Title: Without Fail (drabble)
Author: Singing Violin
Series: Star Trek: The Next Generation
Rating: K
Summary: Captain Picard does what he can for Dr. Crusher...but is he holding back?
Disclaimer: The Star Trek characters and universe are not mine.

When Captain Picard received a report from Sickbay, he always read it immediately. That way, he knew to expect her.

Without fail, she would appear at his door, and he would absorb her tears.

Without fail, he held her in silence.

It never occurred to him to wonder why someone whose profession was manipulating life and death would continue to be so affected by every misfortune. He attributed it to her perfectionist nature.

Without fail, he withheld the words he so desperately wanted to say: Does someone have to die in order for you to end up in my arms?