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Blind Chess	By : madradena Category: Star Trek > The Next Generation Views: 1334 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: Disclaimer: I do not own ST:TNG, nor the characters. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 15
- 16
- 17
Emma walked to sickbay feeling completely down in the dumps. It wasn't enough that she'd have to meet her husband later that day, but it seemed that making peace with Data proved to be a lot more difficult than she'd ever have thought. What else would this day bring? she wondered as she stepped into sickbay.
She was startled by a furious Doctor Powell who literally jumped at her the moment she entered: "Jones! When do you think you're walking in to your workplace?! Where have you been for half a day?!"
Emma blinked wearing a really dumb expression on her face for a moment - did she screw up and mixed up the dates? - then she furrowed her brows: "I have a day-off today." she told him finally a little unsure herself.
Doctor Powell was not embarrassed by his outright mistake, he crossed his arms in front of his chest "Then it means you're in need for medical attention, right? Otherwise you have no business in sickbay." he hissed.
Emma mirrored his posture and folded her arms too "Now that you mention it. Do you have anything against a pain in the ass?"
Powell seemed to blow up at this, and he stepped very close to her "You really think you can get away with everything just because the CMO is your friend. Well, just for you to know, she has her own bosses too."
Emma smirked, and in the corner of her eye, she could see that some of the staff in sickbay were actually watching them. She snorted "Just go ahead, try to report Beverly to her bosses. They'll surely believe a jealous little man! You are accusing Beverly with favouritism?! You, when everybody knows that you want the same thing for your own daughter? Awfully credible, Sir."
Powell's face seemed to turn purple at this. He tried everything to be subtle about his plans in bringing his daughter on board two months ago. The job was then given to Emma and as time passed by, he was more than frustrated that all his attempts at making her life as hard as possible failed. He never thought that anyone was aware of the fact that he held a grudge because of his daughter - he didn't know that Starfleet Medical notified Beverly about the requested transfer, who then told Emma...
"What's going on here?" Beverly came out of one of the labs and stepped to the two stubborn mules.
Emma stared into Powell's eyes for a moment longer then shrugged resignedly "You know what? You might get what you wish sooner than you think..." she told the man who just looked at her puzzled and bewildered. She then turned and walked out slouching.
Beverly looked at Powell and then the rest of the medical team questioningly, but then all of a sudden, everybody seemed to be completely wrapped up in their jobs - Powell stood there seemingly very uncomfortable. Beverly didn't feel like listening to his flood of complains about Emma, so she just turned and went after her friend.
She didn't have to go too far, Emma went into her office next to sickbay and waited for her. Beverly found her there sitting on the couch, slouching, staring at the ground with a listless expression. She watched her friend for a moment longer then went to sit next to her.
They sat there in silence for a few moments, then Emma raised her head and looked at her "I should be shouting at you for keeping secrets from me. But I'm just too curious. Is the grumpy Frenchman as good in crumpling the bedclothes as he thinks he is?"
Bev put her forehead into her palms with a moan "Oh, please rather just shout at me for not telling you where we're going..."
Emma snorted "You're late with that, sweetie. I already took my anger about that out on Data. But thanks for the offer to be my mental punching bag. Next time, I'll remember to give you a call. Now, I'd rather like to hear details. If I couldn't acquire your assistance in getting drunk yesterday, at least I'd like to hear a good enough reason for it." Bev squinted at her seeming very embarrassed from behind her palms as she went on "Now my guess is that you finally hooked up with your gallant Captain. And with a detailed description, you could save your butt to be kicked for keeping it a secret from me!" she then crossed her legs and leaned back comfortably on the sofa "So out with it, sweetie. I'm all ears!"
Beverly leaned back too, dropping her hands on her lap and grimaced uncomfortably "Emma, I don't want to disappoint you, but you're just imagining things."
"Oh, do I?!" Em asked now with an irritated frown "I went to your quarters yesterday, and you didn't open up. I know you were inside, and your combadge was placed in DND mode. Correct me if I'm wrong but you don't happen to be locking yourself up into your quarters just because you're shy about watering the plants or watching a holo-vid. Judging by the evidence presented, your denial of the facts goes beyond insulting!" she told her in mock-indignation.
"Em, please, it's a bit more complicated than..."
"I understand it, if you want to keep it a secret from anybody else." Em cut in "I'd even promise not to tell Data about it - well, not that amongst the shouting we've been doing lately, there would be any space for gossiping. But what's such a big deal about this that you're so embarrassed about in front of ME? I've been rooting for the two of you for months!" she told her completely frustrated.
"That's exactly it!" Beverly cut in. Emma looked at her now really confused, and Bev sighed seemingly trying to take up the courage to tell her something big.
Em seeing her struggling, put her teasing aside for a moment, and put a gentle hand on her friend's shoulder "Hey..." she called softly, and Bev looked at her still seemingly very unsure of herself "We've been friends for decades. If you told me that you'd want to turn blond, I'd understand that too - my support'd be a bit low-key, but even I can't be perfect all of the time..." she said turning her palm up with a smile.
Bev chuckled shaking her head "Your modesty has always amazed me, dear."
Em shrugged "Well, don't tell me it's not soothing to know that there're things in the universe that don't change."
"I'm very relieved." Bev agreed and chuckled dryly.
"Swell. Now, spill it, cause curiosity is eating away at me, and Uncle Seth will be very disappointed, if he can only bring my remains for Ed to harass..."
Beverly smiled ruefully and bowed her head shrugging "Look, what I've told you is the truth... I've not 'hooked up' - as you say - with Jean-Luc."
Em opened her mouth incredulously to tell her not to pull her leg - but as she looked at her friend, she realized that Bev looked perfectly honest. "You really didn't..." she breathed stunned.
Bev shook her head "No..." she said silently.
"So then... who was with you in your quarters yesterday?" Emma asked really shocked.
Bev looked at her nonchalantly, trying to sound convincing "I never said there was anybody there with me in my quarters!"
Em rolled her eyes annoyed "You just locked yourself up because you're afraid the Wolf is gonna pay you a visit after eating Granny? C'mon Bev! You knew I would be coming to you. You knew it was me who rang your doorchime..."
"Okay, fine, fine! Just stop it!" Bev cut her off, giving in to her interrogation. She sighed and admitted on a low voice "It's Ensign Joffrey."
Emma blinked for a good few moments with a blank expression "That blond kid who got assigned to the Enterprise a month ago?"
"Yeah..." Bev nodded blushing embarrassed.
Emma took a few more moments to digest the information then looked into Bev's eyes again suspiciously "But you did ask for his ID before humping him, right? I would take it hard, if I had to bail you out of the brig for soliciting a minor."
Bev rolled her eyes irritated as she lay her forehead in her palm, but at the same time her lips curled up in a helpless smile "Oh, just go to hell!" she breathed.
Em shrugged trying to seem innocent but couldn't help the grin that crept on her features "I'm sorry, but he DOES seem young! Does his beard grow at all?"
Bev looked at her now really annoyed "Em, he's twenty-nine!"
"So he IS young!"
"He's an adult who is perfectly capable of deciding who he wants to be with. Besides, he was the one making the move on me, not reversed!"
Emma's grin was now from cheek to cheek "So. The good doctor got enchanted by the charms of a teen! Well-well-well, what do you know!"
Bev squinted at her "Look who's talking? Because Emma Jones' brain was not turned by a virtually teenager's charms, right? Because you were just immune to the fact that a young, innocent man was crazy about you. You just ignored it, right?"
"Hey-hey-hey, back-off, missy! It was a completely different situation!"
"Oh, was it."
"Yes, it was! I was never in love with a gallant Captain who was worshipping the ground I walked on. Even if I'm officially married and you're not, I've been more of a single than you've ever been in the last years! And you know that!"
"That doesn't matter now!"
"Why because you fell madly, passionately in love with the handsome Ensign - in a week?!"
"I never said that! ...We agreed that we wouldn't push each other into anything. No strings attached."
"Oh, I see now! So you're fooling around with the kid to make the grumpy Frenchman jealous! Brilliant tactics! But don't push it too hard, or you'll scare them both away!"
"No! Em! Understand it once and for all! Jean-Luc and I, we're never gonna be a couple! Ever!"
Emma blinked for a few moments at that. They've been discussing the cat-and-mouse relationship the Captain and Bev was in, and though Beverly was always embarrassed to admit her affection for Picard, after some interrogation, she would always confess her hopes. She'd never been so adamant about the opposite. Ever. "Why, Bev?" Emma asked shocked "What's changed?"
Beverly sighed feeling her heart sink and then gazed away remembering "After the premiere of Dreamland, we... There was a moment when I..." she shrugged slightly looking for words "I thought that if it didn't happen then, it never would. We... we were about to kiss and... and I know we both wanted it. And yet..." she grew silent not really knowing what to say.
Emma waited for her to go on, but as it was plain that Bev was lost in her thoughts, Em pushed her on after a few moments "What happened, Bev?" she asked on a soft voice.
Beverly looked at her as if waken from a dream and bowing her head she just shrugged confused "I don't know... We simply let go of each other."
Emma thought about it for a little while really stunned by this piece of news "Well... I'd never have guessed that my teenager android has more balls to get the girl he wants than the gallant Captain Picard." Beverly looked at her as she went on "When Data and I hooked up, we both had our fair share of doubts. But at the end of the day, even though he was barely more than a teenager in his emotions, he made up his mind. And so did I."
"That's exactly it, Em..." Beverly told her on a silent, regretful voice. Emma looked at her questioningly, and she went on "I think that Jean-Luc has made up his mind too." she looked into Emma's eyes, and her friend could very well see how hurt she was "I think he made a decision of never to pursue whatever our feelings dictate."
Emma looked at her gaping, stunned at this. After a few moments, when she was able to overcome her shock, she took Beverly's hand into hers "If it's so, the loss is his, and he's a real fool."
Bev sighed wincing "What if he's right?" At Emma's questioning gaze she went on explaining "We've been fantasizing about this for years, even decades! How could it possibly turn out good, if you go into a relationship with so many and so high expectations? We have every chance to fail, and then our friendship would be lost too. And he is perfectly right in trying to protect that."
Emma rolled her eyes "That's the lamest excuse I've ever heard you make up for a guy for being a loser!"
Bev frowned and took her hand away from hers, then stood and walked a good few meters from her. Emma stared at her surprised as Bev looked back at her really disappointed "You know what? This is exactly why I didn't want to talk about this with you. Why can't you just accept it? Why do you need to push this on?"
Em stood up frowning too "Because there's no point in trying to protect a guy, who is simply too cowardly to take up the risks in a relationship you've both been wanting for years."
"So then be it! He's a coward, and a loser, and I'm as much a cowardly loser as he is! And you were RIGHT! Feeling better now?" Beverly retorted and then turned away from her friend.
Emma stood there petrified for a moment watching her friend struggling to hide her tears. Then walked up to her and wordlessly turned her around and hugged her gently. Beverly let her. It was rare that Emma showed her affection through physical contact, and now Bev was really moved that for her she was willing to put aside her inhibitions. She hugged her friend gratefully.
After a long moment, Emma started to talk on a soft voice "It's not easy to give up loving somebody after such a long time. And it's even more difficult to do it alone." she pulled away and looked into Beverly's tear-filled eyes "I'm sorry for being a lousy friend whom you felt you couldn't talk to. Please, just ignore me, and talk to me if you need help. I'm here for you, Bev."
Beverly gazed away guiltily then back at her "I didn't mean it, Em. I was just..." she shook her head "I haven't been able to digest all of this myself. And saying it aloud..." she trailed off feeling really helpless.
"Makes it too real, right?" Emma finished for her.
Beverly nodded "It feels so final. Maybe hope is the most difficult thing to give up." Emma nodded thoughtfully, and Bev tightened her embrace around her for a moment "Forget what I said. You're a very good friend. Even if it's difficult, your making me talk does help a lot."
Emma smiled relieved "Then I'll make you talk a lot, sweetie! From now on, about the gallant Ensign."
Beverly chuckled and rolled her eyes playfully "Oh, be careful what you wish for." she told her snifling.
They let go of each other "Come on, Bev, I told you I want details! So how did he make that move?"
- 15
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- 17
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Blind Chess