The BLTS Archive - Farther Down the Road
Second in the Road series
by Kerri Bush  (Blondiee17@aol.com)

---

Disclaimer:  Paramount collects the taxes on this road.  I
help these characters pass the tollbooth without paying.

---

The sun had set seconds ago over the Pacific Ocean.  Two
people, a young man and a younger woman, stood on the
ancient Golden Gate Bridge.

The man was a native to this world.  He was as full of life
and joyous as he was hard working and committed to his
career.

The woman was from another world.  Which world, she herself
could not say.  She was as sullen and independent as the man
was joyous, and was even harder working than he.

Despite the thoughts of many, they stood on the bridge
united for life.

He was overjoyed at their union.  She was not.  But she was
never overjoyed.  He wondered if she had ever been.

"Bev?"

She turned and looked at him without speaking, her eyes cold
and hard.  She was beautiful, yet she never smiled.  Had she
ever smiled for him?  "You okay?"

Was she okay?  How do you answer a question truthfully when
every answer is a lie?  "Splendid."

"Are you cold?"

He could go on and on with these meaningless questions.  Why
did he insist on her answering?  "No."

He rarely got more than a one word answer from her.  She
spoke only when she was spoken to.  A perfect lady.

He did truly love her, but why did she have to make loving
her so difficult?

"Well, Jack, how does it feel to be a chained ball?"  The
male voice came from behind them.  Jack knew instantly it
was the captain speaking.

Jack turned to face him with a large grin on his face.
"Jean-Luc.  Glad you made it, though a little late."

The captain laughed.  "It does appear I've missed the
ceremony, doesn't it?  This must be the new Mrs. Crusher."

"Dr. Crusher."  Her voice was steely, but wasn't it always?
Jack had grown accustomed to it over the past months.  She
looked at the captain, but made an effort not to look too
long.  She recognized him from somewhere...

Jean-Luc recovered quickly.  "Dr. Crusher.  Please pardon my
mistake."

"Forgiven."

Her hair was long and fiery, her figure slim, her skin pale.
She was beautiful by any definition, but what caught the
captain's attention was her eyes.  Her eyes were cold orbs
that showed nothing but harshness, mirrors that only
reflected hurt and pain.  He recognized her from
somewhere...

Jack took his wife's hand.  "Bev, honey, this is Captain
Picard.  I told you about him."

"Yes, you did."  She looked at him again.  He was stern,
firm as a captain should be.  His gray eyes were piercing,
yet gentle.

Where had she seen him before?

Picard withdrew his earlier thoughts about her.  Cold did
not even begin to describe her.  Icy, frigid, or heartless
were more like it.

Where had he seen her before?

"Dr. Crusher, may I ask where you are from?"  Maybe this
would clue him in as to where he had met her.

"I assure you Captain, that is none of your concern."  The
answer was abrupt.  Unsure of what to say, Picard kept
quiet.  The threesome stood in an uncomfortable silence.
Jack spoke first.

"Beverly, can you at least pretend to like my friend?
Please?"  Jack tried to make his tone sound joking, but it
did not come out quite right, and it infuriated his wife.

Beverly whipped around to face her husband, her eyes flashed
blue fire.  "Don't you even start telling me what to do or
who to like, Jack Crusher!"

"Beverly, I didn't-"

"Why should you even care if I like your captain or not?
How I feel about him isn't going to affect your feelings."

"I want you to like him.  He's my best friend!  You've
barely met him, and you already decided you don't like him.
Why do you have to be so unreasonable?"

"I am NOT being unreasonable!"

The captain flinched, he did not mean to cause the newlyweds
to fight.  "Perhaps I should go..."

"I think that would be a good idea, Jean-Luc," Jack told
him.  "Bev's kind of in a bad mood for some reason.  Honey,
you're supposed to be *happy* on your wedding day."

"In case you haven't noticed, it is now night!"

Jack rolled his eyes at his wife's stubbornness, perhaps
marrying her wasn't such a good idea.  "I'll call you
tomorrow, Jean-Luc.  Maybe then Bev'll be in a more
receptive mood."

She tossed her head.  "There is nothing wrong with my mood.
Lieutenant.  Goodnight, Captain."  She practically spat the
words out.  She stormed off the bridge in the general
direction of Starfleet Headquarters, where the couple's
apartment was located.

Jean-Luc and Jack watched her go.  "I'm sorry if I caused
tension, Jack."

Jack shrugged.  "Don't be.  She's been on edge all day.  She
really is a nice person, after you get used to her
personality."

"What personality?"  the captain questioned.

"Exactly.  Her grandmother told me she's had some hard
times, but she wouldn't tell me what she'd been through.  I
hope she'll open up to me."

"I do too, else your marriage is going to be hell."

Jack laughed at his comment.  "It'll be fine.  Probably.
Maybe.  I hope.  I'd better go on home and make sure the
walls are still standing.  Goodnight, Jean-Luc."

"Goodnight Jack."  As Jack Crusher walked off, Jean-Luc
Picard once again thought about Jack's wife, and tried to
recall where he had seen Beverly Crusher before.

---

The apartment was dark when Jack arrived.  He found his wife
on the balcony.  As he got closer, he saw the tears
streaming down her face.

"Bev?  Honey, I'm sorry.  I didn't mean it to sound like
that."

She waved her hand.  "It isn't that Jack.  I just...I just
need some time.  Go on to bed."

Jack stood his ground.  "Baby-"

"Please, Jack."

Her expression made him comply.  She looked so lost, so
helpless.  He kissed her forehead.  "I love you, Beverly.
Let me help."

"Not now, Jack.  I'm not ready."  Will I ever be ready?

Jack left her on the balcony.  She sat there for hours,
crying softly, letting out the sorrow, the fears, the anger,
and the anguish out of body through tears.

She tried to determine why she felt this terrible dislike
for Jack's captain.  At the same time, she tried to remember
where she had seen Jean-Luc Picard before.

---

The End