NEW TNG: "Echoes" P/C, D/f (R) Pt 175/?
kerot...@sbcglobal.net
Title: Echoes
Author: Ke Roth (kee...@startrek.net)
Series: TNG
Part: 175/?
Rating: R (violence and language)
Codes: P/C, D/f
Summary: Lt. Andile, Starfleet's oldest and shortest engineer, comes
aboard to help oversee the implementation of her newest engine design.
Archives: ASC certainly; anyone else, please ask.
You can also read the story (up to date that is) at:
http://www.picard-crusher.net/echoes.htm
Beaucoup thanks to Mrs. Peel for the generous offer to host my story
there.
Disclaimer: Paramount owns everything in the universe of TNG except
Andile and a few of the others you're about to meet. I promise I won't
make any money from writing this.
FYI: This story takes place approximately 2 years post "Insurrection",
but pre-"Nemesis".
Feedback is welcome.
Chapter 175
"Gorgeous dress," Beverly murmured as she looked into the holographic
mirror that showed Deanna's image, "but... red?"
"It's such a festive color, Beverly," the empath protested. "And Will
and I want our ceremony on Earth to be festive."
Beverly smiled. "Because the one on Betazed won't be?" she replied.
"How would I know?" Deanna replied. "Mother hasn't let me make one
decision about the entire event!" she sighed in frustration, then took
a sip of her espresso. "At least on Earth the wedding will be ours!"
She smiled at her friend, then clapped a hand on Beverly's. "Thanks for
doing this with me," she added.
"That's what friends are for," Beverly replied, smiling.
Deanna turned her attention back to the gown in the mirror as Beverly
studied her friend.
There were times, she thought, when holodecks were truly wonderful
inventions; it had been years since she had gone shopping like this,
enjoying the intimate conversation of a dear friend, while being served
coffee and dessert as the holographic mirrors presented the pair with
dress upon dress, variation upon variation - all without having to move
from their comfortable chairs.
Of course, they could have done this once they had returned to Earth -
but with so many changes facing them, with Will and Deanna heading off
to the Titan as soon as investigation was completed into the events of
the last few months, both she and Deanna knew that time would get away
from them before they could indulge themselves in a day of wedding
planning and gown shopping.
But here, on their ship, with an evening unspoken for? she mused. What
better way to spend it than by helping Deanna choose her trousseau?
Well, she admitted, there were a few other ways...
"I'm surprised you're not having dinner with the captain tonight,"
Deanna interjected, instantly sensing the image in the woman's mind.
Beverly reddened - but only for a moment, then pushed the man's face
from her thoughts.
"Oh?" she asked innocently.
"Yes, 'oh'," Deanna countered. "You and the captain were finally
getting back into your old - and I mean old, pre-Briar Patch, pre
Dominion War habits - breakfast together, dinners together... but
tonight, the only night he doesn't have a diplomatic reception, the
only night you two could share for a week - you're out with me? Please
don't tell me you two are starting to go back to your old bad habits,"
she sighed.
"I'd prefer to think of them as new habits, Deanna," Beverly said.
"Two people who enjoy each other's company - but enjoy the company of
others as well. No, Jean-Luc and Dee are off on the holodeck, playing
Dixon Hill and the Archaeologist, or some such nonsense," she said.
Deanna raised a brow. "Nonsense? I thought you enjoyed your Dixon Hill
adventures."
Beverly pinked again - then smiled. "Oh, my adventures in San
Francisco were certainly fun - but this time, they're off in the
jungles of Guatemala, hunting for lost treasure - and if Jean-Luc and
Dee are true to form, they've included all the appropriate insects,
diseases, and so on. I'll probably be treating them both in Sickbay for
dysentery before the night's out." She looked at her friend, a
disapproving look in her eyes. "There is such a think as being too
realistic, you know - but try telling either of them that!"
The counselor gave her friend a studied appraisal, then said quietly,
"And you're all right with them being together?" she asked.
"Are you all right with Dee and Will spending three hours a day in a
shuttlecraft?" Beverly countered.
"It's not the same thing, Bev," Deanna countered firmly. "The
captain's still very attracted to her, you know - and I know the
feeling is reciprocated."
Beverly returned the look. "It's not my place to approve or disapprove
of their relationship, Dee - but the Jean-Luc I know would do nothing
to hurt his friends; whatever he may have felt - or still feel - for
Dee, he would do nothing to hurt either her or Data."
"And Biji...?" Deanna pushed.
"Loves Data with all her heart," Beverly sighed with a quiet certainty
that filled her soul. "And he loves her - and she knows it. No,
whatever possibilities lie out there, I don't think either of them is
willing to risk what they have for what might be."
"And what, exactly, does the _captain_ have, Beverly?" Deanna pressed
with a curious smile.
"And good friend in his ship's CMO," the physician replied.
"That's all?" Deanna pressed.
"For now, that's enough," Beverly insisted.
The empath gave a skeptical look. "Really?
"Deanna...." Beverly sighed.
"Beverly, you've been dancing around your feelings for the captain -
for every man in your life - since before I met you," Deanna protested.
"I know you've been hurt - you lost your father, your grandfather,
Jack, Odan..."
Beverly raised a hand. "Deanna, I thought we were going to have a nice
'girls' night out' tonight - not another 'psychoanalyze Beverly and her
inability to commit' night. I've had more than enough of those, thank
you very much!" she said firmly - then turned, gestured to the waiter,
and raised her espresso cup.
Deanna nodded her order to the man as well, then looked back at her
friend. "Fine. We'll drop the topic... for now. But one of these
days..." She stopped in mid-sentence, a strange emotion emanating from
her friend. "Beverly?" she asked worriedly. "What is it? I saw you
chatting with that lieutenant commander from the Federation delegation;
did he bring you some bad news?" she asked worriedly.
Beverly raised a brow. "Alan Hastings? No; we were just catching up on
old times. I knew him back at Starfleet Medical."
"Starfleet Medical? What's he doing in the delegation?" Deanna asked,
curious. "Is one of the delegates ill?"
Beverly shook her head. "No. He's left Starfleet Medical for the
diplomatic corps; he's going to approach the Breen about being a
medical liaison to their sphere."
"Is that all you talked about? You've been a little quiet ever since
you talked with him," Deanna pressed.
"I guess I have," Beverly agreed. "He just got me to thinking - that's
all."
"About...?"
"Nothing. That is, nothing I want to talk about tonight. Maybe later,
after we're on our way back to Earth," the physician said. "For now,
let's focus on the wedding. As I said," she continued, gesturing at the
gown that was superimposed on the image of Deanna in the mirror, "the
cut is stunning - the low scoop neckline flatters your bust, and the
shirring emphasizes your waist - and I love the drape of the skirt and
the flowers on the strap - but red? No," she said firmly. "Get it in
red, and the dress will be wearing you, not the other way around."
"You're right, of course - but I can hardly wear white, Beverly,"
Deanna countered with a laugh.
Beverly laughed back, then shook her head. "It's been a long time
since anyone assumed that a bride in white was automatically a virgin,"
she replied, "or that is was false advertising if she wasn't. It's just
become a bit of a tradition: a first wedding - and the bride is
entitled to a white dress."
"I grant you that - but," she touched a control, "you have to admit
white is not my best color."
Beverly stared at the reflected image - then shook her head. "No.
Definitely not white. Off white?"
Deanna wrinkled her nose. "Jewel tones are my best colors..."
"Wouldn't that be a bit intense for a wedding?"
"Let's see," Deanna said, touching another control, then watching as
the gown began to display itself in a array of deep tones, ranging
across the rainbow.
"I've always been partial to amethyst," Deanna said.
"Lovely... but it's still a lot of color. What about a pastel?"
"What - lilac or lavender?" the empath replied in distaste.
"What about yellow?"
"I'd look like a dandelion!"
"Peach?"
Deanna didn't even bother to respond, giving Beverly a look of pure
disgust instead.
"Light blue?"
"Why do other colors have special words for their pastels - except
blue? Why is light blue just 'light blue', when light orange is peach,
light purple is lilac, light red is pink..." She stopped again - then
slowly turned to Beverly - who was grinning back at her, the thought
striking them both at the same moment,
"Pink..." she said touching the control board.
"No, go a tone more intense," Beverly insisted, reaching to make the
adjustment,
"And let's change the fabric from charmeuse to iridescent taffeta..."
The two women stared at the newly displayed gown for a long moment -
then turned to each other, grinning. "That's it," they agreed with a
grin - then raised their newly filled cups to one another in salute.
"Ah! We have found the dress!" the waiter exclaimed. "And an exquisite
one at that - perfect for a most exquisite bride! A moment to
celebrate! A pastry perhaps? A lovely slice of our most excellent Reine
de Saba? A crème bruleé?"
"Both," Beverly said firmly.
"Bev, I've got to fit into that dress!" Deanna protested.
"You've got six months before the wedding - and you do have a gym on
the Titan, you know. God knows if I was going to be stark naked in
front of a bunch of people, I wouldn't be that concerned with what I
look like when the dress on," she added.
"Beverly?" Deanna said.
"Yes?"
"You _are_ going to be stark naked in front of a bunch of people," she
reminded the physician.
Beverly looked at the waiter. "I think we'll stick with the espresso,"
she
decided.
He inclined his head in understanding, then stepped away, leaving the
two woman to their conversation - or rather, their lack of it.
Sipping the brew, the two stared at the dress for a few moments, then
Deanna murmured, "The captain's going to be naked, too," she reminded
her friend.
"I'll remind him to visit the gym," Beverly replied.
Deanna gave a exasperated sigh. "That's not what I meant! I meant...
well, haven't you been curious?"
Beverly smiled. "I'm his physician, Dee; I've seen him naked. For that
matter, I've seen virtually every man on this ship naked; after a
while, they all begin to look the same."
"Really?" Deanna replied in surprise.
"No, not really," Beverly answered with a smile. "But, in the
condition I see them in... well, there's not really a basis of
appropriate comparison, if you know what I mean," she said. "And, given
what I can presume to be the general level of discomfiture at the
wedding, I doubt were going to see any interesting changes in their
attention level."
"Not to mention that Mother is going to be there," Deanna reminded her
friend. "One look from her is enough to keep them all at half mast - or
worse," she said, smiling.
"Still..." Beverly replied.
"Still..." Deanna sighed in agreement.
The two sat in silence for a few minutes, ruminating over the
possibilities, each smiling to themselves - then Deanna looked at her
friend. "What about you?" she asked.
"Me?"
"What do you want to wear to the wedding? A dress? Or dress uniform?"
"Oh, God, not another bridesmaid dress!" Beverly groaned. "I stood up
in more weddings while I was in med school; somewhere on Earth there is
a crate containing metric tons of pastel frou-frou that I was forced to
wear because my so-called friends thought that adult women looked cute
covered in yards of pastel chiffon with ruffles and bows."
"You could pick out something you like, you know," Deanna placated her
friend, a hint of hurt in her voice.
Suddenly aware that she might have just insulted her friend, Beverly
instantly retreated. "I'm sorry, Dee. Look, if you want me to wear a
dress. I will. Whatever you want..."
"No - -it's your choice, Beverly."
"Really? Then I'd prefer my dress uniform," she insisted, "but I
reserve the right to change into something less formal after the
reception breaks up and the wedding party goes bar-hopping," she added.
Deanna smiled. "I'll beg out of that part of the evening, if you don't
mind."
"What? The two of you haven't had enough of each other yet?" Beverly
teased.
"No - and that'll be our first night as newlyweds - so that makes it
all new and different," Deanna countered with a grin. "But you do what
you want. Biji was all for uniforms, though, so if you're serious about
going out after, help her find something to wear. I love the woman -
but she has no idea about style!" Deanna sighed.
"She's never needed it, Dee," Beverly reminded her gently - then
looked at Deanna, surprised. "Dee's in the wedding party?"
"Of course!" Deanna answered. "She's part of this crew... she's Data's
lover," she added with a smile, "we could hardly have Data in the party
and not have Biji as well!"
"Good point," Beverly murmured.
Sensing the change in her friend's mood, Deanna reached out, laying a
hand on the physician's arm. "Bev? What's wrong? Don't you think Biji
should be in the wedding?"
"What?" Beverly replied, startled - then shook her head. "Oh, no,
Deanna; one, it's your wedding, not mine - and you can ask anyone you
want to stand up for you - and I think it's lovely gesture to ask Dee
to join you."
"So what's bothering you?"
Beverly sighed. "I have to give Dee some bad news - and I'm not sure
attending a wedding is going to be easy for her once she hears it."
"But I thought you said she was recovering!" Deanna protested.
"She is... but one area of her recovery is presenting problems," she
confessed.
"Beverly, I'm her counselor - and yours; tell me - and maybe I can
help her - and you - face whatever's on your mind," she urged her
friend.
"Dee wants to have children..."
Deanna frowned. "But Data can't..."
"Can't father a child - yes, I know," she sighed. "Even though I've
made it clear to them both that any pregnancy is out of the question
for at least a year, I wanted to make sure they understood their
options so they could think about them for the future. But I'm afraid I
may have given Dee false hope; while I have no doubts she can get
pregnant, I'm highly doubtful she can carry a baby to term. Her immune
system is just so strong that every particle of foreign matter is
identified as alien - and is destroyed. I think it'll be the same with
a fetus; once the embryo begins to shed cells - a few weeks into the
pregnancy - her body may identify it as foreign - and destroy it.
"I think," she added softly, "I think that's what happened on
Cardassia," she whispered.
Deanna gaped at her friend, horrified. "My God, Andile was
pregnant...?"
Beverly nodded. "I found unmistakable traces of Cardassian DNA in her
system - and the antibodies to that DNA. I assumed she had contracted
some local virus - but after examining her, I found other evidence that
she was pregnant - and recently - less than five years ago.
"One of her assaults resulted in pregnancy," Beverly concluded, "and
that pregnancy ended, not a result of the trauma she suffered, but
rather as her own body attacked and destroyed the child."
"You haven't told her," Deanna murmured.
"I just got the results of the immune system test this afternoon,"
Beverly agreed.
"And you're scared to tell her?"
"Scared? No, not scared," Beverly demurred. "She's stronger now;
she'll grieve and rage - and then she'll ask me what they have to do so
she can have a child - and I'll have to tell her that it's possible
that, after everything that I've said, she can't be a mother."
"Aren't there immune system blockers? You gave something to Will when
he was carrying Odan..."
"And it almost killed him after just a few days. No, I'm going to have
to work up a long term for Dee - someway to desensitize her body to the
father's DNA, so that, as the baby develops, it sees the tissue as
'self' not 'alien' and doesn't damage it."
"And you can do that?" Deanna asked.
"Do it? We've already done it! She's walking around with the captain's
lungs in her body - and she still has his nano-probes nestled in her
liver and kidneys. Yes, it can be done - but it's going to take time -
lots of time - to desensitize her to the DNA - and it means they need
to start looking for potential fathers as soon as possible, so I can
start desensitizing her now."
Deanna considered the information for a long time before facing her
friend, a sober look on her face. "Beverly..."
The physician turned to her friend. "Yes?"
"How old is Biji?"
The doctor raised a brow, surprised at the question - then shook her
head. "I don't know. No one knows - including Dee - but at least one
hundred years. Probably quite a lot more," she added, reminding herself
that even Deanna did not know the full extent of Andile's life span.
Nor would she ever learn that detail, Beverly added.
Only a few nights before, she and Jean-Luc had discussed that very
subject, arguing back and forth the medical and social possibilities
that an investigation of Andile's unusual DNA and the life-sustaining
properties it had given her would mean to the public at large - and the
terrifying potentials it held for Andile if it ever was learned that
she was the sole source of that DNA.
Kidnapping, medical experimentation or worse - even the possibility of
the removal of her ovaries or her unfertilized eggs in order to create
an endless supply of donor DNA...
No, they had decided; while the needs of the many might well outweigh
the needs of the one, the truth was that no one _needed_ immortality.
And Dee needed her life for herself.
And for Data, Beverly thought, smiling.
Jean-Luc had smiled at that smile, she remembered, finding the
tenderness in her expression so touching that he had turned her face to
his and kissed her before either of them realized what was happening...
then startled, they had broken apart, the moment gone, the awkward
discomfiture of their evolving relationship coming between them.
She had left a few moment later, wondering then, even as she did, why
she hadn't stayed, why she hadn't let the kiss progress into something
more...
Because if it did, and I let myself really love him the way I loved
Jack, he might be taken from me, just as Jack was - and I'd be alone
again.
And I don't think I could bear it again, she knew.
"Bev?" Deanna said softly, reaching out for her friend's hand, sensing
the worry in her friend's heart.
But the physician shook off the touch and the concern. "Just worrying
about Dee, Dee," she said - then managed a smile. "Doesn't it bother
you that you two have the same nickname?"
Deanna smiled. "No more than you're bothered by the fact the Bev
Uldeger works in hydroponics, or that Bev Chortho is in engineering, or
that Bev..."
Beverly raised a hand, conceding the point.
"There are nine 'Bev's on the Enterprise, Bev," Deanna pointed out,
"not to mention a half dozen 'Dee's," she added. "We've also got
fourteen 'William's - though there are more 'Bill's than 'Will's," she
added. "I think the captain is one of the few people who doesn't have
to worry about having a namesake on board."
"What about 'Geordi'?"
"Nope," Deanna objected. "We have two Geordi's; there's even a Worf -
though it's spelled Wharf," she added. "But only one Jean-Luc - and
only one Data," she realized.
"I guess Dee likes her men to have unique names," Beverly said.
"I think Dee's still trying to deal with the fact that she has men in
her life, period," Deanna countered. "That they have uncommon names is
incidental." She hesitated for a moment, then looked at her friend once
again. "But that's the point, Beverly; Biji _is_ just beginning to
accept the fact that she has men in her life. As much as she might want
children, her relationship with Data is far too new for either of them
to be worried about having children - and I think you know that too."
"Yes," Beverly agreed hastily, "but if she's going to have children,
she needs to start addressing that issue shortly..."
"Why?" Deanna objected. "Biji's fertility isn't at issue; she's
already a hundred years old - or more - but her reproductive clock
isn't counting down; she's got time - and so does Data. Why do you feel
you have to put this burden on them at this moment... or maybe it's not
Dee's biological clock that you're concerned about?" she added sagely.
Beverly looked at her friend, confused. "I'm sorry?"
"Transference, Bev; that's what psychologists call it: transference.
Time isn't running out for Dee and Data, Beverly; if there were ever
two people who did not have to worry about time, it's those two. But
for we mortals..."
"What are you saying?" Beverly pressed, a hint of anger in her tone.
"I'm saying you're imposing your concerns for your life, your future,
on them - when, in reality, you need to face those concerns for
yourself," her friend counseled.
"Deanna..." Beverly snapped angrily.
"Beverly," Deanna said, reaching out once again to calm her friend
with a touch, "I know how you feel about the captain. I know... we both
know... how hard he took the death of his brother and his nephew - and
how much he doesn't want his family line to die out. And I know..." She
hesitated. "I know that you would have liked to have had at least one
more child.
"But unlike Dee, time _is_ running out for you - and for the captain,"
she continued.
The physician glared furiously at the counselor - but even through her
anger, she knew the truth of the woman's words.
Not that she was about to admit it. "What do you want me to do,
Deanna; go jump in his bed?"
Despite herself, Deanna smiled. "There's something to be said for a
bout of great sex, Bev, but..." She grew serious once again. "But no,
that's not what I'm suggesting. I am suggesting that you need to decide
what you want, Bev - and act on that decision. And if that decision is
to pursue a permanent relationship, then you need to face the fears
that are holding you back.
"Not ever person you love is going to leave you, Beverly," she said
softly.
"I know," Beverly replied quietly.
Deanna shook her head. "No, you don't," she told her friend. "Oh, you
know it in words - but not in your heart. In your heart, you terrified
that you're going to open yourself to him - and he will leave you. And
so you dance around him, wanting to be with him, wanting to have a
future - then pulling back every time he tried to make it happen."
Stricken, Beverly stared at her friend - then shook her head soberly.
"I know, I know... Oh, Deanna," she whispered, "what he must think of
me: teasing, playing with his emotions..."
Feeling the waves of emotional uncertainty rolling off her friend, she
pulled the aching woman close to her, running her hand over the woman's
back in slow, soft strokes. "No, no... he understands - more than you
could possibly know. He knows you're not playing with him - and what he
thinks of you, Beverly, is that he loves you. That he has always loved
you... and that he will wait until you're ready. Forever, if that's
what it takes," she soothed her friend.
"But he shouldn't have to wait!" Beverly protested angrily. "It's been
fifteen years - more, if you consider how long he's been in my life:
since before Wesley, before Jack died... He was the best man at our
wedding, for God's sake... Half of my life has been spent with him -
and yet I'm still not ready to make this commitment! Commitment?! My
God, I'm not even ready to try even a temporary relationship with him?"
"Beverly, you're scared," Deanna soothed. "You're both scared," she
added. "But at some point, you both have to realize that you don't have
forever. So ask yourself this: How much of your life, of his life, of
your precious time together are you willing to lose - to waste -
knowing that once that time is gone, it will never be yours again?
"If the last few months have shown us anything, Beverly, it's how
precious life is - and how easily it can be lost. Data and Dee lost
months; they almost lost everything. We all face that possibility - but
we face the possibility of years as well. So should we act on that fear
- or should we seek out the joy we can have?" she asked. "Will and I
decided on joy, Beverly; I hope you and Jean-Luc choose that as well,"
she counseled.
"I'd like to help you," she added a moment later. "You've carried your
fear and grief by yourself for so long... but you don't have to. I can
help," she reminded her friend.
Beverly looked at her friend - but her eyes were not focused on the
empath. Instead, she saw past the woman, seeing...
Something else, Deanna realized; something important - then gave a
shiver as she realized that Beverly had made a decision.
"Thank you, Deanna - but I know what I have to do."
Deanna looked worriedly at her friend. "Beverly, you're not going to
give up on this, are you?"
"No," she said, instantly easing her friend's worries. "But you're
right - there are some things I need to work through - and I'm going to
do just that."
Deanna nodded - though she felt enough uncertainty streaming from her
friend not to feel completely at ease. "All right," she agreed
reluctantly. "Just remember, I'm still here."
"For now," Beverly pointed out. "You and Will will be going to the
Titan as soon as we reach Earth."
"Yes," Deanna demurred, quickly adding, "but the Titan and the
Enterprise will both be in dock for at least a few months - and you did
say you were going to help me with the wedding plans," she replied.
"We'll have plenty of time to talk - all right?" she added.
Beverly smiled and nodded - though both her eyes and her thoughts
seemed to be concealing something, Deanna decided. "All right - but
don't worry, Deanna; it's going to work out," she added firmly.
"All right," she replied hesitantly - then drew in a long breath,
knowing the subject was closed... for the moment. "Let's get back to
work here; we have some more shopping to do."
"For your honeymoon?"
"We've got time for that; Will hasn't even told me where he wants to
go!" she laughed. "For now, however, there's something far more
pressing."
"Oh?"
Deanna nodded. "When I asked Biji what she was wearing to the
engagement party, she told me she was planning on wearing her uniform."
"Her uniform," Beverly murmured. "To your engagement party."
"That's what she said," Deanna confirmed.
Beverly looked at her friend and shared a mischievous grin with the
empath. "Oh, I don't think so," she agreed. "So, Counselor, just what
did you have in mind for our misguided friend?"
Deanna touched the controller, bringing up an image of the engineer in
her usual work clothes. "I was trying to think up something that
flattered her coloring and her shape..."
"Dee doesn't have a shape, Deanna," Beverly reminded her.
"Actually, she does," the counselor countered. "She may have only
gained a few ounces lately - but it's all going into the right places.
Add a little emphasis, and a little mystery and..." She touched the
controller again - and Andile's figure was suddenly ensconced in a
different outfit.
Beverly stared at the image for a moment. "Oh, my," she whispered.
Deanna grinned. "I knew you'd like it."
"Yes - but aren't you concerned she's going to steal your thunder?
After all, it _is_ your engagement party. You're supposed to be the
star - not Dee."
"Bev, I've already got the man of my dreams," Deanna answered
seriously. "What more could I want? No, if we're really going to
celebrate our love, I want to do it by sharing that same possibility
with my friends - old and new. I'll have my wedding day to be the
center of attention: let's let Biji shine at the party - and let's make
sure Data appreciates what he has in her," she added with a mischievous
grin.
"I don't there's any issue there," Beverly replied.
"Then it'll be an opportunity to let everyone else to appreciate what
Data has," Deanna said.
"I don't think that's going to be a problem either," Beverly said,
then sighed, reached for the computer, and made an entry.
"What's wrong?" Deanna asked, worried.
"Nothing. Just saving time," Beverly replied.
Deanna raised a brow.
Beverly smiled. "Deanna, if you send Dee to the party in that dress,
you know damned well that neither she or Data is getting out of bed for
at least a day; I'm just saving time, and taking them both off duty
now."
Howard
It's was nice to read Deanna's views on the "Dee" issue ;)
H
Kaytee
You've really made my weekend!
As always, very well written.
Best,
Kaytee