FIGURED YOU OUT

© alastria7

 

"You want to dance?"

Janeway turned to look at Chakotay, her eyes registering that she had

been very far away. She blinked and stared at him before asking, "What?"

"Dance. With me. Do you want to?"

Tom and B’Elanna looked across the table expectantly. "Go on, Captain. You can’t sit glued to that chair all night," urged Tom.

After acknowledging the logic of Tom’s words with a nod, Kathryn’s eyes swept the room one more time, looking for someone who wasn’t there, before she finally smiled at her first officer. "All right," she answered as she rose from her chair and took the hand he offered.

Chakotay led his captain out to the dance floor, silently thanking Tom and B’Elanna for their unceasing efforts to get him and Kathryn together. It had been a good idea of Tom’s, this 1940’s nightclub setting. If nothing else, it allowed him to hold her, something he had wanted to do for a long time now, and he drew his partner a little closer to him as they danced silently around the floor to a slow love song.

Kathryn allowed herself to be drawn in, feeling the need of a hug but realising that the commander wanted so much more. Whatever... right now she closed her eyes against his chest and allowed herself to be held, although her mind was far from silent. A question, in her heart and in her longing, had repeated itself throughout the evening thus far: "Where is she? Where is she?" By this point in the evening it had become a heartfelt plea but, wherever Seven was, it was very clear she was not here.

The invitation had been specific and there was no doubt in Kathryn Janeway’s mind that Seven had said yes, she would be there. She’d watched the blonde’s eyes at the time, noting that the affirmative had been born out of an adherence to ‘duty’, which had stung her a little - she would have preferred there to have been a little enthusiasm from Seven, about the evening. However, she would be there. And that would be enough.

"I noticed your faraway expression earlier," Chakotay said, smiling down at his dance partner as the song ended. "You’re really ‘out of it’ this evening, aren’t you?" Receiving only a smile, he continued, "You seemed to be scouring the room with your eyes earlier. Were you expecting someone?"

The captain cleared her throat. "I’ve been looking out for Seven. She told me she would come here tonight, and you know how she gets at this kind of thing. I was hoping to bring her to our table as soon as she arrived; sit her down and make her feel welcome; try to relax her, that’s all." She was babbling... certain he’d seen the slight coloration in her cheeks. And he must have noted her voice, which was a little unsteady.

"Well in that case, you need wait no longer," he answered, smiling as he pointed towards the door. "She came in about a minute ago. She’s been standing there, watching us."

Patting the commander’s arm, Janeway extricated herself from his arms and moved towards Seven, a look of apology preceding her words as she approached the young woman. "I’m sorry, Seven. I was dancing. I didn’t see you," she apologised.

"I noticed. I’ve been watching you," replied the ex-Borg, looking totally uncomfortable with both the setting and the clothing she was wearing. As Kathryn had chosen the outfit, there were no surprises for her - a 1940’s classic off-the-shoulders powder-blue dress with a skirt that ended mid-calf. It enhanced Seven’s blue eyes and showed off her chest like a ring box showed off a sapphire.

"Come on in," invited the captain firmly, linking her arm with Seven’s and angling her towards the nearby table. "Seven will be joining us," she said to the others, smiling fully. "Tom, bring up that chair, would you? Seven, sit here, by me."

Four members of the small gathering then fell into their usual chit chat, which was familiar and comfortable to them all. The fifth member of the group had a few problems with the evening, however. Although they’d all tried to include Seven in the general conversation, it had been hard to keep her there, beyond Seven’s usual clipped replies to their questions.

"Hey Tom, there you are," interrupted a rather beautiful brunette hologram suddenly, who had swept up to the table and was pulling Tom to his feet. "My dance, I think? Don’t worry," the hologram told the gathering,

"I’ll have him right back. You won’t miss him."

Tom smiled sheepishly at his wife but made no attempt to sit back down.

"Sure," B’Elanna agreed. "Go."

Chakotay watched the two of them leave and saw his chance, knowing that two people would still be left at the table if he and Kathryn departed. "Kathryn?" he asked, obviously wanting another dance.

But this was not who Kathryn had dreamed of having as her dance partner. "Actually, Commander, I’ve heard that the doctor’s been instructing Seven in how to dance. Isn’t that right, Seven?"

"You are correct, Captain."

"Oh," answered Chakotay, a little taken aback, thinking his captain was ordering him to dance with the young woman. "Well then, Seven," he asked politely, "would you like to dance?"

Jumping in before a surprised Seven could speak, Kathryn put a restraining hand on Chakotay’s arm. "Oh, I think that’s a captain’s prerogative, don’t you?" She smiled sweetly at him as he sat back down, noting his slightly sulky expression before turning to the blonde. "Seven?"

"I wish to sit here and observe," answered Seven, clearly flustered. "Please."

"And let all that tuition go to waste? I think not. Come on," Kathryn said, already standing and holding out a hand to Seven. "Show me what you can do, huh?"

Seven looked into the eyes of the woman she found it very hard to say no to and saw that, somewhere deep within the blue/grey, there was more than an invitation to a dance, more than being ‘the captain’s favourite’.

"Very well," she said as she made up her mind to accept.

B’Elanna’s eyebrow raised a little on her forehead as she watched the captain lead the ex-Borg to the dance floor and draw her close. There was something about the two of them that she didn’t quite... ‘Nah, couldn’t be,’ her mind dismissed, arguing against her dawning suggestion. But one look at Chakotay’s face, as he watched the two of them, confirmed her suspicions and she frowned, deep within, where it didn’t show. ‘I didn’t see THIS coming."

She watched the two dancers again, thinking she would have to step up her efforts if she wanted to get the captain together with her old friend, Chakotay.

Kathryn breathed in the clean, fresh smell of her partner and it filled her mind with all sorts of feelings, ranging from peace and happiness, right through to raw desire. Seven didn’t seem at all upset by their close proximity, and the two of them danced in silence. After a little while, Janeway pulled back a little and they started to chat, until Kathryn abruptly stopped and looked at Seven, a crooked smile breaking out on her face.

Seven’s eyes widened. "What are you doing?" she asked, somewhat alarmed when she saw her captain’s fingers coming up towards her face.

"You have a little powder on your nose; there," she said as Seven allowed her to rub the powder in and blend it.

"I am unaccustomed to wearing such additions to my appearance. I am unskilled in their application. I’m sorry."

"Oh, don’t apologise. It made you look kind of cute."

"And yet you removed it?" Seven frowned.

"The pursuit of perfection?" chided the captain, grinning, seeing Seven understand her meaning. "You’re doing very well, by the way."

"At the pursuit of perfection?" asked Seven with a hint of a smile.

"No-o. Your dancing. I must also congratulate the doctor, when I see him; he’s done a fine job."

"He has." Seven frowned, obviously thinking about something. "Captain...?"

"What is it?"

"I have amassed a large amount of holodeck tokens; I find I have no use for them. You must take some, towards this evening’s holoprogramme."

"It’s covered, Seven. B’Elanna’s treat."

"Ah."

They fell silent and drew closer again, as both of them began to concentrate on the music and its power to pull them into a state of believing they were all alone, swaying and warm, held and safe. Seven even surprised herself a little by relaxing.

Noting it, Kathryn smiled but stopped short of closing her eyes this time, although she wanted to, very much. However, she was aware of two sets of eyes probing her and her partner’s every move. "They’re watching us,"

she informed her partner.

"For precisely 2.3 minutes," agreed Seven, pulling back again to look at Kathryn.

"Bother you?"

"Does it bother you, Captain?"

"I asked first."

"No." Seven’s eyes inadvertently fell down to Janeway’s upper chest, an area she had been trying very hard to ignore, but which had finally mesmerised her. The captain’s low cut black dress was tailored very carefully to bring out the swell of her breasts. But, as Seven was now discovering, there was something else, something she had not noticed before.

The blonde stared, transfixed.

"You’re staring, you know."

"What are those?" asked Seven with genuine concern, bringing a hand around to touch the prone skin. "Is this a disease? Are you ill?"

Kathryn shivered deeply at the touch of Seven’s fingers, before realising what the young woman meant. She grinned widely, wrestling with her voice to smooth it out enough to answer. "They’re freckles, Seven," she laughed, looking at the blonde with wonder, realising yet again that this child/woman was learning as she went along. "Freckles. I’m not ill."

"Freckles," repeated Seven, frowning. "Do they hurt you?"

"Not at all."

"State their purpose."

"Freckles don’t have a purpose, Seven," explained the captain, still smiling. "They’re just there, a natural part of skin pigmentation. They’re harmless, unless you over-expose them to a radiation source, and then they could make you ill. But that’s not going to happen here. Don’t you have any?"

"I am unaware of the existence of... ‘freckles’ on my body; although you may wish to check later, to ascertain whether or not I am correct."

The offer was made in innocence, Kathryn knew, but it didn’t stop her getting a mental picture of her doing just that, checking Seven out from head to foot, with overtones.

"Captain?"

"Hmm?"

"The music; it is finished. Would you care to enter into the next dance with me?"

‘For the rest of my life,’ answered Kathryn’s mind, loving the feel of Seven’s arms around her neck, but she was not here alone and her sense of duty was propelling her back towards the friends she was currently neglecting. "Later, I hope," she answered, "but I think we should join the others for now."

"As you wish."

**********

"It went well, didn’t it?" asked B’Elanna, her eyes shining. Standing

in front of the desk in the Ready Room, she searched the captain’s face

for any kind of non-verbal response. She was looking for clues that there may be something going on between Kathryn and Seven, although she hadn’t yet given up on her efforts to pair the captain off with Chakotay.

The command mask, however, was firmly in place as Janeway ceased reading the PADD her chief engineer had just brought to her and lifted her head to study the woman. "Yes. I thought it went very well," she replied evenly, "and I want to thank you for organising it and for inviting me."

B’Elanna looked at the polite smile but she hadn’t heard enough yet. She would have to push, just a little further. "I didn’t expect to see Seven there."

"I’d asked her earlier, I didn’t think anyone would mind. I’m trying to get her to increase her social skills."

‘I’ll bet you are.’ "She seemed to cope well," the brunette conceded aloud, trying to steer her superior away from thinking about Seven and back on course, towards the commander. "Chakotay enjoyed the evening, too, don’t you think?"

Kathryn narrowed her eyes a little, studying the lieutenant and thinking for a moment. "You seem awfully keen to get the two of us together,

B’Elanna. Is there something I should know?"

Uncharacteristically shy all of a sudden, B’Elanna held the captain’s gaze and brazened it out. "Well, you’re alone, and he’s alone. And you like him, don’t you...?" But the words dried up, in light of the expression she was currently receiving.

"I like him well enough," the captain replied, with a slightly cold voice. "He’s a good FRIEND, B’Elanna, nothing more. And I’m really not looking for it to become anything more. So whatever it is you’re trying to do, I’d give it up now. Understood?"

"Uh, yes Captain. But you’ve got to admit, it was worth a shot."

"You took your shot, Lieutenant. You missed."

**********

It had been a long afternoon and Janeway was so full of coffee she could hardly sit still in her Ready Room where, for the second time this shift, she had been trying to get on with some work. A certain six-foot blonde was on her mind and, try as she might, she couldn’t shake the image of Seven, in THAT dress, in HER arms. "Oh, this is useless," she muttered to herself. "I can’t think, I can’t concentrate." She looked across at the replicator but rapidly dismissed the idea of further coffee. Then finally, sighing, she tapped her comm. badge and let go of her principles. "Seven, are you free?" she asked.

Seven’s badge was lying on top of the console instead of adorning her bio-suit, partly because her bio-suit was down around her waist. "I have been engaged in an activity suggested by Mr Paris, Captain. I would welcome the interruption, and I may also need your assistance. However, should you wish me to report to you, that will not be possible at this time."

Intrigued, the captain smiled and asked, "Where are you?"

"Cargo Bay 2."

"I’ll be right there."

"Bring a towel."

**********

Janeway took in the sight of the littered floor as soon as she entered the cavernous space of the cargo bay and she frowned, wondering what had been going on but, looking around, Seven was nowhere to be seen. "Seven?"

she called out, making her way across the floor to what looked like a partially-dismembered 20th century car engine. "Seven, where are you?"

"I’m here, Captain."

Hearing the movement behind her, Janeway looked around and instantly blushed, suddenly understanding why Seven had requested a towel. It was lucky she’d brought a large one and she threw it at the blonde rapidly, although not before taking in the fact that the woman was almost naked, her bio-suit pushed almost all the way down her body. "What on earth have you been doing?" she spluttered, standing back and concentrating hard on Seven’s face alone.

"Mr Paris suggested that I may benefit from ‘a hobby’. He lent me one of his," replied Seven, wrapping the towel around her body and obviously not too upset by her current state of undress before the captain.

"But why... this?" persisted Janeway, pointing to the towel.

"I transferred oil from ‘the hobby’ onto my clothing - rather a lot of oil. As I have failed in my attempts to remove it, I shall need to replicate a new bio-suit. With your permission... of course."

Kathryn relaxed with the explanation. But then she realised where Seven was, and the current state she was in, and how awkward it would be if anyone else entered the room. "You’ve faced me with a few things in your time here, although you’re usually unimpressed by my efforts to put things right, but this has to be one of the more interesting tests you’ve put me though. Computer? Initiate site to site transport. Lock onto Seven of Nine and Captain Janeway and beam them directly to the captain’s quarters. Authorisation..."

Seven stood thinking as her captain gave the necessary information to the ever-helpful computer and the two of them appeared in the new setting, all in a matter of seconds. "Tests?" she questioned as Janeway moved rapidly towards her computer screen. With the towel in place, Seven continued to remove her clothing, getting more oil on her skin in the process.

"Tests," confirmed the captain. "That suit of yours; the doctor’s the only one with the specifics. I’m hoping to tap into his records and get them without bothering him."

"You don’t think it would be a more efficient course of action to take me to him?"

"And let him see you like that?"

Seven simply stared until the captain got it.

"OK, OK, I know he’s seen you naked before, it’s just that..." but she couldn’t think what to say, realising she was sounding a little ridiculous.

"You are concerned about a sexual attraction, from him to me," stated Seven flatly. "May I remind you that he is a hologram."

"That’s never stopped him before," muttered the captain, almost to herself, while she worked on the computer.

"And yet YOU may see me in my present state, when it’s clear you are attracted to me?"

The captain’s triumph at finally pulling up the required bio-suit specifics took a back seat to her surprise, as blue/grey eyes met bright blue ones. "What did you say?"

"Are you going to deny that you are sexually attracted to me?"

"I wouldn’t insult your intelligence," answered Kathryn, smiling sadly before transferring the details of the suit to the replicator. Then she looked up slowly. "How long have you known?"

"Since Stardate..."

"All right, all right. You don’t have to nail it down to a day. Anyway, I refuse to talk to you about it while you’re in your current state." Retrieving the old suit, Kathryn pointed to Seven’s knees, to underline the point. "You’re dirty, Seven. You need a shower. Go," she said, indicating the bathroom, but Seven stubbornly held her ground. "What?" Kathryn asked, perplexed.

"I do not shower. My bio-suit cleanses my body."

"But you’re not wearing your bio-suit," countered Kathryn, a hint of frustration creeping into her voice. But Seven still didn’t move. "You’re not telling me that the metal on your body will rust if you get it wet, are you?" the captain asked, in a controlled voice.

"No."

"Well then, scat. Now."

Seven finally relented. "Yes, Captain."

**********

"What are these?"

Janeway looked up, doing a double take at the sight of a beautiful six-foot woman standing in her living room, wrapped only in a towel, and with her blonde falling around her bare shoulders. "What are what?" she asked, following Seven’s gaze. "Oh, those white stains? I don’t know." Janeway looked at her black dress, lying over the back of the couch, and remembered holding Seven close to her whilst wearing it - she hadn’t had the heart to re-cycle it or put it away since then. "I found them on the dress when I returned here that night. I don’t know where they came fr..."

All of a sudden the captain blanched, remembering that she hadn’t been wearing any underwear that night. The stains on the skirt were clearly in line with the tops of her legs and she desperately hoped that Seven hadn’t put two and two together, as she just had. It suddenly became very necessary to change the subject, fast. In a voice very slightly quicker than her normal speed she said, "Your new bio-suit’s ready. I did it in powder blue, I hope you don’t mind?"

"Colour is irrelevant," answered Seven, taking the suit from Janeway’s outstretched hand. "Your colour, however, is challenging. Are you all right, Captain?"

Kathryn was now adding desire for this woman to embarrassment about the dress and she battled hard to keep her face unreadable. "I’m fine."

"Very well, I shall dress and return to work." Seven dropped the towel right there, in front of a flustered captain, and stepped into the new

suit. She wasn’t wearing any underwear, either.

"Coffee?" called the captain in a slightly high voice, heading to the replicator, although a cold aqua shower might have done her more good. Seven never touched coffee but Kathryn had not been in full control of her sensibilities at the time she’d made the offer.

Seven noted the pheromone rise in her captain and smiled. She had long-since felt more than friendship towards this woman but had not known how to categorise it, although she was beginning to piece it together now. She found that their mutual attraction pleased her, very much, but said nothing as she continued to dress.

**********

"Kathryn." Chakotay stood up behind the holodeck table and leaned forward, giving Kathryn a small kiss on her cheek as she approached him. "Please, sit. Seven not joining us this evening?"

B’Elanna shot a look at her captain and hoped the answer would be in the negative, but she was about to be disappointed.

"She’ll be here soon," Kathryn answered, casting her eyes around the nightclub, silently appraising the new choice, although there would be no dancing tonight. B’Elanna had decided. There was no room for a dance floor.

"Right on cue," Tom said happily, as Seven entered the room and joined the group.

Janeway turned around to greet the blonde, who was looking resplendent in a long, loose-legged pants suit in pink, the collared shirt-like top open down to the start of her cleavage. "Hello, Seven," she greeted, patting the chair beside her. "Join me?"

Throughout the evening, Seven confidently displayed her growing social skills, maintaining conversations and causing genuine laughter whilst looking very relaxed throughout. Janeway smiled at her on several occasions, feeling proud of the way her protégé was blooming. The evening was going well. And it might have continued that way, if it hadn’t been for the mischievous intervention of a certain chief engineer.

B’Elanna had wanted to know which way the captain would turn if she were too drunk to care about what she was saying, or who she was saying it to and, unbeknown to Janeway, the engineer had been spiking her drinks all evening.

The scent of Seven was working its way, seductively, up through Kathryn’s nostrils to her brain. She tried hard to concentrate on the conversation around the table, but the scent wouldn’t let her be. In reply to it, she snaked her arm around Seven’s waist, pulling the two of them closer together as they sat side by side on their chairs, and she breathed in more of the scent.

Seven said nothing, nor did she attempt to move away, and the woman’s passive reaction gave Kathryn confidence, as her senses bowed to the alcohol in her system. "Seven?" she slurred, interrupting Chakotay’s conversation. B’Elanna watched with interest.

"Yes, Captain."

"Eeew, Kathryn, please." She blinked to refocus. "Seven? Would you like to dance with me again? Tonight? Right now?"

The suggestion was an impossible one. "Do you intend to push the

tables aside?" asked Seven, a rare smile pushing her eyebrows aloft.

"Or dance on the tables?" offered B’Elanna helpfully.

"Or dance on the tables," repeated the drunken captain, standing up and attempting to climb up on her chair. "What a good idea. C’mon, Seven, let’s do it."

"If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were drunk," laughed Chakotay, guiding the captain back down and sitting her on her chair.

"Don’t be ridiculous. Of course I’m not drunk."

Having to hold her as she tried to climb up on the table again, Chakotay had his suspicions confirmed from the smell of her breath. "You ARE drunk!"

"Now how could I be drunk?" asked Kathryn reasonably. "I’ve been drinking the same thing you have, haven’t I?" Daring the others to disagree, she glared around the table and then back at him. It was a Force Ten glare, and he had the sense to back off. Then she smiled at him, considering the matter closed, and turned again to Seven, stretching out her hand. "That dance? Please?"

Tom interceded this time, reaching across the side of the table to hold Kathryn’s arm as she tried to stand. "Captain, you are a little tipsy. Perhaps it’s best to sit this one out, huh?"

"Stand aside, Mr Paris. There are some things you shouldn’t stand in the way of."

"Oh, and what are they?" asked B’Elanna, thoroughly enjoying herself now.

"True love," slurred Kathryn to a shocked audience, reaching down to

pull Seven to her feet before holding Seven’s face firmly between her hands and kissing the startled woman. The three table-mates stared in open-mouthed surprise as they watched the snatched kiss turn into a very real kiss in front of them all. Seven, who had allowed her feelings to overtake her sensibilities, suddenly seemed to realise where she was and broke off, pushing Kathryn away from her. With a look of total embarrassment on her face, she ran out of the holodeck and away. "Seven!" called Kathryn, preparing to follow her, but Chakotay’s strong arms held her back.

"Let her go," he said firmly as Seven exited the holodeck. "It wouldn’t be wise for you to be seen out in the corridors, pursuing Seven in this state."

"If we’re talking ‘wise’, commander," answered Janeway, suddenly sobering up a little, "it would be wise for you to take your hands off me, right now. I’ve taken your warning on board," she continued, blinking the blur from her eyes, "but I have to follow her, and you have to let me."

Chakotay relaxed his grip and looked at the ground as the captain ran after Seven.

**********

"Seven?"

"Stay away from me. You ruined it. You’ve ruined it all."

"Where are you?" The captain peered into the darkened cargo bay but couldn’t see the object of her pursuit.

"Over here," called Seven from way down the room. She stepped out from behind a storage container into the open and stood watching as the captain approached, her Borg hand crushing the pot of face powder that she had now come to hate. "Everything had been going so well," she cried with feeling. "Why did you have to wreck it?"

"Seven, I swear, I never meant to wreck anything," said Kathryn, finding herself sobering up pretty fast now as she reached for Seven and placed

a hand on the woman’s arm. "Believe me, I wouldn’t want to hurt you for the world."

"But you did. You humiliated me, in front of the others."

"And I’m sorry for that. I wasn’t in control of myself. But you kissed me back, you know? I thought you were OK with what was happening."

"You’re missing the point, Captain."

"Oh," said the last of the captain’s alcohol. "We’re back to ‘Captain’ now, are we?"

"How am I supposed to face them again?" Seven accused. "And you? You were so drunk you might have passed out on the floor. Would you even have cared?"

"But I didn’t, did I?"

"You showed no self-respect in acting as you did. And what about me? What about my feelings?"

"Now just a minute. Let’s just get one thing straight here, shall we? I did not get drunk intentionally. Someone spiked my drinks, and I have a

vague idea who that person might have been," said the captain, thinking of B’Elanna. "I think it was done purely to gain the reaction that it did; to humiliate me and, by association, you."

"If that’s true, who would do such a thing?"

"I think it’s best I don’t say. Not until I’m sure, anyway."

The two women, standing quite close, had lapsed into an awkward silence, neither knowing what to do or say next, until the silence was finally broken by Janeway. "Seven, I..." she began.

"Captain, I require you to leave now. I must regenerate." Seven looked past her superior and down the room, avoiding eye contact, but she heard the sigh that came from the woman she had just rejected; a woman who knew that Seven’s regeneration cycle didn’t need to be repeated for another 6 hours at least.

"Very well. If you think it’s best. But, Seven?" Seven remained silent but did finally look at the captain. "You’re doing so well in your social skills. I wouldn’t like to think this episode might put you off. You must continue." Kathryn looked almost defiantly at the blonde, daring her to disagree.

Seven flinched, although not visibly, as she thought of the nightclub and suddenly she hated the place, together with all the other holodeck settings they had ever gone to. She thought of Janeway’s actions earlier and how it had ruined the evening for her; but that wasn’t the only thing the captain’s actions had ruined. "Goodnight, Captain," was all she could say in reply.

The captain smiled weakly and left.

**********

Kathryn Janeway pursued Seven of Nine for some time after that night, but each time Seven found a way of avoiding her. Finally, the captain had called by Cargo Bay 2 late one night and had poured out her heart to the blonde. She had told her how much she loved her and that she would do anything to try to put this right between the two of them. But it was all to no avail. And when she finally pleaded to know why Seven would not give her another chance, the answer had been that Seven was essentially a private person. As she could no longer trust Janeway not to show her up in public, there would be no letting go to this love that she undeniably felt.

Finding out that Seven loved her too was almost too much for the captain to bear, knowing that the woman would never accept a relationship between the two of them now. Whatever had been between them, it would go no further. The hope, the excitement, the wonder... it was all gone for good. This was it. Finished.

Having tried as hard as she possibly could, Kathryn never actually managed

to prove B’Elanna’s involvement in that disastrous evening’s events, which

might have vindicated her in Seven’s eyes. Instead, the captain stored her

pain and went about her job in much the same way as she done in the early

days of the Delta Quadrant, when she was missing Mark. She lost herself in

her work. But in her private moments, she still dreamed of losing herself in an extraordinary woman called Seven of Nine.

Throughout the long dark days that followed, her mind kept repeating seven little words, over and over again: ‘Who knows what the future may hold?’

It gave her hope.

As for Seven, she’d figured out that Janeway’s unguarded, exhibitionist side was too much for her sensitive and private nature. The love she felt for this woman would be purged from her system, much as she had slowly purged her need of the Collective. In this way, she could function. She could meet with her captain daily and take orders without crying inside.

Every day she succeeded a little more.

It gave her hope.

 

 END