Chapter 11 added on 14 June 2002
Disclaimers are in part 1.
Rating: NC17
Chapter 11
Seven strode into engineering and looked around for her love interest. Catching sight of the engineer in her office, she proceeded to the small room with alacrity. Entering the half Klingon's domain, she cleared her throat as she had seen Tuvok do on so many occasions to get her attention. The smaller woman looked up and her features lit up with a smile that threatened to stop the Borg's heart.
"Hey Annika," B'Elanna said while trying to control her own heart-rate. She had no idea when the former drone began to affect her this way, but lately it seemed her Klingon lust had decided to take control whenever she saw the beauty standing before her.
"Lieutenant," Seven began then looked around and decided things were private enough to be a little less formal. She beamed a small smile that was entirely her own and continued. "B'Elanna, the Captain informed me you might require my assistance on a project with my alcove?"
"So you want this move," B'Elanna asked.
"Yes, I believe I will enjoy having my own quarters," the blonde replied with another small smile, one that illuminated her eyes.
That smile did it for the engineer. She may have had her reservations about Seven moving into quarters next to Janeway, but she would do anything to facilitate the blonde's happiness. She decided that she would just have to keep an eye out for any tricks from the Captain and she would make sure that the older woman didn't hurt Seven any more than she already had. "Well, why don't you come over here and see what I've already done? I think we can have everything moved in two days if you don't see any problems with my designs."
Seven joined the smaller woman at her desk and together they went over the plans and specifications. If it took a little bit longer than it could have because each woman was distracted by the other, neither of them complained.
~~~~~
Seven left what would be her new quarters alongside B'Elanna at the end of the alpha shift. She was not surprised that she had to convince the young engineer to stop working at the end of the shift, but she was, as always, amused. She finally understood why the Captain and Doctor had gotten exasperated with her all those times when they would order her to stop working on a project and she had no inclination to do so. It was interesting to understand both sides at once. Comprehending that B'Elanna was just enthralled by the new insights of the Borg technology that Seven was providing, she still had no desire to see the brunette overwork on her account. Besides, she had an appointment to keep with Tuvok.
"Well, since you won't let me continue working how about I take you to the mess hall for a taste of whatever Neelix is calling food tonight?" B'Elanna smiled and gave Seven her best pleading look.
"I am sorry B'Elanna, but I already have plans with Tuvok this evening, otherwise I would not hesitate to join you… even if I still refuse to eat what Neelix designates food," the blonde answered with a smirk.
B'Elanna's face fell with disappointment for a minute before she schooled a smile back onto her face. "Okay then… well… I'm sure we'll have plenty of time between now and the Alpha Quadrant to get together in the mess hall and debate the origins of Neelix's cuisine."
They hopped onto the turbolift together and the short ride down one deck for Seven's exit was over much too quickly for both of them. The engineer decided to hop off the lift so she had another few moments with the blonde.
"I couldn't happen to convince you to go to Sandrine's later tonight could I? You still owe me a game of pool you know." B'Elanna didn't know why she was so eager, but she just wanted more time with the blonde.
Seven turned and looked down into the soft brown eyes that captivated her so. "B'Elanna, again I am sorry. But I really must spend some time alone tonight. It has been a long day for me, and I have still another four nights of extra regeneration to compensate for my injuries. Working an extra half shift through Gamma shift has made it difficult for me to follow the Doctor's orders regarding the extra regeneration time, and I am not at one hundred percent functionality yet."
"Kahless Annika, why didn't you say so? I mean I wouldn't have kept you all the way through alpha if I had known." B'Elanna frowned and grabbed Seven's hands.
"I wanted to spend the extra time with you B'Elanna, and it was my choice to extend my shift accordingly," the Borg answered with a raised brow. "I find it quite satisfying to work on projects with you. Indeed, it is curiously fulfilling to be able to work with you on moving my alcove." She tilted her head and pondered that thought momentarily. Realizing she was making herself late, she put aside her questions on that subject for consideration at another time. "I need to go now jonwI."
B'Elanna nodded, not quite sure if she wanted to take the risk of kissing the blonde, feeling shy now since she felt rejected twice already. It would have been so much simpler if the women could know what the other was thinking. Both women were feeling shy and insecure. Seven's lack of experience in matters of the heart kept her from taking charge and claiming the kiss that each of them wanted, but neither could express, so she finally turned and left the engineer in the passageway.
~~~~~
Tuvok opened his eyes at the sound of the chime of his door. He had returned to his quarters immediately after his shift and changed into his simple robes. It would be a pleasant challenge to take on Seven as a student. He had meditated until she was due to arrive. "Enter," he called out from his position on the floor. He studied her as she strode through the door. Her bearing was already possessed with an economy of motion, an almost leonine grace. Motioning to the pillow on the other side of his table he asked her to take a seat.
~~~~~
The next day as alpha shift was almost over, B'Elanna completed her part of the alcove relocation and she also found herself very distracted by her company. Mesmerized by the long slender fingers flowing over the console before her, B'Elanna was in a deep trance and barely registered the fact that she was being questioned. "Uh.. What?" she stammered.
Seven raised her eyebrow curiously, wondering what was distracting the engineer. "I asked if you were through with those couplings? If you are I will load the final programming instructions and begin diagnostics."
"Oh! Yeah, go ahead. I finished a little while ago. Sorry," the brunette answered with a wave. "So, you've got all your stuff here I see. I guess this will be your first official night in your own quarters. Are you going to celebrate somehow?"
The blonde finished up her entries into her console them turned with a smile. "I do not think what I had in mind would be considered a typical celebration."
"Oh yeah? What did you have in mind?" B'Elanna asked.
Seven crossed the small area, stood within B'Elanna's personal space and leaned down so that her lips were scant millimeters away from the half-Klingon's. "I wanted to conduct research," she whispered, her breath invading B'Elanna's senses.
The engineer lifted her arms and circled the blonde's waist pulling her closer until their bodies were molded together. She moaned at the sensuality of the moment, the feel of Seven's soft curves against her body. "Research on what?"
"The effects of hybrid physiology when applied to a human-Borg body in a localized environment, including the input of many variables," Seven answered in a very low breathy tone, then captured the soft lips before her in a long sultry kiss. The two women were weak in the knees as the kiss broke. "Of course, I need to secure a willing research participant."
Seven began trailing kisses down along the smaller woman's jaw. As she approached the soft ear she trailed her tongue along the edge lightly, then took the earlobe in her teeth and tugged gently, causing the smaller woman to shiver. B'Elanna leaned her head to the other side. The Borg took this as permission and began biting and kissing her way slowly down the beautiful neck.
"Mmmm… Did you have someone in mind? You know you have to be careful about who you choose. I wouldn't want your… research to be skewed by an inferior subject." B'Elanna's voice was throaty with desire, but she was enjoying the verbal interplay. It was a refreshing change from what she had become accustomed to over the years with Tom. The fact that the Borg was rubbing her back slowly, massaging all the right areas to stimulate her Klingon nerve endings was quickly driving her to distraction.
"Indeed. A superior subject is within reach. I just need to secure her permission to begin my study." Seven moved her body slowly up against the strong woman she was embracing. She bit her lower lip briefly and closed her eyes at what felt like a firestorm reaction racing through her frame. Opening heavily lidded eyes and staring into equally lust-darkened eyes before her, she forgot about her verbal sparring and simply leaned in to claim the inviting lips before her.
As their passion grew in intensity and their hands began mapping out the curves of each other's bodies, Seven's impatience grew. In a lightening fast move, she reached out and lifted the smaller woman into her arms. She took long strides over to her bed, laying B'Elanna gently in the middle before easing her long body down, trapping the smaller woman. Insinuating her thigh between B'Elanna's legs she ground herself slowly into the engineer, which made the Borg moan and a deep growl bubble forth from the Klingon's throat.
B'Elanna's body was burning from everything Seven was doing to her. She hadn't really realized how powerful a lover Seven might be; she had forgotten that the blonde was actually physically stronger than her. When the Borg had lifted her and carried her across the room, both her hearts had skipped a beat, and she felt ridiculously like some damsel in a holo-novel. It was a feeling she never would've guessed would thrill her. Nonetheless, she was completely enraptured by the experience. Reaching around the blonde's neck, she found the pins restraining the woman's hair, released the silken strands and flung the pins across the room, plunging her fingertips into the soft mane and pulling Seven down for another passionate kiss. She raised her knee in between the taller woman's thighs to exert her own pressure on the former drone's center, swallowing the answering moan while consuming the soft lips and exploring tongue. She felt the long fingers of that Borg enhanced hand she had been fantasizing about work its way between their bodies to explore the planes of her stomach, then the fingers spread and cupped her breast gently. The move was so tender, yet so erotic, that she moaned and threw her head back.
Seven immediately captured the soft neck between her lips, nuzzling her way down to the pulse point that seemed to draw her like a moth to a flame. As before, her enhanced senses were overwhelming her with information and she could hear the beat of B'Elanna's hearts, the very blood pulsing through her veins like a siren's call. While she licked the soft spot gently, she moved to unzip the tunic that hindered any further progress, lifting herself up off the soft yet muscular body only long enough to part the fabric, leaving the tunic open underneath her. The natural odor of this strong warrior below her was growing stronger every moment and Seven's nostrils flared as she inhaled deeply. Kissing lower she nipped and licked the exposed parts of the collarbones then nuzzled lower down to the top of her well-formed chest.
Could B'Elanna know how very much she affected her, she wondered briefly. Were there even words for the perfection she felt in her arms? She was just about to express how wonderful she felt when Yellow Alert sirens rang out through the room.
"No!" B'Elanna growled out then whimpered. Seven's forehead fell to the smaller woman's chest briefly and she breathed in three deep breaths as Tuvok had so recently taught her, hoping that maybe they could clear her head of the emotions rushing through her like a concussion wave. Finally, she pushed herself up off of the smaller woman, standing before her and helping her off of the bed.
"We will continue this later, but we are needed elsewhere," Seven stated formally. Falling back on her Borg mannerisms was the only thing keeping her focused on her duty. She felt strangely like abandoning her post and ignoring the Yellow Alert and that frightened her.
The way Seven seemed to turn her feelings off like a light switch startled B'Elanna. 'How could she be so calm?' the smaller woman wondered. 'Did none of this mean anything to her?' She had to shake off that line of thinking as the Yellow alert changed abruptly to a Red alert, the ship rocked and Seven's comm. badge came to life with Chakotay's voice ordering her to the bridge. They both collected themselves and dashed out of the quarters. Stepping into the lift, B'Elanna watched the doors close as Seven waited for the next lift since they were going in opposite directions.
~~~~~
Seven had managed to clear her head and her body was no longer vibrating with desire by the time she exited the lift onto the bridge. Her long strides brought her to her station quickly and as her hands flew over the console logging herself in, she raised her eyes to the view-screen lifting an eyebrow in surprise at what lay before Voyager. Dropping her eyes back to the tactical data streaming by on her console she was unsurprised by the audacity of the Captain, who had engaged a trio of Llannari vessels that were attacking a lone Nguener ship. She was perversely happy that the Borg had not managed to assimilate all of the Nguener race, and determined to help the crew efficiently rid the Nguener of their Llannari threat. Among reports being shouted back and forth on the bridge she calmly informed the Captain who they were defending.
"I may be able to modify our phasers to penetrate the Llannari shields," she calmly added beginning the process before even hearing the expected "Do it" command the Captain always shot back when her Borg experience was helpful in these situations. Moments passed before she was done, the ship taking only one volley in the time before she could announce the changes were complete.
After that, the tides of the battle turned very quickly. Once the Llannari found their shields penetrated by the bigger vessel that had seemingly appeared out of nowhere to take sides with the Nguener they made a hasty retreat, warping out of the area. Voyager let them leave, the Captain having no need or intention to give chase.
"Captain," Harry's voice rang out, "We're being hailed by the Nguener vessel."
"On screen," the redhead commanded.
"Unknown Vessel, we thank you for your timely assistance," the small harried-looking humanoid started once the link was open. He was a compact man with caramel colored skin. Janeway thought that he could pass for a human if it weren't for a ridge that neatly bisected his forehead. "I am Ferzi, First Marshal of the Nguener Ship Necessity. We would be honored if you would tell us who rescued us on this day and how we may repay your efforts."
Janeway smiled broadly and fully engaged her best diplomatic persona to answer. "First Marshall Ferzi, I am Captain Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. We are glad we could be of assistance, and there is no need to repay us. We were in the area when we picked up your distress call. Since we recently encountered the Llannari ourselves, we were aware of their unreasonable hostility and simply felt the need to help even the odds of your survival. Our sensors indicate you took some heavy damage. Is there any way we could assist you with that, or would you like an escort until you can contact your fleet for assistance?"
"That is most gracious of you Captain Janeway," the Marshal responded, "and indeed fortuitous for us. We are many parsecs from our home and any of our fleet. Since the Llannari saw fit to damage our cloaking array so thoroughly, we would indeed have much trouble finding our way back home unaided."
"Well, then perhaps we could send a team over to facilitate a more speedy recovery for you and we will accompany you along your journey while you are heading our way?" The Captain posed the solution very gently, knowing how difficult it would be for her to trust newcomers if she were in Ferzi's position.
Evidently he had no such qualms. "That would be wonderful Captain Janeway, and if you would be so inclined I am sure my government would be most interested in rewarding your kindness if you were to visit our home world," he answered with a bright smile which caused his golden eyes to sparkle. "It has been many years since we have encountered a new peaceful people, and your magnanimity would be celebrated at home."
"If it will not add too much time to our journey, I don't see any problem with meeting your people First Marshal. In the meantime, I will let my security chief handle the details with you about the best way for us to begin aiding in your repairs, and I will send my Second in Command over on the first team." Janeway smiled at the end of her statement. She loved it when they got to meet new species and it appealed to her whenever they could help out in any way. The Marshal returned her smile and nodded, then looked over his shoulder and the communication was broken.
"Captain, their security commander has established contact now," the cool tones of Tuvok informed.
"Forward the details of the size of the team to my ready room Tuvok. The commander and I will be discussing who to send," Janeway stated as she left her chair and strode across the bridge. Chakotay had followed and they were several steps into the short journey when Janeway turned her head, looking at the Borg across the bridge. "Seven would you please join us?"
The blonde shut down her station and moved across the bridge. She had no idea that her movements were so well tracked by some of the stunned men on the bridge. It had not occurred to her when she couldn't re-pin her hair in its customary bun in her rush to her station earlier that its free-flowing state made her even more beautiful. So if Harry Kim was more than a little breathless while watching her, or Tom Paris actually glanced at her for longer than normal, she took no notice.
Upon entering the Captain's ready room, the redhead asked both of her officers over to the less formal area and inquired if they wanted drinks. Keying in a cup of coffee for herself, and a terrilian tea for Chakotay, she was flabbergasted when Seven requested a glass of iced orange juice. Shaking her head to clear it of her amusement, the smaller woman brought the requested drinks over to the low table, and sat facing her officers.
"Seven, I wanted you to join us so you might tell us what we should expect from the Nguener. I guess the Borg weren't as thorough when assimilating their species as they usually are, so why don't you tell us what you know about the race." Kathryn said then leaned back in chair to listen, sipping her coffee from a pale porcelain cup.
The Borg closed her eyes for a moment, accessing the areas of her cortical implant where the knowledge of the Nguener race was stored. She began by revealing when the Borg had become aware of the race, then went through a brief history of the Borg's strategy and success in assimilating the race. After that she detailed their physiology and gave information regarding their level of technology. "The Nguener added much to the distinctiveness of the collective," she concluded after nearly a quarter hour of speech.
Chakotay raised his eyebrows, his tattoo crinkling at the expression. "I, for one, am very glad to hear that this race wasn't completely destroyed after what you just told us. It would have been a great loss."
"Indeed, Commander. I agree," Seven replied, catching him totally off guard.
The Captain broke in, questioning Seven again. "You had said that the Borg had monitored the region after assimilating the Nguener. Why would the Borg leave survivors behind?"
"My memories of the collective show that the home world was clearly taken. I can only hypothesize that there were ships away from the world at the time, or an undetected colony. Many of their governmental officials committed suicide rather than being taken by the Borg. It was clear from the beginning of the assimilation process that they had knowledge of how the Borg functioned. Perhaps they knew that the only way to protect their colonies was for anyone who had knowledge of those colonies to die before assimilation." Seven looked slightly uncomfortable.
Chakotay was surprised when he realized that the source of her discomfort was her own culpability in past assimilations. He had spent a long time mistrusting Seven, especially when she first came aboard Voyager, but over the years she had proven herself, and he no longer felt he needed to watch her. That never stopped him from believing her to have no remorse about her past. Looking at her now, her hair down and falling gently around her face, which was further softened by her pensiveness, he felt arrogant in his assumptions and he saw a much more human woman than he ever had before now. Janeway's voice broke into his musings.
"Chakotay, I'd like you to confer with Tuvok. Take Lt. Torres with you to the Necessity so that she can best determine what we can do, and which of her people would be best suited to assist in their repairs. I want to do everything in our power to make this as easy as we can for a race that has obviously struggled. Have Tuvok report the details once you two are sure of them." Janeway nodded to him, in effect dismissing him to carry out her commands.
"Aye, Captain," he responded with a smile, rising from the small couch. He left the room after placing his glass in the recycling unit.
Once they were alone, the Captain and Seven both fell quiet for a few uncomfortable moments. Then the redhead sighed and said, "Damn Seven. If I lived to be two hundred years old, I don't think I'll ever stop regretting doing something so foolish as to put this unease between us. I had wanted to tell you that your hair looked beautiful down like that, but I am so afraid of saying something wrong that I find I can't even tell you simple things I would not have hesitated to tell you before."
Seven looked down at her hands shyly. "Thank you, Captain. Although I will say I am more comfortable with my hair up while I am on duty; it is more efficient that way. It is down now simply because I did not have time to restore it once the Red Alert was called."
"I see," Janeway answered. She stood, feeling the need to put space between them, and strode over to the windows. Looking beyond the smaller Nguener vessel in front of her ship, she found comfort in the vastness of space which always calmed her. "I do miss our friendship Seven. An old cranky Starship Captain like myself doesn't have very many friends. I've spent too many years on this journey holding myself away from the crew. Starfleet teaches command candidates to stay apart from their subordinates, so that when split-second decisions must be made a crew will always obey their commands. It hasn't been easy out here since I am the highest ranking Starfleet officer. You wormed your way past my defenses and became my friend so very quickly once you came aboard." She stopped and laughed. "I found it was impossible to keep command distance with someone who didn't believe in the chain of command."
Seven's eyebrow and implant rose a little and the corner of her mouth quirked up in amusement. The redhead caught the facial expression and understood it's meaning. She had begun to wonder if she would ever see that small smile again, which she knew, was actually somewhat equivalent to a laugh for the Borg.
"Captain … I have spent some time thinking about our friendship myself. Although I am still hurt by the brevity of that evening, I cannot help but relate your duality of nature to the very duality of my nature. You have forgiven me many times when my Borg nature has caused problems. I am left to wonder what kind of person I would become if I could not forgive you your duality also. Logically I am ready to forgive you, and find I must. However, you must understand that emotionally I still ache sometimes. The ache subsided greatly after your explanation, for which I must thank you. Perhaps in time, I will not ache at all when I remember that night."
Kathryn's heart hurt so much to hear what Seven was saying, and not be able to respond. Every night since Tuvok had initiated the retraining, she spent long hours crying herself to sleep over the blonde and her own foolish mistakes. How she longed right at this moment to tell the lovely woman before her how very deeply she affected her; how their night together as seen through a now sane mind was so infinitely precious as to be indescribable. Yet, she had decided from the start never to interfere with Seven's relationship with her Chief Engineer. Just because she had thrown away a perfect chance at a relationship with the Borg, she did not have a right to affect theirs in any way. "I hope that you can see it differently one day too," Kathryn said softly.
Clearing her throat to hopefully eliminate the lump that had formed, Janeway turned and changed the subject. "Do you mind telling me how the move is coming? B'Elanna had indicated she thought it would be done this afternoon."
"The move was successful. I had just begun diagnostics on the alcove before I was called to the bridge. I have already moved my things and will begin settling my belongings during my next free period." Seven answered.
"Well, I hope you enjoy your new space to its fullest. Just be careful about any loud late night parties. I heard your neighbor is the Captain, and she is supposedly a real stick in the mud about loud parties… unless you invite her to them." Janeway teased and finished with a wink. "And as far as your next free period… The Doctor has informed me you haven't gotten all of the regeneration he had ordered, nor did you stay off duty on the day after your injuries like he asked. Consider it an order for you to go straight back to your quarters and rest."
"I assure you Captain I am functioning with acceptable parameters," Seven said in order to try to calm the Captain's worries and avoid being ordered to be restricted even further.
Janeway held up her right hand signaling the Borg to stop. "You can't fool me Seven. I was overextending myself and being ordered to take it easy before you were out of the maturation chamber." The absurdity of that caused the redhead to laugh. "Just make the Doctor happy and catch up on your regeneration cycles tonight. I will tell B'Elanna and Chakotay to have someone else cover your shifts for the next day. Unless something comes up where we just have to have a Borg design immediately, you can expect no business calls, Captain's orders to all of the departments who rely upon you. Now if I have an ulterior motive for wanting you healthy…"
Seven canted her head and raised her eyebrow. Janeway laughed softly at the look that was so uniquely Seven's questioning look. "Hey," Kathryn started, "You are the only decent competition I ever get at Velocity. Chakotay, bless his heart has been trying to fill your shoes over the last few weeks, but Seven… I will beg if I have to in order to get my old velocity competitor and friend back." Blue-gray eyes sparkled with mirth as Janeway shot a pleading look at Seven.
Seven's mouth quirked again in a small smile. "Very well Captain. I will 'take it easy', rest and regenerate during my forced free time. However, do not be surprised if I take you up on that begging… a public forum sounds like an interesting stipulation. I must contemplate how to fully enjoy a captain's begging."
Janeway laughed out loud. They had cleared more of the air and Seven was smiling again. If Seven wanted her to crawl on her knees through the messhall in order to keep up the feeling that they were heading back to a place that recognized their friendship, well she would do so quite giddily. "Seven, go home. Rest. And remember, it's always considered diplomatic to invite the neighbors over for coffee once you feel settled in. Dismissed."
Seven stood and smiled, dipping her head in acknowledgement, then left the ready room. Striding across the bridge she was in a very happy frame of mind. It was a shame that B'Elanna could not be there with her to share her happiness, but the Nguener were getting the best when they got B'Elanna Torres' assistance.
~~~~~
When Seven entered her quarters, she was surprised to find objects that had not been there when she left lying on the low table in the front room. She walked over to the couch and sat down to examine the objects. There was a small vase with a red rose, a stuffed creature of some sort and a PADD. Picking up the PADD she found a short note of apology from B'Elanna.
Annika,
I'm sorry that our 'research' got interrupted. Believe me I Am Sorry! I have been asked to go on the away team over to the Nguener vessel, otherwise wild Targs couldn't keep me away from being at your side tonight, whether you wanted to finish this research or just talk. I left you a small welcome home gift I hope you will like. The rose is just an imperfect reflection of your beauty in my mind, but I thought it might brighten up your quarters and remind you how very beautiful I find you while I am away. The teddy bear is for you to hold… he will protect you from any bad dreams while I am gone. I hope you will consider delaying your research until I return. I would really like to continue being your subject.
B'Elanna
Seven reached out and pulled the teddy bear into her arms. She smelled the bear, inhaling deeply when she noticed that B'Elanna's scent was on it. Smiling she reached out with her human hand and touched the petals of the rose delicately. Their softness reminded her of B'Elanna's skin. She sat there for many minutes just enjoying the happiness that these small objects brought her.
Her reverie was interrupted by the chime to her door. At first she just waited for the person to come in on their own. Then she remembered that she had to allow their entry. This wouldn't be like the Cargo Bay where anyone could enter anytime they wished. It was a wonderful reminder that she finally had some privacy and if she wished she could totally ignore the chime. Nevertheless she called out "enter", preferring that simple phrase to all others she had heard over the years for its efficiency.
The door opened to reveal Harry Kim holding a dozen red roses. He was smiling, but he appeared to be nervous. She would never understand why Harry was often nervous around her. She had watched him interact with other members of the crew before and hardly ever saw this level of nervous energy. He only seemed to get this nervous before dangerous missions, and in the company of exceptionally beautiful humanoid women.
She stood and used her hand in a sweeping gesture she had seen the Captain use many times to invite him to come further in. As it was he seemed frozen in her doorway. "Harry Kim. How may I be of assistance?"
He seemed jarred back to reality and stammered. "Uh, um… here," he said as he thrust the roses out in front of him, "These are for you. I thought it would be nice to come by and congratulate you on your new quarters. I'm happy the Captain finally realized how much you deserved them." He smiled and ran a hand through his hair, disordering it with his nervous gesture.
She delicately took the flowers, and was once again lost in their scent, thinking of B'Elanna. She smiled softly as she became lost in thought about the small woman who had already given her so much. Harry though was lost in his own thoughts. He had never seen Seven smile like that. She was standing there with her eyes closed, inhaling the scent of the flowers he had just given her and smiling. He was just sure his time had come.
"I also wanted to see if maybe, I mean, now that you have your own place if you, well…" He babbled a bit. This wasn't as easy as when he rehearsed it on his way up. "I was wondering if you'd let me take you out to dinner on a date?" He finally stated in a rush.
There was a long moment of silence as she processed this. It was an unexpected turn of events. She had thought he had stopped desiring her when she had offered to copulate with him and he ran out of the room terrified. Evidently she had not analyzed the data as thoroughly as needed. She had no desire to hurt him though. She rather liked the boyish man. He was a good man with a good heart, and further, would be a good person to call a friend.
She walked over to her couch and sat down. Again she took her cue from the ways the captain and Tuvok had always treated her when she had visited their quarters and indicated that he should sit in the chair across from her. When he sat down she noticed he looked even more afraid than before he asked her out.
"Harry Kim, I cannot comply," she started and his head and shoulders fell noticeably. He started to stutter out apologies and even began to stand as if to leave. "Please! Let me explain." She raised her voice slightly to get his attention. He sat back down and looked at her. "I am obviously new to this, so I hope I won't say anything that will damage you. While I think you are a wonderful man, and a very good friend Harry, I do not have romantic feelings for you. Indeed I recently discovered that I have no romantic feelings for any man. Apparently, I am only attracted to women. I think that if you were a woman you might make a very good mate for me. You are obviously kind and very romantic in nature. I hope you will be able to remain my friend even though I do not return your romantic feelings."
Harry just sat there stupefied. He blinked several times and shook his head as if to make the new information digest easier. Finally he just asked in a squeaky high-pitched voice, "You're gay?"
"I believe that is one designation for my inclinations, although I have no idea what being happy has to do with loving a person of the same gender," she answered. She was becoming concerned for his health though. He didn't seem to be breathing correctly, and he was mumbling short nonsensical statements. Finally, he just burst out laughing. "I fail to see what is so funny Mr. Kim."
He just waved at her while he collected himself. "It's not really that funny. I think all my nerves just caught up with me. But I was thinking how ironic it was to come all the way out to the Delta Quadrant, rescue a Borg, who initially scared all then men on Voyager with her sheer strength, then have more than half of those same men fall head over heels in adoration for her beauty, only to find out that she is gay!" He snickered a little again. She just watched him confused. "What you just told me will leave a lot of broken hearts on the ship Seven. Although there are more than a few women who would be really happy to try and woo you if they knew."
"I do not understand why my attraction to women will affect anyone," Seven responded softly with a genuinely puzzled look on her face. "Nobody other than yourself has ever asked me out on a 'date'. "
He smiled and then answered her. "You really have no clue how beautiful you are… and most people on this ship only see the outside beauty since you never let anyone get close. I guess I'm lucky to have gotten to know your internal beauty too. Seven, you have a lot to offer someone. I only hope that when you start dating women, you don't settle for anything but the best. And it must be because you are so new to your feelings as to why you have never noticed how many people look at you with adoration and lust. Believe me, I can think of at least three ensigns down on the lower decks who just about crumble every time you talk to them because they have such big crushes on you. I thought you didn't respond because you didn't feel the same way. Now I know you just don't even see it."
This surprised the former drone even more than anything else had this evening. "What should I do about these ensigns?" she asked bewildered.
"Nothing Seven, that's not the point. You aren't responsible for other people's feelings. I was just pointing out how oblivious you are to the feelings you inspire. Some people think you know how beautiful you are and are arrogant about it. I am so happy to know they are wrong. Your ignorance of your own beauty just makes you that much more appealing. Whatever woman wins your heart will be lucky." Harry finished. "Well, I hope you'll enjoy the roses anyway. And thanks for letting me know why… I mean you have no idea how nervous I was and you could have really hurt me without knowing it. You are a good friend."
"Indeed, Mr. Kim. I enjoy our interactions as well. You are one of the few people aboard Voyager who has the ability to grasp Borg encryption codes, which only proves your intelligence, and also one of the few who can constantly tolerate Tom Paris, which shows your remarkable patience." She smirked.
He waved that off, a bit embarrassed from the praise. "Well, I like working with you on the Borg codes. They are so different than they taught us at the academy. And Tom? Well, he's just an over-grown kid. I mean he's actually a good guy most of the time. He has a great heart, but sometimes it's hard to see."
"I can question that statement. His 'great heart' was not present when he insulted and hurt B'Elanna in the corridor, or when he disregarded her feelings to date another." She replied.
He frowned. "Yeah, I know. He was really drunk that night. Unfortunately he doesn't think when he's drunk. He was hurting, and he wanted to hurt her because of it, and he knows what to say to hurt her the most. He was really sorry about it the next day. I convinced him to just leave her alone for now. It wouldn't have worked though if you hadn't put the fear of death into him. I had to go and pull him off the ceiling that night, and when he woke up the next morning on my couch, I made him go look at the hull where you bent it. Told him he was lucky it wasn't his head. He finally listened to me and has been leaving B'Elanna alone since then." He looked up at her. "Thanks for not hurting him by the way."
"I have no desire to hurt anyone. But I could not let him hurt B'Elanna like that. I thought a warning was an efficient way to stop his cruel remarks. I am glad it succeeded." Seven stated.
"Yeah, I'm glad she's got you as a friend. I mean I know she doesn't talk to me about Tom these days, so I figured she's been talking to you. It's great that you two buried the hatchet after the Hirogen battle. I always knew you guys had a lot in common." He said amiably. Then his face froze up as a thought occurred to him. He shook his head and laughed.
She really was getting exasperated while trying to decipher where his mirth seemed to originate from moment to moment. "What is amusing now Mr. Kim?"
He chuckled again. "I won't tell you unless you promise to stop calling me Mr. Kim and start calling me Harry from now on. Friends just don't call each other by their surnames." He responded with a grin.
"Very well, tell me what is funny Harry. Now." She glared at him but he could see a twinkle in her eye.
"I just had the funny thought that maybe you and B'Elanna were dating. It would make sense in a way, but you just said earlier that nobody other than me had ever asked you out on a date, so I figured that I was just letting my imagination run away with me. I think it's a guy thing to pair off all women once they realize one is a lesbian," he finished with a snicker.
"Actually we are trying to establish a romantic relationship Harry. Yet, neither one of us has asked for a date. Have I failed by neglecting to ask her to 'date' me?" Seven asked, her eyes large with worry.
Harry just sat there shocked for the second time that night. "Uh.. whoa.. you really are trying to keep me off balance tonight aren't you? I can't answer that Seven. I mean I don't know what you mean when you say you are trying to establish a romantic relationship. I do know two things about B'Elanna though. One: she says what she feels, so if she says she loves you, you know it's true. Two: I would be damned stupid to interfere because she could rip me limb from limb if I screwed up and gave you bad advice. On that note, I'm going to get out of here. Klingon jealousy is a damned frightening thing and if she catches me here, after I gave you a dozen roses… Well, let's just say I like my arms attached to my body." He laughed and stood to leave. "But I will give you one piece of advice," he turned and said as he was almost in range of the door sensors. "When she finally asks you out on a date, wear your hair down. You look like an angel that way, and seeing you like that today gave even me the courage to ask you out!"
She had stood and walked over to join him as he was leaving. Before he could turn away she pulled him into a hug. "I have been told a hug is of value among friends. Thank you for being mine Harry."
He blushed and stuttered out a flustered, "no problem," then made his exit with a smile and a wave.
~~~~~
Over on the Nguener ship Necessity, B'Elanna was in engineering heaven. Sure, there was a lot of work to be done, and many repairs that would have to be made before the small ship could get underway again. However, the engineers here really had some impressive designs and they had no qualms about sharing them with Voyager. They had a fascinating way of using a minimal amount of dilithium crystals in their engines that she was just itching to inspect further, but that needed to be put off until after the repairs had been completed. Their head engineer, Truhan, was a short scrawny guy, not even as tall as her, but she could tell by his hands that he liked to keep them in his engines like she did. He was a likable character with a non-stop bright smile and he was equally impressed with her knowledge. He had just left to gather some schematics for her to take back to Voyager so that she could brief and train her crews before they came over.
"B'Elanna, you have drool on your chin," Chakotay quipped.
Having not heard him approach she startled, then turned and mock glared at him. "Ha-ha Mr. Wow-I'd-love-to-hear-more-about-that-ceremony." He snickered good naturedly so she continued, "Kahless, I think I could happily get lost in this engine room for a few days." She smiled.
"Well, only as long as it takes to help them repair their damage. The Captain still hasn't decided how long we will accompany them, but she wants to make sure they are safe before we leave. Their navigator has sent over their flight route to Astrometrics and Ensign Delaney is going over it right now to see how far off course it would be for us to accompany them all the way back to their new home-world."
"Why didn't the Captain just get Seven to do it? You know she could have just looked it over and had an answer within minutes compared to the hours it will take Delaney," B'Elanna wondered out loud.
"Yeah, we all know Seven's faster, but it's good for her department to get some practice in while we're not in a crunch. Besides, the Captain's been really concerned about Seven lately. I think Kathryn is finally figuring out that she was pressing Seven too hard. The Doctor has also been up there to complain that Seven wasn't resting enough." Chakotay answered her, not realizing B'Elanna's jealous worries. "Just between you and I, I think Kathryn has also finally realized how she really feels about Seven." He said this last bit with a conspiratorial smile.
"What?" B'Elanna exclaimed.
"Oh come on B'Elanna… Don't tell me you've never noticed it. It's been obvious to a lot of us on the bridge for a while that Kathryn is in love with Seven." Seeing her angry look he misconstrued it. "Hey, I thought you and Seven buried the hatchet? Even if you don't think Seven is right for the Captain, you can't really want Kathryn alone, and you can't choose who she loves. I mean don't you think out of all the people on Voyager, the Captain deserves to finally relax some and indulge in her love?"
B'Elanna's good mood had been officially and thoroughly destroyed now. How could she explain everything she knew about what had already happened? She couldn't, because that would mean breaking a promise to Seven never to tell anyone. "Yeah, whatever."
"B'Elanna, please don't interfere. Don't tell Seven either. I don't know when or if Kathryn will ever get her courage up and ask Seven out, but I don't think she'd be too happy to know that you or I had been talking about it beforehand." Chakotay looked into her eyes for an agreement from the half-Klingon he had considered a friend for so many years.
She growled out, "Fine. I won't tell Seven. I have to get back to Truhan about those schematics, then I'll be ready to go over and assemble my teams."
"Good," he smiled thinking all was normal again. "Get me a schedule made out before you send anyone over though, and keep me updated about timelines everyday." He turned and left the engine room, flanked by a short security guard who had been escorting him all day.
Continued in next part ....