Title: Winding Road (The Terra Firma Remix)
Author: knightshade
Summary: Beverly takes Jean-Luc for a ride.
Rating: PG
Fandom: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Disclaimer: I don’t own any of the characters or ideas from Star Trek: TNG. It all belongs to Paramount.
Thank you to Sharon for helping me with the remix ideas. Thank you to Pheral and Almighty Hat for bike help. And thank you to Moonbeam for the beta.
Winding Road
(The Terra Firma Remix)
He’d forgotten.
Beverly couldn’t believe that Jean-Luc Picard had forgotten her birthday. She’d had to hint around at breakfast this morning until he finally remembered. She had actually seen the light go on. He’d said ‘Happy Birthday’ and told her he’d been planning to take her sightseeing. Did he honestly think she believed that? Even Wesley, who might have been excused on account of being a teenager, had remembered to get her a card. Men, she thought uncharitably as she stood next to her motorcycle, watching as the air tram pulled up.
She spotted Jean-Luc immediately as he stepped off the platform -- even without the uniform, he carried himself with authority. She waited for him to catch sight of her and then waved him over.
Jean-Luc returned her wave and made his way toward her. When he realized that she was sitting on a bike, he skipped a step, and then looked at her with awe. “Is that what I think it is?”
Beverly just grinned and nodded.
“However did you manage to get a hold of a motorcycle?” he asked, admiring the bike’s chrome finish. “I’ve read about them, but this . . . this is amazing.”
“Isn’t it? I bought it the year I was at Starfleet Medical. Obviously I had to put it in storage when I came back to the Enterprise. I probably should have just sold it, but you don’t see too many vintage Harleys anymore.”
“I imagine not.” He knelt down to take a closer look. Then he stood again and rested a hand thoughtfully on the bike’s handle. “It’s a very impressive vehicle.”
“Thank you.” She had been rather pleased with the find herself. “Jean-Luc, I’m sure you had a lovely afternoon planned,” she said trying to keep the sarcasm out of her voice. “But what I’d really like to do is go for a ride, if you don’t mind.”
He better not mind, she thought. She’d spent the morning making sure her bike was in perfect working order. It was rare for them to get back to Earth, and she intended to take full advantage of the Enterprise’s layover in spacedock.
“Of course not,” he said, but his smile sank a little and he glanced anxiously at the bike this time. “It is your birthday.”
Beverly was amused by the weak smile he threw in her direction. She knew she had him off balance, which was just fine with her. In a way she felt like she had to remind him that she was worth remembering. It was too easy to start taking old friends for granted and she didn’t like the feeling that she was becoming just a part of the scenery of his life. She wanted to show him that there were still things he didn’t know about her.
“Do you want to drive first or shall I?” she asked impishly.
He furrowed his brow slightly, not taking his eyes off her Harley. “Perhaps you should go first. I’m afraid I’ve never even seen a real motorcycle, much less driven one.”
Well, at least he was being honest about that, she thought. She opened the bag she’d brought with her and handed Jean-Luc a shield coverall like the one she was already wearing. Then she reaffixed her helmet patch behind her ear and handed a spare to Jean-Luc. She was glad she didn’t live in the days when riders had to wear actual, physical helmets. In her mind, there was nothing quite like having the wind rushing past her face and whipping through her hair. Not to mention that shield devices were a lot safer. She knew that in ancient times, people were often badly injured in accidents and roadburn was something she was eager to avoid.
Beverly straddled the bike and slid toward the front, patting the seat behind her. “Are you coming?” she asked once he had slipped the coverall over his clothes.
Jean-Luc eyed the bike suspiciously and Beverly tried not to grin at the embarrassment that graced his face. It always surprised her to see that side of him. When he was out of his element, his features were really quite expressive. She never saw that side of him in his role as ‘The Captain.’ She wasn’t sure she understood how he could keep it in check in some circumstances and not others, but she was glad that he let his guard down when they were alone. She couldn’t help but find it endearing.
Jean-Luc grimaced and then rather awkwardly slid into place behind her. Beverly waited a beat and then laughed lightly. “You have to hold onto me, or you’re going to break your neck.”
He leaned forward and gingerly slid his hands around her waist. Despite the lingering traces of her ire, it was a nice feeling. “Hang on,” she said, hitting the starter. The bike roared to life and then settled into a satisfying growl. Knowing that he couldn’t see her face, Beverly allowed herself a broad smile when his grip around her tightened.
She used to ride out this way all the time when she was at Starfleet Medical. There was a nice straight stretch of old road along the tramway and it was perfect for getting her feet wet. She wanted to find her balance and get a firmer sense of the bike before heading north where the curves and winding terrain began. It had been a long time since she’d gone riding, but she decided it was a bit like dancing – her body never really forgot what it was supposed to do, it just needed a bit of practice. It didn’t take her long to get comfortable enough to notch up the speed and start barreling down the road.
She heard Jean-Luc’s voice behind her but the words were stolen by the wind as it whipped past them. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”
He leaned in so that his chin was right over her shoulder. “Where did you learn to ride?” he asked right next to her ear.
Keeping a delicate balance, she managed to snatch a glimpse or two in his direction. “I had a friend at the Academy who restored old vehicles. We used to go riding together.” She paused thoughtfully. “Now there’s someone I wouldn’t mind looking up again,” she mused. Was it her imagination, or did his grip on her change? He seemed to pull back and stiffen slightly. She allowed herself the hope that he was jealous. He didn’t have to know that Kimba was a woman.
They came up on the first gentle curve and Beverly leaned into it, feeling Jean-Luc move with her. She was pleased that he seemed to have a natural intuition for riding. They coasted around the corner with ease, giving Beverly the confidence she needed. Jean-Luc’s grasp on her had loosened a bit and he seemed to be relaxing so she kicked up their speed again and thundered through a tight S turn. Together they leaned first in one direction and then the other as the bike responded perfectly beneath them.
They zipped along the road, getting progressively faster even as the terrain became more challenging. The trees and mountains zinged past them in a blur. Finally, breathing heavily, her heart pumping, Beverly brought them to a smooth stop. Carefully balancing the bike, she turned around to look behind her. Jean-Luc’s eyes were filled with excitement, not unlike Wesley’s when he was about to open his birthday presents.
“Well?” she asked, already knowing the answer.
“That was . . . breathtaking.”
“Your turn,” she said, slipping off the bike and gesturing for him to take her spot.
“I don’t know anything about motorcycles.”
She could see his indecision. It was obvious that he really wanted to give it a try, despite his reservations. “I bet you’d be a natural at it,” she coaxed.
After a bit more encouragement and a few instructions, Jean-Luc moved forward tentatively on the seat and she took her place behind him. Then with a mischievous grin, Beverly sinuously slid her arms around his waist and clasped her hands in front of him. Most men his age tended to put on weight around the midsection, but he was still fit and lean. His back, while not broad, was definitely muscular. She leaned closer to him with the excuse of speaking at a normal tone. “Ready when you are,” she said, her lips not far from his ear.
“Beverly, I’m not sure this is a good idea,” he hemmed.
“Don’t worry, Jean-Luc, I’m sure you’ll get the hang of it.”
He revved the accelerator and the bike wobbled forward clumsily. Beverly tried to help stabilize them by shifting her weight appropriately, and as they picked up speed, they evened out. Jean-Luc seemed to settle in and get a bit more comfortable as they drove down the winding road. He was a bit hesitant through the curves, but she had to give him credit -- he was catching on quickly. Not that she should be surprised by that. He was a good shuttle pilot and he did have a bit of a daring streak.
The road got more challenging as they plunged deeper into the forests north of San Francisco. It narrowed considerably and the turns became hairpins, but Jean-Luc maneuvered through them assertively. He was almost getting a little too confident. He was taking the curves just a little faster than Beverly was comfortable with. But he seemed to be in control so she settled back and watched the scenery speed by. It was a bright sunny day and after spending months in the depths of space it was nice to be on solid ground for a while. She was glad she had arm-twisted him into joining her today. She was having so much fun that she had almost forgotten that she was still annoyed with him. Almost.
The trees thinned out and suddenly they broke into a grassy clearing overlooking the Pacific. Jean-Luc slowed, giving them the chance to enjoy the view. Then he gunned the engine and went flying passed the waves of grass. They swerved through curves and swept over little rises. They were going a little too fast for Beverly’s comfort again. She was just about to suggest to Jean-Luc that he slow down a bit, when they crested a steep slope and she realized it was too late. The road turned sharply to the left just over the hill and there wasn’t enough time to compensate. Jean-Luc turned too hard, trying to keep them on the road, and the bike skidded off over the shoulder and into the ditch.
Beverly found herself free falling for a moment and then she hit the ground with a thump. She tumbled headlong into the ditch before sliding to a stop at the bottom. She quickly looked around to see Jean-Luc sitting a few meters away, his whole right side covered in mud. The bike was lying on its side a few meters beyond him. Beverly gave herself a quick once over before gingerly getting to her feet.
“Jean-Luc, are you okay?” she asked, rushing toward him.
He was trying to clear his hand of mud by giving it sharp, deliberate shakes. “Yes, yes, I’m fine. Just a little bit of wounded pride. Are you okay?” he asked, concern creasing his brow.
“Yes. Just a little shaken.” Thankfully, the shield coveralls seemed to have done their job.
Jean-Luc studied the fallen bike for a moment. “I’m very sorry.”
Beverly followed his gaze. It was a little banged up, and there were sure to be scrapes and dings on the side that was currently planted in the mud, but all in all it could have been a lot worse.
“Don’t worry. It’s in better shape than when I first bought it. It won’t take much to fix it up again.”
“I feel like a fool,” he said, not meeting her eyes. “I could have gotten us both hurt and all because I wanted. . .” He trailed off, then took a deep breath and tried again. “I was really just . . .”
“Showing off?” she finished, her brow raised.
“Well, yes,” he admitted. “The way you were talking about riding and your friend at the Academy, I just didn’t want you to be disappointed. I’m sorry.”
Beverly crossed her arms and shook her head. One of these days she hoped to figure him out, but in the meantime, she was going to exact just a little bit of revenge.
“Jean-Luc, if you really wanted to impress me, all you had to do was remember my birthday.”
He glanced up at her sharply and then hung his head again -- but not before Beverly caught the chagrin that was plainly written across his face. “I expect I had that coming. I’m sorry, Beverly. Yes, I did forget your birthday and you deserve better than that from me. It won’t happen again.”
She was surprised at how quickly her irritation slipped away. She had just needed to hear him admit it and apologize. “It’s all right,” she said, truly over her resentment this time. She reached over and squeezed his muddy arm. “What do you say we get this bike back on the road and head into the city? I assume your sightseeing plans included dinner?”
“Hmmm? Oh, yes. Of course . . . dinner.”
“Jean-Luc if you didn’t even bother to try to make reservations for dinner after forgetting my birthday . . .” she threatened.
“Not to worry. I do value my life,” he laughed. “We have reservations for eight o’clock tonight. If you’ll have me as company, that is.”
He held out his arm as though to escort her.
“I’d be honored.”
She took his arm for the short walk to her motorcycle and then together, they set about righting it.
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-knightshade
March 15, 2005
(beware the Ides of March)
