Steam. Beverly sighed as she reset the last hypospray and laid it in its rack. It had been a hard two days. The battle was long over; they had prevailed, again, but the casualties had been incoming for hours. Everything from minor to major surgery, non-stop for two days. Now she could return to her quarters and relax. Finally. She wandered through the corridors, idly thinking what to do about dinner. She had planned…two days ago, to dine with the Captain. She was fast approaching the time when she would be ready to take their long-standing relationship to a new, more intimate level and she had intended to tell him, but tonight she was too tired. Maybe tomorrow. She entered her cabin and stood, her feet unmoving as she tiredly tried to decide…dinner or bath? Her mind was still debating when the door annunciator sounded. “Come in.” The doors whispered open to reveal Jean-Luc Picard, dressed in civilian clothes and carrying a bottle of wine. “Jean-Luc, what are you doing here?” He smiled gently and tilted his handsome head. “Well, if you let me come in, I’ll tell you.” She chuckled and made a sweeping motion with her arm. “By all means, do come in.” He stepped into the room and closed the distance between them. “Beverly…you’ve been on duty for well over four shifts. Yes, I know about the casualties and I also know your dedication to your job precludes things such as rest, but really Beverly…four shifts?” She sighed exasperatingly, pushing her red hair out of her eyes. “Jean-Luc I couldn’t leave with so many cases to see to. You were one of them for God’s sake! Don’t you…” He held up his hand in mock surrender. “Stop Beverly. All I’m saying is that you need to take care of yourself and, to that end, I’m here to see you eat a good meal and retire to a decent night’s rest. Alright?” Arms akimbo, she glared defiantly at him, them lost all her ire as his gentle hazel eyes begged her indulgence. Shoulders sagging, she bowed her head and sighed. “Ok, you win. I’m too bushed to argue.” He laughed softly. “Now there’s a first. Come on, you go change and get into a hot bath and I’ll organize dinner.” She smiled and ran a finger down his face, nodding, then left him to carry out his instructions. The delightful scent of roses filled the steamy atmosphere of the bathroom as she luxuriated in the hot water. Bubbles floated on the surface, barely disturbed as she sighed with heartfelt bliss. The gentle knock on the door only just registered in her conscience. “Are you decent Beverly?” came his gentle baritone. “Hmm mm” she dreamily replied. He stood beside the bath looking down at the only woman he had ever truly loved. Her lustrous hair was piled up on her head as she reclined gracefully under the rafts of bubbles. His lack of movement forced her to open her eyes. The depths of love and desire she saw in his dark hazel gaze froze her breath in her throat. Neither moved for some moments, until Jean-Luc remembered why he’d entered her sanctuary.
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