Rescue Me
Katherine Janeway had entered her cabin, and the door hissed closed. It had been a week since they returned to Earth, and she only had a few more days left on Voyager before she had six months off. She proceeded to take off her con badge and her four pips laying them down on her right bed stand. Janeway knew this had to stop, her feelings for Seven of Nine was inefficient, at least that is what Seven would say to her if the subject was broached; but Katherine knew that would never occur. Oh, Katie you have it very bad for Astrometric’s officer, and she’s also taken.
Janeway poured herself a bath, and climbed in. “Oh this feels so good.” Just as she closed her eyes the chime to her cabin rang. “Who the hell is that? Computer, who’s at my door?”
“Seven of Nine.”
“Shit, computer open my door.”
The door slid open; Seven hesitantly entered the captain’s cabin. “Captain?” Seven walked through the living room, and headed toward the noise. Janeway slipped out of the tub and landed straight on her ass. Seven rushed into the bathroom, demanding “Captain are you damaged?” Katherine had lain on the floor rubbing right cheek, “Seven hand me a towel please.”
Seven reached for the towel and with one fluid motion she raised her captain to her feet, and wrapped the towel around the delicate woman’s body. Janeway didn’t even realized what had occurred until Seven had escorted her back into her bedroom.
“Should I inform the doctor of your fall?”
The captain shot Seven a pained look, “As you wish. You require a suitable outfit.”
Katherine looked down at her bare feet and suddenly realized that Seven had just seen her naked, down to the very core. Katherine was glad the lighting in her bedroom was down low, so Seven couldn’t see her face flush with crimson.
“I suppose I do. Seven would mind waiting for me in the living room?” Seven reluctantly marched into the other room as Katherine thought it was odd. What the hell is she doing here at this hour? Could it be that she desired to see me? Katie, you are one sorry son of bitch, and you need a life. As she dressed in casual night attire, “I’m working on it, I’m back on Earth.” she mumbled to herself.
Seven stood looking out the bulkhead window wondering why Katherine was talking to herself, when she was waiting for her in the living area.
“Seven please sit down.” Seven gave in to the captain’s order, and sat upright yet still at attention.
“Can I get you something?”
“I do not require anything at this time.”
Katherine’s back faced Seven, “Of course, not, you don’t need anything, or anyone.” Seven was startled by the captain’s last comment, which she was sure she wasn’t supposed to hear. “Captain, you do realize I can hear you from over here?”
Stunned Katherine turned around, for the second time this evening Janeway found herself at the mercy of her Borg friend. “I’m sorry Seven, I’m having a bad night, and I don’t know why I said that.”
Seven watch Janeway cross the living room, and settle down on the couch next to her, but there was enough space between them that another person could have just as easily sat down in between them.
“What’s on your mind Seven?” Seven tilted her head for a moment and reflected on the Captain’s mood, was not a good one, but what was it? She could not identify the tension she felt. Seven often felt her shoulders tense when she was around Janeway, it stemmed from their usual combatant mode, but this tension was entirely different. Lately Seven had been feeling, attracted to Janeway, but she was all ready dating Chakotay, this was confusing her. Janeway had been her friend and her mentor for a long time now but things were changing between them. Janeway was curt and almost hurtful, yet what had she done to cause the Captain grief? Seven cared very deeply for Janeway, but did Janeway care for her?
Seven, hello, Seven, can you hear me? Janeway rose off of her couch and sat down next to her officer and placed her hand on Seven’s forearm.
“Are you okay?” Janeway asked.
Janeway’s voice snapped Seven out of her reverie. “Yes, Captain, I was just thinking about you.” Janeway straightened her posture, Seven was thinking about me? “Why?” Seven turned her body toward Janeway. “I am concerned about you.” Janeway laughed. “For what reason, I’m flattered that you would even concern yourself with my behavior, but I’m okay.”
Seven knew as soon as Janeway was finished speaking that she had not been telling her the truth. Janeway’s pulse flowed more rapidly through her veins and her heart rate sped up. Seven was determined to get to the truth.
“Captain, I believe you are fibbing to me.” Janeway stood up suddenly, back into her captain mode. “You’re out of line Seven.” Seven matched Janeway’s posture standing in the Captain’s personal space. “I have known you for four years now, and I can recognize when you are telling a ‘white lie’, you do that when you want to avoid telling someone the truth, but you are not being completely honest about your feelings. Please tell me why you have distance yourself from me, and why have you cancelled our last three Velocity matches? I thought… we were friends? Are we no longer friends? Have done something to hurt you?” Seven could not ask anymore questions, her voice suddenly felt heavy, like her heart. Janeway stood there like deer caught up in a car’s headlight, when did Seven pay attention to her moods, and how come she suddenly cares about her feelings?
“Seven, I don’t know what you mean I have not distance myself, I’ve been busy, I am the Captain after all.” Did that convince Seven, it didn’t really convince her? Seven moved out of Janeway’s personal space and marched towards the exit door. “Goodnight Captain, we will talk when the truth finds you.” Seven could not listen to anymore half truths, or ‘white lies’ from Janeway, Seven could not bear it. Janeway panic, oh shit, I’ve pushed her too far, but how did this happen so fast? One minute I was in control, and now, she’s in control. “Seven, wait, please don’t go.” Janeway’s voice cracked as she said please, what was happening to her? How did she get here? Seven had always been her student in humanity and now Janeway suddenly felt lost, she was helplessly in love with the thorn in her side.
Seven turned around, waiting with one hand on her hip for the forthcoming explanation and it better be the truth, thought Seven, she wanted to get to the bottom of Janeway’s abandonment. “Will you tell me why you have abandoned me?”
Startled by Seven’s words Janeway responded immediately by taking Seven’s arm and guiding them back to the couch. “I didn’t realize I had abandoned you. Can you give me an example of how?” Seven sighed in expiration; did she not clearly express herself a few moments ago?
“Captain, as I previously stated, you had cancelled our matches three times, you have not met me for breakfast in over a month, even though I have waited in the mess hall for ten point three minutes after our normal meeting time. You have not met my gaze in three weeks and two days, I feel like I have disappointed you, but I do not understand what I could have done? Please tell me.” Seven glanced down at her hands on her lap, why was talking to the captain so hard?
Janeway wanted to run out of her cabin screaming, because she suddenly felt like quarters were too small, all of the air in her lungs could not formulate a single word, instead Janeway lifted the palm of her hand and cupped Seven’s chin. Seven’s eyes met Janeway’s and the truth could no longer be avoided.
“I love you Seven.” Janeway gulped and she said the words that would forever change their relationship.
“You love me?”
Janeway only nodded, no other words came out. Seven stared at her captain for a longer moment, Janeway’s hands were still on her, and suddenly Seven felt heat from inside of her stomach, and it ached. She felt confused and yet, she suddenly noticed Janeway licking her dry lips, Seven wanted to replace Janeway’s tongue with her own, but why? She needed more information.
“Yes, Seven with all of my heart.”
“You are in love with me.” Seven asked in disbelief.
“Yes, I have been for a very long time.” Janeway sat back against her couch and closed her eyes. She felt Seven’s piercing eyes, searching, longing, and discovering the truth within herself. After a long time Seven finally breathed and uttered, “Chakotay loves me too.”
Janeway opened her eyes, “I know Seven, and I know you’re supposed to marry him.” Seven shifted her body to face Janeway. “How do you know this? Did he tell you?”
Janeway’s body also turned to face her friend. “No, Admiral Janeway did.” “Yes, she told me too.” Janeway knew this was all wrong she shouldn’t ask her friend this but she needed to put her feelings in perspective. “Seven do you love Chakotay?” Seven stood, and did what Janeway would do when confronted with a difficult problem. She mimic her mentor. Janeway watched in utter bemusement, she had never witness this type of nervous behavior from Seven, maybe there was slight chance that Seven had unidentified feelings for her. Janeway watched as Seven paced for a few minutes, after each tense moment Janeway lost her initial smile, this was a difficult for her friend, and that she didn’t like.
“What’s wrong Seven, can I help you?”
Seven stopped and stared at her captain, “I can’t see how.”
“Seven are you confused about your feelings?”
Seven huffed as she came back to rest her feet next to Janeway. Janeway realized she needed comfort now and placed her hand on Seven’s forearm. Seven closed her eyes to prevent the tear that was forming in her tear duct. Janeway saw the sprinkle of water leave Seven’s eyes. “I’m sorry Seven I shouldn’t have put you in this impossible position.” Janeway raised her hand and gently wiped the tear from Seven’s face as she leaned in the gentle caress. Janeway was surprised at herself for being so openly loving, but what got to her more was Seven’s response.
“You have only expressed your true feelings for me Captain, but I seem unable to express mine. If you had asked me yesterday how I felt about Chakotay, I would have given you a different answer than now.” “I don’t understand what you mean Seven.” Janeway dropped her hand from Seven’s face and placed them on her own lap. “Last night I felt certain of my feelings for him, but after your confession I suddenly feel confused, like I don’t want to disappoint you.”
Janeway lowered her eyes and head; she was ashamed that she had told Seven of her feelings. She did not want to impose her feelings, that were clearly not returned, and now Seven feels bad about it. Of course she did not want to hurt Janeway, Seven was a caring person she wouldn’t do that. “Seven, you could never disappoint me, I’m afraid I’m the one whom you should be disappointed in.” “How so Captain, you were only being honest with me. You wanted me to have all the facts prior to making a life long decision.” Janeway shook her head no. “I’m being selfish Seven, for the last few weeks I’ve never seen you look more radiant and lovely and I know it has nothing to do with me. I guess somewhere I had hoped that all our fighting, and tension that underneath was love. I was selfish and wanted you for myself. I’m very sorry to put you in this position: I hope you can forgive me. Please.”
Seven’s mind exploded she did not want her Captain to be upset, she wanted to take the pain away, so without thinking Seven took Janeway’s chin and pointed it toward Seven, and she leaned in very slowly and kissed Janeway. Seven had no idea why she took that action, it was only meant for lovers to do that, not friends. So why did she kiss her friend. Janeway’s mind froze, but her lips did not and they went along with kiss, until her mind screamed, she’s doing this out of pity Katie, stop her, you don’t want her to kiss you out of pity. Janeway’s mind wouldn’t stop, but I love her. Janeway got a grip on her emotions, and gently moved her lips away from the most gorgeous woman she’s ever known. Seven’s heavy lidded eyes sparked disappointment.
“Why did you pull away Kathryn?” “Because I had to, because you don’t love me, and you are only doing this because you feel sorry for me.”
After experiencing Janeway’s kiss vs. Chakotay kiss, there was no comparison, Seven wanted more from Janeway, her heart exploded when Janeway’s lips were upon hers. Chakotay lips made her only feel like she was getting a lip message. She had often wondered why she did not feel more than that, but now she understood what it felt like to be kissed.
“I do not feel sorry for you, I admit that the reason I kissed you at first was to comfort you, but immediately after our lips met, my heart exploded into a million little pieces and I wanted to grab you and…” Janeway smiled as she watched Seven flusters, this made Janeway perk up.
“What else did you what to do Seven?” “I wanted to kiss every inch of your body.” Janeway smiled fully, she wanted to jump for joy. “I certainly wanted that too, Seven, but what about Chakotay?” Seven tilted her head, “I must terminate my relationship with him.”
Janeway felt utterly relieved, and excited all at the same time. “Are you sure about this, I mean, you must have felt passion before.” “Never have I felt so much, so deep, so fast before. I can’t believe I never saw this attraction between us before.” “Darling, the only thing that matters is that you do now.” Seven took Kathryn’s hand in her own and gently rubbed it. Kathryn, felt for the first time since they arrived back in the Alpha Quadrant that things would be okay.