From: captain973@aol.com (Captain973)
Newsgroups: alt.startrek.creative
Subject: NEW STORY: "Attached - Alternate Ending" (1/1, P/C, NC-17)
Date: 29 Feb 1996 00:12:51 -0500

Standard disclaimer: Paramount is wonderful, great, stupendous, and, of course, they own Star Trek.

This short story contains lines from the Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Attached". No infringements of any kind are intended.

Okay. I sensed a challenge, so here we go. Alternate ending to "Attached"? You asked for it...

Possible glass of cold water warnings (I hope... since it made *me* blush...)...

Attached Revisited

by

Melissa Zander


      "And then, little by little, I realized that... that I didn't have those feelings anymore." He paused. "Twenty years is, after all, a long time." The firelight touched the slight smile on his face.The flickering light revealed, however, that the smile didn't reach his eyes. She saw this, and the corners of her lips turned up.

      "You're lying, Jean-Luc," she said quietly. The shock on his face was clear, even in the dimness. His eyes narrowed, and the pleading look in them was not missed by the woman sitting three feet away. "Beverly... don't. Please." She moved closer and grasped his hand in hers, further intensifying their link. They flinched simultaneously at the intensity of the emotions they were feeling. His were a troubled jumble of guilt and desire and love, and hers was a mixture of surprise at his true feelings, confusion over his denial... and love.

      These emotions were clearly and plainly shared, basic emotions that said more than any words could have. She squeezed his hand, then reached over and lifted his chin gently, fire-tinged blue eyes meeting stormy hazel ones.

 "Jean-Luc, why are you lying? I know you better than anyone, and, even without these implants, I'd still know you were lying."

      Picard pulled his hand out of hers and buried his face in his hands. His strong, sturdy shoulders, that so often held the weight of the galaxy upon them, trembled. Beverly's arm slid across them as she hugged him. "Why, Jean-Luc?" she repeated.

      His hands dropped limply, and his chest rose and fell in a steadier rhythm. He sighed wearily. "Because I love you so much, and I was scared to death that you didn't feel the same." Now, he finally, willingly, met her eyes. "But now I know you do."

      Her eyes shone with tears. One slipped warmly down her cheek, and he brushed it tenderly away. She nodded. "Yes, I do. I have for a very long time. I love you, Jean-Luc Picard."

      The small campfire was no match for the fire that burned within this woman and this man. Years of repressed desire and intense love fueled the flames as the fire grew to an inferno, engulfing them happily in the searing heat.

      Jean-Luc slipped a hand into the fiery hair at the base of Beverly's neck, and he gently tipped her head back. She rested a caressing hand on his chest as their lips met for a first kiss...and then, for a second... and a third...

      When they finally pulled apart, they smiled, and stared with unconcealed wonder into each other's eyes. He reached over and tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, and she leaned into his hand, savoring the gentle touch.

      Sliding off the log onto the ground, he took her by the hand and pulled her down onto his lap, where her arms came up around his neck, as easily and as naturally as though they had done this every day. But there was nothing everyday about the feelings they had and wanted so desperately to reveal to each other, by touches and thoughts and words.

      They made themselves comfortable, stretching out on the ground. The campfire flickered warmly around them, surrounding them in a safe, protected niche, away from the prying eyes of the universe.

      Beverly eased onto Jean-Luc's chest, and once again captured his warm, tender mouth with her own. His arms came up and around her, with his hands finding a caressing resting place on her back. She groaned softly into his mouth as his hands found the zipper of her uniform and pulled it down, slipping his strong hands inside.

      She forgot all about what she was doing at that moment, concentrating only on Jean-Luc's hands, one of which now eased back up to her neck to pull her down for yet another kiss. He plundered her mouth, probing for its innermost secrets, secrets which Beverly was all too happy to reveal.

      They had no sooner made themselves comfortable, when Jean-Luc rolled them over, and now braced on strong arms above her. He slowly peeled the top of her uniform down, and buried his face in the creamy skin of her neck. His lips caressing her skin drove her madly to distraction. Unable to take the suspense anymore, she quickly made short
work of Jean-Luc's uniform tunic. As she ran her fingertips lightly over his bare back, he looked up and smiled slightly at her impatience. But they had waited for twenty-five years, so he supposed they could wait just a little bit longer...

      Beverly caught the thought. *I don't think so, Jean-Luc,* she teasingly thought back. As if to illustrate her point, she rolled them back over, reaching back in the process to undo her bra, which she slowly removed and placed delicately to the side. *Two can play at this game,* she thought. She gently lowered herself onto his muscular chest, and felt his quick inhalation at the contact of flesh on flesh. *Indeed they can,* he answered.

      As if to prove it, his hands came down on her bare back, massaging the soft skin. As his palms slid back up, they brushed across the sides of her breasts, which were pressed against him tantalizingly.

      For what would be the last time for a while, he rolled them both back over, finally letting his impatience get the best of him. As he hungrily ravished her mouth, blandishing its every surface with his tongue, his hands wandered downward, unclasping her pants and pushing them downward, as well as another garment. She assisted in his task, kicking
her boots off, gasping as he slid down and left a trail of kisses in the clothes' wake.

      As she felt his lips wander back up to her firm, silky thighs, she knew she couldn't take much more. Abruptly she reached down, pulling him back up to her. Seizing the opportunity to rid him of the rest of his uniform, she did so.

      When she viewed his naked body for the first time, she smiled.  Unbidden thoughts of what she would like to do to that body flitted freely through her mind. He nipped playfully at her nose. *Please, do feel free.* She blushed. *Caught me, didn't you?* she thought back. His moist, hot mouth on her breast was all the answer she needed.

      As his mouth worked it's magic, his hands followed suit, his questing fingers quickly finding the moist sensitivity of her feminine core. He caressed her lovingly, and then moaned as her hands went the way of his, and she took him in hand, stroking him ardently.

      They stopped simultaneously as they neared their peak. One thought flashed through both their minds. *The first time should be together...*

      He centered himself above her and entered her in one smooth stroke as her hands came up and pulled his mouth down to hers. Their breaths commingled, their hearts synchronizing in one frantic beat, until they moved as one being, give and take.

      As one, they shuddered and moaned as release overcame them. Somewhere, one thought *I love you*, as the other thought *I love you, always*...

      Beverly kissed Jean-Luc's damp skin tiredly as his arms wrapped around her. With his body still warm inside hers, they became aware of the flickering campfire, and the fire that would forever burn inside them...

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"All of us have violent instincts. We have evolved from predators.
...Well, not me, of course. I've just been programmed by you predators."

---The Holographic Doctor, ST: Voyager

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