Title: whatever the price, i’ll pay (for you)
Fandom: Star Trek: Picard
Pairing: Beverly Crusher/Jean-Luc Picard
Rating: Gen
Length: 370 words
Content notes: Spoilers up to the season 2 finale
Author notes: A possibility of something that could happen in season 3 (but probably not). Title comes from Suite Madame Blue by Styx.
Summary: Picard’s return to the 24th century brings with it some changes in the timeline of events, and someone he thought was lost forever may not be so lost after all.



Q had told Picard to let go of the past and accept love. When he returned and asked Laris for a second chance at being together, he had not counted on the past appearing just when he’d expected it the least.

Her hair had gone fully grey and she wore a different uniform, but her eyes were still the same brilliant shade of blue.

“Hello Jean-Luc,” she said warmly.

“Beverly,” he breathed, not daring to believe the reality of the situation.

“What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost,” she joked with a small grin.

“In a way, I feel like I have.”

Her smile faded as she saw the pain in Picard’s eyes.

“Tell me.”

——

When Picard had left the 24th century, Starfleet records showed that Beverly Crusher had been killed in action. The USS Pasteur had been directed to Mars to respond to the synth attacks. Beverly, despite her status as a captain, had insisted on going down to the planet to aid the wounded.

Picard had been on Vashti when he got the call about the attacks. He and Beverly had not spoken in some time and when he learned of her death, he felt as if a part of himself had died along with her. Despite himself, he knew he’d always hold a spot in his heart for the doctor.

When Picard thought of Beverly, he always pictured her as she was all those years ago on the Enterprise. Flaming red locks of hair and a pair of determined eyes. He pictured her walking in the hallways, that blue lab coat she insisted on wearing flowing behind her.

Seeing her now in front of him so different and yet so very much the same, Picard was unsettled. Had they really been able to change things that much?

He looked into her eyes and saw a sea of worry. He’d seen that look a few times before. A memory of a kiss in his Ready Room, one that only he remembered, came to his mind, and he shook his head.

“Over some tea,” he finally replied, inviting Beverly in to the house.

A smile returned to her face and Picard found himself falling once again.