Work Text:
Picard settled next to Q on the cool, dark grass of a meadow near the ruins of an ancient temple on Camor V. Q said he had chosen this destination for their excursion today because a singularly dazzling meteor shower would begin after nightfall, and he thought Jean-Luc would appreciate it. Picard had to admit, looking up at the streaks of silver against the night sky, that Q had been absolutely right.
This was far from the first of these expeditions the omnipotent being had arranged for the two of them. At first, Picard had only allowed himself to be whisked across the galaxy by Q in order to explore and document sites of archaeological significance (purely for the benefit of Starfleet’s scientific community, of course), but gradually he found that, for the first time, he actually looked forward to his time off, when Q would materialize in his quarters with an eager smile and a new itinerary.
The crew of the Enterprise had been dismayed at first by Q’s increased presence and Picard’s evident growing fondness for their former enemy. Worf had insisted that Q was using some kind of diabolical mind control on the captain, and most of the crew had seemed inclined to agree with him. Deanna had been the first to support… whatever this was between Q and himself. She said that Picard seemed lighter, that she could sense a happiness coming from him that she had never felt before, and that was good enough for her.
Slowly, the others had followed her example. Data had even helpfully (and humiliatingly) announced on the bridge one day that he had taken it upon himself to research if a relationship of a romantic or sexual nature between a human being and a member of the Q Continuum had ever been documented, and Picard appeared to be the first human to receive such an honor. Data had looked perplexed and crestfallen when Riker began to shake with barely-contained laughter, and Picard insisted that that was not the nature of his relationship with Q, at all, remotely, in the slightest, and that he would be in his ready room should anyone have any legitimate discoveries to bring to his attention.
Still, their liaisons had continued for weeks, and now months. This particular outing had been especially fruitful, and it had taken some cajoling on Q’s part for Picard to put down his PADD and enjoy the meteor shower.
Q had changed from his explorers outfit back into the red Starfleet uniform that he loved so much. As with so many other things about Q, Picard had found it insulting, and then mildly annoying, and finally endearing that a Starfleet uniform was Q’s preferred attire.
Long minutes passed between the two of them in silence as the meteor shower above increased in its brilliance, casting a light strong enough for Q and Picard to see each other in the darkness. Picard had noted that Q was uncharacteristically quiet and melancholic this evening, his handsome face pensive in a way that Picard had never seen. It was disquieting to see Q looking so solemn.
“Thank you for all this,” Picard said, hoping for some insight into Q’s quietness. “Thank you for today and all the other days. It’s been quite extraordinary.”
“Are you happy, Jean-Luc?” Q asked.
“I… well, yes, Q. I should have thought that was obvious.”
Q gave Picard a smile and looked away. “I’m glad,” he whispered, seemingly to himself.
Picard sat up and looked at his companion, brow furrowed. “Q, is something the matter?”
He looked at Picard for a long moment, face unreadable, before standing and staring up at the sky. “I have to go, Jean-Luc,” he said.
“Go?” Picard asked, also rising to his feet. Q said nothing in response, so Picard continued with a chuckle, feebly trying to lift the mood, “I’m not accustomed to you saying you have to do anything.”
Q’s lips twitched into a brief smile, but he still wouldn’t meet Picard’s gaze.
Picard took a step closer. “Q?”
“The Continuum is… displeased. My favoritism towards –” Q paused before continuing, just long enough for Picard to take note of it “-- towards humanity has grown tiresome, evidently. I am to be the subject of a trial, of sorts, of my own. Or maybe I already have been. Non-linear timelines, and all that.” He shrugged and tried to smile again, but the air around them was charged with a tense energy now, and Picard felt anxious. If he didn’t know better, he would have said that, underneath his cavalier exterior, Q was afraid.
Q continued, “To be fair, they did warn me… several times, in fact… but, I guess I didn’t care.” Q’s eyes met Picard’s and he gave him a sad smile.
Picard’s heart sank as the realization hit; this was about him. Q was in danger because of him. He had given Picard everything he could want, and now he was paying for it.
Q heaved a sigh and gave another exaggerated shrug. “Well, my darling, it’s time to get you back to the Enterprise. Give my regards to the others, and thank them for giving me a home away from home.”
Picard took a step closer to the god-like being, “Will I see you again?”
“Difficult to say. The Continuum’s justice is known to be… exacting. All I can tell you, mon capitain, is that if I retain even the remotest ability to reach you, then yes, you will see me again. Probably in some unrecognizable form. I may be little more than an unaccountable feeling of safety and happiness that envelopes you, a breeze that cools you on a hot Earth day, or maybe even a shooting star that gives you a fleeting sense of wonder,” Q looked up again and mused quietly, “but that would be enough. And I would bend time and space to make it happen.”
Picard stared at Q for a moment before turning away and pacing back and forth, blinking away the tears that were beginning to sting his eyes as his mind raced. Soon he stopped and looked at Q again, speaking urgently. “You said this was to be a trial? If that’s the case, I could advocate for you. It wouldn’t be the first time I’ve done that for…”
Q cocked his head and gave Picard a crooked smile. “For…?”
“For… a dear friend.”
“Hm,” Q’s face fell and he turned away, returning his gaze to the heavens.
Picard sighed, resting his head in his hand and rubbing his temples. “Q, please, don’t make me say it. I can’t say the words.”
Q turned now to face Picard, mere inches separating them. His voice, barely more than a whisper, was suddenly disarmingly intense. “But you have such a way with words, Jean-Luc, and I think I would like to hear you say whatever ‘it’ is,” he paused meaningfully, “before I go.”
“I…Q, you are…surely you must know… you have bewitched me–”
“Don’t quote Jane Austen to me, Picard!” a hint of genuine irritation crept into Q’s voice, before he banished it with a small shake of his head and a smile. “Actually, no. Quote any dead authors you like. That’s who you are, and I adore who you are, Jean-Luc. I love who you are.”
The tears came again, and this time Picard didn’t try to fight them. Q brushed the offending drops away with a thumb and cooed, “There, there. It’s all right. I hate to see you sad. Well, that’s not entirely true, actually. Seeing you cry over my loss is rather pleasing, on a deeply narcissistic level –” Picard finally let himself go, throwing his arms around the taller being’s neck and kissing him. At first the kiss was harder than he intended and Q froze in place, stunned, before wrapping his arms around Picard and returning the embrace. They kissed for several long moments, enjoying one another and expressing months of pent up feelings through gentle touch.
Finally, Picard pulled away, breathless. “I love you. I didn’t want to, I tried not to, but I do. I love you terribly, and your loss would be unbearable to me.”
“I know,” Q practically chirped, his eyes sparkling, “I knew it all along, but I can’t tell you how nice it is to hear you say it! As for that last part, though, mon cher, I can’t help you. But you will be alright. You’re strong, and you’ve made quite a family for yourself on the Enterprise.”
“You’re talking like this is already settled!” Picard said, taking a step back and regarding Q seriously. “Take me with you to see the Continuum. At least let me try.”
“It wouldn’t do any good, Jean-Luc, and I don’t want to risk the Continuum’s attention being on you any more than it already is.”
“If you won’t take me with you, I’ll find a way to get there myself,” Picard said. Q looked at him skeptically before Picard added, “I’ll ask Guinan.” At this, Q looked truly appalled.
“You don’t know what you’re in for, Picard,” Q said, his tone deadly serious, “but, I suppose if any mortal could convince the Continuum of anything, it would be you. Very well,” Q held out a hand for Picard, “but it’s going to be a bumpy ride getting you there.”
Picard took Q’s outstretched hand without hesitation, and when their fingers touched they left Camor V, along with the universe as Picard knew it, behind. Space, time, and matter seemed to meld, split, and come back together all at once. Light, sound, and color blended and burst in front of Picard’s eyes and fear gripped him. All Picard could be certain of was a hand holding his tightly.
Don’t say I didn’t warn you, Jean-Luc… Q’s voice glided across the Starfleet captain’s panicking consciousness like a cool, soothing touch. But don’t be afraid. I’m here with you. We’re nearly there already.
“I’m not afraid,” Picard said – or had he just thought it? – “We’re getting you out of this, together.”
How valiant, mon capitain. Well, then, here we go.