Disclaimer: ST:TNG doesn't belong to me. Bummer. :(
Episode: Takes place after "The Naked Now"
Characters: Picard, Crusher

“My dear captain,” Beverly purred.

She leaned forward, closing in on her target. When their lips met, Beverly was momentarily surprised; it was almost as if part of her expected Jean-Luc to pull away.

As their kiss intensified, an alarm sounded. She knew it was odd, but continued focusing her attention on the man in front of her. Finally, Jean-Luc pulled back. “Don’t you should see what that is?” he asked, his lips still touching hers.

Now that the kiss had ended, she realized what the sound was. Despite her attempts to stay where she was, the alarm pulled her from the captain’s ready room, away from Jean-Luc, into her bedroom.

Beverly sat up from her bed as she woke from her disconcerting dream. “Computer, turn off the alarm clock," she called, her voice louder than necessary.

A friendly chirp later, the alarm ceased its song.

It had been less than twenty-four hours since she developed a vaccine against the Tsiolkovsky virus--more than enough time for the symptoms to wear off.

Then why, she wondered, was I dreaming of Jean-Luc?

Refusing to allow herself to answer, the redhead rolled out of bed. She had plenty of work to keep her mind off the troubling dream. Quickly, she got herself dressed, reminded Wes that he had school in a couple of hours and made her way to Sickbay.

As she was compiling the chemical breakdown of the vaccine to send to Starfleet Medical, the doors to her office slid open. She looked up from her work, wondering who would come in at such an early hour.

To her surprise, it was the captain.

He half-smiled at her as he walked into the room. “Doctor,” he greeted simply.

“Captain,” she returned, her mind traitorously recalling his last visit.  She pushed the thoughts away and focused on being completely professional.  “May I help you with something?”

He took a step closer to her desk.  “I wanted to inform you that I entered a log mentioning the actions of your son,” he said uncomfortably.

Her eyebrows rose. “Really?” she asked, letting the disbelief enter her voice.

“Yes, well, if it wasn’t for his quick thinking, none of us would be here,” he grudgingly admitted.

Though internally she felt a surge of motherly pride, she kept it hidden from the captain. “I will be sure to tell him when I see him today. He will be thrilled.”

Instead of taking his leave, the captain remained standing, looking around her office.

“Was there something else, Captain?”

He cleared his throat, an old habit he had when he was nervous, Beverly knew. “Yes--” he paused and pressed his lips together. She could actually tell when he was able to silence whatever conflict was in his mind. “Beverly…”

The sound of her name surprised her.

“We have known each other far too long and have been through too much to have a normal working relationship,” he continued.

Her temper flared. He wasn’t going to suggest she leave the Enterprise again, was he?

Before she responded, Beverly remembered her actions in his ready room.  Perhaps, now that his mind was cleared of the virus, he was more offended by the encounter than he let on.

“I would have to agree,” she said quickly, hoping he didn’t notice the color in her cheeks.

“Good,” he said, pleased. “Then, uh, if it’s alright with you, I would suggest we drop the formalities. At least,” he added, “when there are no other officers in the room.”

Beverly could hardly believe her ears. Obviously he wasn't at all bothered by her visit. 

Maybe, she thought with a smile, she wasn't the only one who woke up early because of an awkward dream.   

“It’s a deal, Jean-Luc.”

He nodded.  "Very well, then.  I won't keep you from your work, Doc--, Beverly." 

This, she thought as he left her office, should be interesting.