My story starts after those events.
After two days of worrying over it Picard decides he has to ask Beverly what his copy got up to.
During this time Beverly has also been thinking about the False Picard and how she behaved towards him.
The scene takes place in Beverly's quarters. It is late evening. Beverly is wearing casual clothes, the lights are slightly dimmed... The door chime sounds.
BEVERLY
"Come in."
Picard enters looking slightly nervous.
BEVERLY
"Good evening Captain. What can I do for you?"
Her playful smile only increases his fears.
PICARD
"I just wanted a word doctor ... if it's convenient."
BEVERLY
"I'm all yours. Shall we sit down?"
PICARD
"No. ...Thank you, I'd rather stand."
BEVERLY
"Very well."
They stand awkwardly, each with arms folded.
Picard starts cautiously.
PICARD
"It's about my doppelganger - my copy ..."
BEVERLY
"Yes?"
PICARD
"I need to know what he did?"
BEVERLY
"Didn't Will tell you? He turned the ship around ... banned all external communication ... sang drinking songs in Ten-Forward ...."
Picard winces at the thought and interrupts her.
PICARD
"Yes, yes, I know all that. But what else did he do?"
BEVERLY
"How do you mean?"
PICARD
"Don't tease me Beverly. You know what I mean. How did he behave towards you?"
BEVERLY
"I'm not sure I should say - Nice girls don't tell - you know."
PICARD
"But I need to know?"
BEVERLY
"Why?"
PICARD
"Because ... because it's as though I got drunk and can't remember what I got up."
BEVERLY
"But it wasn't you Jean-Luc."
PICARD
"I know, but you thought it was me. Or at least you did at the time. He might have affected how you view me. Please?" He looks at her pleadingly.
BEVERLY
"All right." Beverly pauses considering where to begin.
BEVERLY
"Well ... first he came to Sickbay for an annual check-up."
PICARD
"Voluntarily? That doesn't sound like me."
BEVERLY
"True. You were full of surprises that day."
PICARD
"Oh yes?" He replies nervously. "Such as?"
BEVERLY
"Such as inviting me to supper ... in your quarters. You said it was ... 'more intimate'."
Picard's worst fear grips him.
PICARD
"Beverly, we didn't ... did we?"
BEVERLY
"Don't be so impatient, wait and see."
Jean-Luc purses his lips but resigns himself to playing her game.
PICARD
"So did you accept my invitation?"
BEVERLY
"Yes and it was a marvellous meal. Do you want to know what we ate?"
PICARD
He's exasperated. "Beverly! What happened!"
BEVERLY
"Let me see ... you didn't talk much and when I asked what was on your mind you said 'us'."
PICARD
"Us?"
BEVERLY
"Yes, Us. You talked about how our positions tended to isolate us."
PICARD
He swallows. "Go on."
BEVERLY
As she speaks Beverly edges nearer.
"You said you'd like to get closer."
PICARD
"And how did you respond?"
BEVERLY
"That I was happy the way things were."
PICARD
"Oh." He lets slip his disappointment. " ... was that all?"
BEVERLY
"Of course not." Beverly teases him. "Do you think you would give up that easily?"
Jean-Luc blushes but doesn't reply.
BEVERLY
"You put some music on - Computer play music track Crusher 47." The exact same music starts to play.
She pauses, swaying, letting him catch the mood while edging still closer.
BEVERLY
"You invited me to dance."
PICARD
"I don't dance?"
BEVERLY
"It seems you do on 'special occasions'."
She lifts her arms and Picard finds himself dancing before he has time to think. Their movements are slow and easy. They continue like this for a while until he can't resist another question.
PICARD
"What happened next?"
BEVERLY
"You told me how much you missed me during my year away."
PICARD
He stops dancing and looks her straight in the eye.
"That's true, I did." This is said with such depth of feeling that Beverly is touched.
BEVERLY
"And I you."
They smile self-consciously, acknowledging what they've just admitted. They start to dance again. They're very close now, faces almost touching. Eventually Beverly kisses him gently on the lips. Picard responds but then pulls back.
PICARD
"Beverly, if I didn't know you better, I'd say you were playing games with me."
BEVERLY
"My very words."
PICARD
He's puzzled. "Is that how I behaved?"
BEVERLY
"Exactly. Then you asked if I was sorry I'd come."
PICARD
"What did you reply?"
BEVERLY
"That I wasn't sorry ... Neither were you or rather 'him', from then on your personality changed. You said we should call-it-a-night and saw me to the door."
PICARD
Picard is dismayed at his double's rudeness.
"That wasn't me saying that."
BEVERLY
"I know, you wouldn't behave like that." She pauses. "Tell me ... what would you have done?"
PICARD
"How do you mean?"
BEVERLY
"If I'd accused you of playing with me."
PICARD
"I wouldn't have 'played'."
BEVERLY
"No, of course not." Her disappointment shows.
PICARD
He takes a chance. "But I'd have wanted to."
BEVERLY
"Really?" She perks up. "What would you have done?"
PICARD
He hesitates before carefully continuing the game. "Something like this."
He draws her to him and they resumes their dance. Soon his hand begins to wander across her back and his cheek brushes hers. She can feel his hot breath and then his mouth against her neck. She moves her head to give him better access and presses herself against him - but just as she is getting aroused he stops, holds her away from him and says ...
PICARD
"But I shouldn't, should I? You'll only tell me off."
BEVERLY
"But that was then, this is now."
PICARD
"So what'll happen this time?" His heart rate is increasing.
BEVERLY
Beverly pauses ....
"There's the possibility you'll have a very pleasurable evening."
PICARD
He swallows. "And what about tomorrow? Will I still be welcome here?"
BEVERLY
"That depends."
PICARD
"On what?"
BEVERLY
"On whether 'I' have a pleasurable evening."
PICARD
Picard lets a smile cross his lips.
"I think I'd enjoy that challenge."