher, Starfleet Med.

Dear Beverly,
What exciting things you have been up to! The most exciting thing we’ve done is change course to avoid an asteroid shower.
Interestingly enough, though, I have been ‘goofing’ in a similar fashion. The whole bridge crew saw me stare at the blank view screen for 15 minutes. I also went to sickbay, expecting to find you, and started calling Pulaski ‘Dr Crusher’ until she became convinced I was mentally unstable, gave me a hypospray and kept me detained.
Deanna’s asking for you, and so are most of the crew that have been treated by Pulaski. We’ve all realised how truly amazing you are, because all we get from Pulaski is treatment and a kick out the door. You make our world a nicer place.
I think Wesley misses you. He actually said no when Geordi asked him if he wanted to do a warp field experiment. And that’s really strange.
I’ll have to love you and leave you, as Will and Deanna have just turned up at the door, probably to discuss my sanity and or mental health.
Love,
Jean-Luc
~
I’m on my own
A million miles away
Temptation all around
I won’t be long
So please be strong
‘Cause I’m holding on for you
~
Stardate: 42494.8
From: Dr. Beverly Crusher, Starfleet Medical
To: Capt. Jean-Luc Picard, USS Enterprise

Dear Jean-Luc,
Poor Wesley. Send him love. And say hello to everyone for me. The professors have finally realised that a medical information goldmine is sitting right under their noses – me. They’ve doubled the number of lectures I have to do, which means less paperwork. Which I don’t mind. I mentioned that you were my captain, and a load of them asked me for your autograph. I said no, don’t worry. But talking to a room full of lovesick twenty-somethings where most of the male members seem to end up staring at me and not listening isn’t particularly funny. I suppose I should take it as a compliment that they think I’m young enough for them to stand a chance.
But of course they don’t, because you’re the one I love. Just two months till I see you again, but I might stay here for a few days, to visit friends. I need a break. And that’s just what I was meant to be getting planetside.
I keep remembering when I first met you, Jack and Walker in the Mizzenmast. I was there a few nights ago, and it dragged up too many memories. I ended up reading a whole novel in my apartment, and got to sleep about 2am. The Mizzenmast was just too haunting.
Better go, someone at the door. Probably to complain about the heap of padds next to me. Oops…
� bient�t,
Bev
~
Stardate: 42506.5
From: Capt. Jean-Luc Picard, USS Enterprise
To: Dr. Beverly Crusher, Starfleet Med.

Dear Beverly,
Two months seems like so long. There might be a slight problem. Admiral Nechayev wants Enterprise to stop the Prytt from doing something to the Kes, and in two months we may be in the middle of a major battle if the peace talks fall through. Sorry – we *will* be in the middle of a major battle *when* the peace talks fall through. So I’m not having you cruising back here in a shuttlecraft, right into the middle of a Prytt ship. Not over my dead body.
Talking of dead bodies, Pulaski killed someone. Well, on purpose, on an away mission. I believe it was a Kes. She did only kill one. Opposed to about 10 from Worf. It took her about 20 seconds to aim the phaser. I think you could have wiped out a race in that amount of time. Are you not beginning to feel bad that you were replaced by such a dimwit?
I was thinking of Jack and Walker not so long ago. You were lucky to have met such an amazing man. You lot were my best friends, but you probably know more about me than I do. Doesn’t every doctor?
Wesley had a little, um…accident. He was doing a warp bubble experiment in the cargo bay, and a couple of food crates went missing. They are no longer on the ship, yet they were not chucked out of an airlock. Geordi thinks it’s like the last warp bubble incident – the crates were in the warp bubble, and the bubble collapsed. But it’s not too bad, the boxes weren’t particularly important. In total, just two hundred kilos of chocolate were lost. I think we’ll leave Deanna to settle this one. After all, in her own words ‘Chocolate is a serious thing’.
Love,
Jean-Luc

[Voy_Girl]

[Saoirse_Granger]

I know I know!I just thought you might be making fun of all the formatting I put in....Though I knew you wouldn't do such a thing....

Thanks for all the feedback...

[Chakotays Angel]

Beautiful work are you going to add more to it. Jean-luc and Beverly are one of my many favorite Trek Couples.

[Saoirse_Granger]

I'm adding I'm adding. But it's worth saying that I have never watched season 2 of TNG (any of it) so all you Pulaski fans should go drown yourselves. J/K, Just don't tkae offence at all the stuff I'm hurling at Pulaski (I've had some stick from the ppl on Fanfiction.net....)

Here's more.

[Saoirse_Granger]

~
You are the only one that I can truly believe in
So don’t ever think that I would ever deceive you baby
Without a doubt you are my rhyme and my reason
And I won’t let you down
~
Stardate: 42523.7
From: Dr. Beverly Crusher, Starfleet Medical
To: Capt. Jean-Luc Picard, USS Enterprise

Dear Jean-Luc,
I must say I won’t want to be in Wesley’s shoes when Deanna finds out. She’s bad enough when she’s angry, but angry *and* deprived of chocolate could be disastrous.
Wow. I’m impressed with Pulaski’s shooting. She must be *very* skilled in that department. More seriously, this Prytt thing. I’ve been told I’ll definitely be out of here by December. I suppose we’ll need to kill you and surgically remove you from *the chair* before you’ll let me back. I can look after myself, you know. But without you, I’m just a pathetic marionette. I need someone to stop me doing something seriously drastic. Anyway, are you going to be near a starbase of some sort, and you can pick me up? I wouldn’t like ‘cruising back here in a shuttlecraft’ myself, thank you very much.
I can’t wait to be back in your arms. Just five weeks, more if the Prytt crap up. I’ll come back the moment you tell me to, no sooner, no later. You have my word.
C’est la vie (just kidding),
Bev
~
Stardate: 42568.8
From: Capt. Jean-Luc Picard, USS Enterprise
To: Dr. Beverly Crusher, Starfleet Med.

Dear Beverly,
I’m glad we could arrange something, we usually end up falling out over things like this. I’ll let you know more about Wesley and Deanna’s wrath when I hear it. Not that you don’t like chocolate yourself, but you don’t mind the replicated sort.
I believe in you Bev, and I know you can look after yourself.
I had a brainwave about getting you back on the ship. We could persuade Starfleet that you’re a ‘valued negotiator’ who could be crucial to a peace treaty with the Prytt, they might let you back sooner. How does that sound? It would mean getting you here before we start the mission, so you’d only have another 4 weeks in hell. We should be around DS3, maybe we could get you there.
I know you wanted to visit friends, and Starfleet might not let you off on shoreleave after being planetside for so long. But we can always try. You could fake a nervous breakdown, and insist you need a holiday for your stress. I think you have some shoreleave time still to use before the end of the year, so you’re entitled to it.
I’m being called to the bridge. I hope it’s something important, like a new dimension, or a wormhole to a better place. Maybe Wesley has hacked the computer system. Or Deanna has realised who is responsible for the sudden chocolate ration…
Ton ami,
Jean-Luc
~
I’m on my own
A million miles away
Temptation all around
It won’t be long
So please be strong
I’m holding on for you
~
Stardate: 42609.1
From: Dr. Beverly Crusher, Starfleet Medical
To: Capt. Jean-Luc Picard, USS Enterprise

Dear Jean-Luc,
Don’t say things like that! We’ll probably end up falling out now, knock wood.
Replicated chocolate only tastes a bit different if you’ve not eaten it for ages. But you get used to it.
You’re right (am I actually saying that?). I *am* a valued negotiator. Just kidding. The sooner I get home, the better. Even if it means taking out a few Prytt with a bat’leth, or some karate. That is, if they accept the negotiator story. I think I can make DS3, but I’ll need a date. That was a bit obvious of me, wasn’t it? Must be all the fresh air doing things to my brain.
I hope Wesley hasn’t crashed the computer. I don’t think he has though, as only Barclay has managed to do that, and he had an IQ of 3000 at that time. But if he has, you have my permission to throw him in the brig. You know I’m kidding. I do love him really. He once told me that you were scary when you were angry. Bet you’ve never heard Wes say he’s scared.
Places to go, people to lecture,
Love,
Beverly
~
Stardate: 42625.4
From: Capt. Jean-Luc Picard, USS Enterprise
To: Dr. Beverly Crusher, Starfleet Med.

Dear Beverly,
I’ve spoken to the admirals, and they were a bit annoyed at getting your replacement in sooner. Start packing, you’re coming home!
Wesley hadn’t crashed the computer, we were hailed by a ship through a wormhole. They just wanted to know what timeline we were on. They came through, and went back again, I’m not sure why.
Just two weeks until Pulaski gets off this ship. And of course, you get back on. So we’ll pick you up at DS3, Stardate 42686.4. And Starfleet Command won’t stop us.
A bient�t,
Jean-Luc
~
Stardate: 42679.2
From: Dr. Beverly Crusher, Starfleet Medical
To: Capt. Jean-Luc Picard, USS Enterprise
Dear Jean-Luc,
I’ve been given permission to leave now, and I’m hitching a ride to DS3 with the Kearsarge. I’ll meet you on the Enterprise.
Can’t wait to see you,
Beverly
~

[Voy_Girl]

[PicardsTrueLove]

Lol well personally I liked Pulaski: I thought she was a sharp woman with a dry wit and great medical skill. However she didn't quite fit in with the Epnterprise crew because they were significantly more cliquey than they liked to admit.

[Saoirse_Granger]

~
I’m on my own
Feeling blue
Miles from home
I’m lost without you
But I’ll be strong
Keep holding on
Holding on for you
~
She sat on her suitcase in a mess hall in Deep Space 3. It was 0600 hours. She wasn’t taking any chances on missing the Enterprise, and she would stay there all night if she had to. But she knew they’d not go away without her.
The first bridge watch had just come on duty, and they were nearly there when Jean-Luc, Will and Deanna’s shift started. Jean-Luc was tetchy, and Will and Deanna knew why.
The senior officers gathered in the transporter room at 0900 hours. They said goodbye to Katherine, and she stepped on to the transporter pad, and dematerialised.
‘Enterprise, one to beam up,’ Beverly’s voice sounded over the commlink.
‘Go ahead, doctor.’
Beverly materialised in the blue beam, and was greeted with hugs and kisses.
‘It’s great to have you back,’ Deanna said, and hugged her again.
‘It’s great to be back. It’s a hellhole down there!’ she laughed.
‘We missed you,’ said Jean-Luc, and he kissed her for perhaps longer than he should have.
‘I missed insanity – sorry, sanity,’ she said.
‘Well, Kes-Prytt’s not getting any nearer,’ Will said. ‘Let’s go.’
They left, leaving Jean-Luc and Beverly alone.
‘I missed you,’ she said.
‘I love you,’ he said, and kissed her again. ‘And you’ll get your reward.’
‘Is that sweet talk I hear, Jean-Luc?’ she teased.
‘Not really, but you’ll find out.’ He took her arm and escorted her to the turbolift.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Christmas day
All the presents had been given out, and Jean-Luc, Will, Deanna and Beverly were unwrapping them.
‘Chocolate!’ squealed Deanna. ‘And that’s beautiful, Beverly, thank you!’ she held up her new dress. ‘What do you think, Will?’
‘Very you, Dee. You’ve got good taste, Beverly’
‘Thank you. Jean-Luc told me about the little problem with the chocolate…’
‘Wesley’s lucky to have his head,’ said Will. ‘Cards!’
‘They’re a little something I found in San Fran. Each suit is a quadrant, and the numbers are all planets.’
‘Great!’
‘Ah! Caviar! Trust you, Beverly, to know I was running low!’
Beverly laughed. ‘Well…um…it was me. I discovered it had medicinal purposes and kinda…stole some.’
‘And…and another Shakespeare volume.’
‘We’ll have to tell you, Jean-Luc, that we all gave you Shakespeare because, well, the one you have, the binding’s gone mouldy and it really smells,’ said Deanna.
‘Ah well, it was going to fall apart some day. But you must have gone to some trouble finding books, with paper…’
‘Antiques, Jean-Luc, antique shops…’ laughed Will.
‘I must try some Shakespeare with the theatrical group,’ pondered Beverly. ‘Interested, Jean-Luc?’
‘I might give it a thought.’
‘Grubs up, people,’ said Will, from the replicator.
‘Merry Christmas!’
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Later that night, in his quarters, Beverly and Jean-Luc were sitting on the sofa.
‘Ah yes, and there’s a little something I forgot to give you…’ Jean-Luc said, and he pulled a couple of pieces of paper out of his pocket.
‘Risa! Jean-Luc, thank you! I’ll definitely get my shoreleave now.’ She leaned over and kissed him.
‘You know, I’ve waited so long for this moment.’ Jean-Luc said as they broke apart.
‘I love you, Jean-Luc.’
‘Come on, let’s get some sleep.’
It was worth the wait.
~
I’m holding on for you…

[Saoirse_Granger]

That's all folks! Hope you enjoyed it!

[Voy_Girl]

Don't worry...

[Voy_Girl]

Don't worry... :O)

[ussshorty]

awwwwwwwwwwww its a typical romantic
i loved it, i like the way that it wasnt one story it was letters and the whole christmas thing i love it.

[Saoirse_Granger]

awww, shucks! I never knew I was so popular!!! ::lets it go to her head completely and falls out a window::