The Fear of Being Alone
 

Prologue

0900 Hours

Captain's Log: Personal
Stardate: 50324.5
Subject: Crazy

[Begin recording...]

"Well, what can I say? I�ve clearly lost my mind?no, really this time it's true?

Or at least I think it is?

Then again, is anyone ever certain that they�ve gone crazy...or does insanity preclude understanding that you�ve lost your mind? I really have no idea, and I'm certainly not going to ask anyone?that�s all I need. God, I can hear Chakotay laughing at me already?

But really?there honestly is no other way to explain my recent behavior?"

After several silent moments of introspection, the computer quietly reminded the captain that her log was still active with a soft series of beeps. Blinking several times, Janeway pressed an elegant, but unenthusiastic finger to her workstation console to pause the recording. Rubbing her left deltoid muscle with her right hand, she, by rote, removed herself from her desk and meandered toward her replicator, while another war was waged in her mind.

Janeway never could remember a time when her conscious didn't argue with her; however, lately, her 'little voice' was anything but little. And even more disturbing, it had suddenly started sounding very much like her mother, Gretchen. Although, that wasn�t as bad as when it sounded like her younger, antagonistic sister, Phoebe, which was the norm.

"Kathryn Janeway! What is the matter with you? If I weren't absolutely certain you hadn't lost your mind, I would say you've lost your mind! Have you become so detached from your emotions that you can't understand one of the most easily identifiable emotions there is to know?"

"No!" Janeway countered, fiercely, irritation threading through each of her quick, jabbing movements as she accessed her replicator and ordered another cup of coffee. "That's wrong... you're just wrong. I'm crazy...and that's all there is to it," she spat, but her unconvincing words dissipated into the agitated air of her Ready Room before they carried more than a few meters.

Clutching onto her coffee with both hands as if it was the only thing keeping her from breaking down completely, she made her way back to her desk and plopped unceremoniously into the chair. Setting aside her beloved drink, she placed her warm hands over her eyes, and whispered her new found mantra over and over into the air, hoping she would start to actually believe herself, "You're wrong...I'm just crazy...you're wrong."

"Kathryn really...who, prey tell, are you trying to fool and why are you acting like such...such a child?"

"Because you're wrong, I told you! It can't possibly be true...Starfleet captains don't... don't...they just don't!"

"Yes, they do...they do. Sooner or later, it happens to them all. You are no different. Face it, Kathryn, you are human...no matter how hard you try to deny it. It is your essence. You are compassionate, understanding, warm, feeling...and not above falling in love."

"Enough!" Janeway barked, jumping out of her chair. Stalking about furiously, she continued her passionate, yet unbelievable denial, "Starfleet captains do not fall in love with crewmembers, dammit!"

"Yes they do."

"Well, then they shouldn't!" she growled, stomping out a familiar path on her threadbare carpet, knowing that she must look completely pitiful right now, but not able to stop herself from talking, or rather yelling at herself since she had gone so long now without anyone else to confide in. "And besides, that's not the even the point. I'm not in love...maybe...possibly lust, but not love. No, I'm just crazy...or I'm being influenced by an alien entity...or some kind of spatial anomaly we've haven't detected yet."

"Jesus, Mary, and Joseph! An alien entity? If that is what you think then you are crazy!"

Spurred on, Kathryn continued, quickening her monotonous trek from her desk to the stairs that lead to the elevated level of her office, and back again, "Yes, see...I'm simply crazy. Yes, that's it! It's so much simpler that way...insanity, I can live with insanity. I can function with insanity?Starfleet captains do it all the time?it's just part of the job."

With that declaration, she had efficiently silenced her baffled opponent. Feeling slightly refreshed, she snatched up her coffee and sank smoothly into the molded leather of her desk chair. Gaining confidence with each pull on her cooling mug, she tapped the console on her workstation again with vigor to continue her log, thinking, "I'm not in love?I'm merely crazy...and overworked...but certainly not in love..."

[Resume recording...]

"Yes, where was I? Oh right, insanity? "

 
1400 Hours
Two Days Previous

The intrepid, yet slight and compact form of the U.S.S. Voyager's commanding officer lounged comfortably and rather ungracefully across the length of her blue Ready Room sofa as she watched the starfield hang lazily just beyond the transparent aluminum windows of her quaint office. Despite the fact that she still had several reports to peruse and approve before the end of her shift, Janeway was taking an increasingly rare opportunity to admire the space that had entranced her from youth. Currently, the ship was at a full stop while repairs were being made to the starboard warp nacelle. Normally, Janeway would have simply switched to impulse to keep her beloved ship and crew from becoming prey to any one of a dozen alien ships that inhabited this sector, but the procedure was a delicate one, and required several crewmembers to don space suits and take a trip to the outer hull. Therefore, they were also doing some general maintenance on the impulse engines and were at a dead stop. Even though she could feel the apprehension of their vulnerability dancing on her already tense shoulders, a little part of her was glad for the opportunity to just stop and marvel at the wonder that was space.

Softy sighing in equal parts content and frustration, Janeway set her responsibilities aside, something that wasn't easy to do, and for a few precious moments allowed herself to be Kathryn. It was good to be alive in the universe?it was good to be surrounded by such beauty.

Kathryn Janeway's blue-grey eyes swirled with emotion becoming a bright indigo as her mind was whisked away into nostalgia. "Beautiful," she whispered into the smooth fabric of her tunic that was protectively covering the arm she used to cradle her head. Jovial images of her childhood and adolescence began a colorful parade across her vision, and it took every bit of her tremendous strength to keep the tears, both of mirth and sorrow, from staining her classic features. For now, she held them at bay, but as her memories slowly progressed into her near past, it only took one heartbreaking image of a solitary ex-Borg drone to undermine all her efforts. Utterly defiant was this majestic creature to Janeway, even in the recesses of her own mind where her will was usually more commanding than even the power of her rank.

The captain closed her now stormy eyes when she recalled one of their first tumultuous encounters in the Brig. Sighing heavily, Janeway flinched visibly as she remembered the way the still very Borg woman had glared at her. Her deathly pale, craggy and scarred face had shown so much ire and immobilizing fear that even now, soon coming on three years later, it still hurt Janeway greatly to know that she was partly the cause of all that pain. Although, that didn't mean that she wouldn't do it all over again, in less than a heart beat. Truth be known, severing Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct to Unimatrix 01, formerly Annika Hansen from the Borg Collective was the one big decision Captain Kathryn Janeway knew she would make again and again, despite the circumstances or the universe. And if there ever was a hint of doubt in this woman's mind, all she had to do was look into Seven's now angelic face and all of her insecurities would promptly do an about face. Sometimes, she thought that if freeing Seven of Nine was the only thing she ever did right again, well?she could live with that and die a happy woman.

As fate, or maybe it was just the luck of this heavily burdened starship captain, would have it, there was little if any time for reflection. There was just always something more pressing?always.

Janeway propped herself onto her shoulder, but left her feet sprawled across her couch, and wiped the salty remnants of her regard from her face as she admitted the visitor who was beckoning from just outside her Ready Room doors, with a husky, "Come in."

"Maybe one of these days the universe will stop getting its kicks at my expense," she thought corrosively as the pneumatic doors parted to reveal none other than that very solitary ex-Borg drone.

"Captain, I have the latest update from Engin?" Seven began as soon as she was granted admittance into the captain's private office, but the normally stoic Borg faltered as she looked up from her PADD to notice that the captain was not at her desk. She was taken aback further when she noted that Janeway was lying rather luxuriously on the couch, propped up on one elbow. Seven of Nine noticed immediately that not only was her captain not attempting to present herself in a more professional position, as she usually did, but she looked also as if she had been crying. Seven's Borg enhanced vision could clearly pick up the redness in the normally crystalline eyes and the slight damp spot on the captain's collar. Not sure how to approach this situation, Seven did what was comfortable: she turned slightly toward Janeway, rested her hands together at the small of her back and titled her head ever so to the right to indicate that she was prepared to receive instructions.

Seven's metallic ocular implant that quite nicely framed her left eye caught the light from the overhead lights in the Janeway's Ready Room, casting a small, endearing shadow across the otherwise porcelain face. Janeway couldn't help but smile at the memory of her sentimental revere. "Speak of the devil," she remarked quietly in her trademark smoky voice, knowing that Seven's enhanced hearing would pick it up. Honestly, she didn't care. If she would have had more time, Janeway was certain she would have wondered what was bringing on this playful side of her, but right now it was clearly time to be the captain again, so she pushed the thought from her mind.

The tall, lengthy blonde raised her metal encased eyebrow at the redhead's dubious remark, and merely allowed, "Captain?" knowing that the older woman would explain if she wished to do so.

Janeway understood that was her cue to stop being so dramatic, so she pushed herself the rest of the way up and swung her legs off the sofa until she was sitting. Leaning back, she answered her young Astrometrics officer's question brushing back a few rebel strands of auburn kissed hair, "It's just a figure of speech, Seven. It means that I was just thinking about you."

If Seven was surprised by the admission, especially considering she was certain Kathryn had been weeping, she did well not to show it. Instead, she merely added yet another of the captain's colloquialisms to her eidetic memory, nodded her head in acceptance and got right to the point, as usual, but decided that she would attempt to 'cheer' the captain up or show her that even though she didn't always say it, she was rather fond of the starship captain and thankful for what she had done for her. "Captain, I have the latest update from Engineering. Lieutenant Torres asked me to bring this to you since �I had nothing better to do,' as she put it." Disengaging from her normal stance, Seven ascended the two small stairs and held out the PADD for Janeway.

Janeway didn't try to hide the frown on her face as she accepted the small data device. "Seven, you aren't B'Elanna's lackey. If you had something more pressing to do than run her errands, you could have told her no."

And it was just then that she saw it. "Yes, yes there it is. Seven is smiling, just a little, but it's still there?how lovely."

"Captain," Seven started, although not sure how to proceed. In truth, Seven found herself in this exact situation with the captain on several occasions; however, her past experiences with the emotions that this woman caused her never seemed to be enough to prepare her for the next round. Steeling herself, Seven continued on the next beat, "While it is correct that Lieutenant Torres could have indeed submitted this report to you herself, I was more than willing to," she paused for a moment to choose her words carefully�one thing that didn't come easy for the hyper intelligent Borg, "to 'take a break' from her 'hair' and seek more amicable company."

Kathryn wasn't certain whether she should laugh or cry. That proclamation was absolutely the sweetest thing she had ever heard come out of Seven's mouth, but the ever-present captain in her settled for a small chuckle and a much more rare smile. Not just any smile, but a true Janeway smile; the kind that could light up an entire room and was not recommended viewing for the faint of heart. She didn't even bother correcting Seven's slight blunder; frankly, she liked the adage better the way Seven had phrased it.

Feeling a bit wistful, Janeway reigned in her grin, reluctantly, and got to her feet. Feeling the need for just one more cup of coffee, she negotiated the small space between Seven and her couch, slightly brushing the fingertips of her left hand against Seven's tightly clothed hip as she passed, as if she couldn't negotiate the space without moving the Borg. If the touch was noticed by either of them, no one chose to comment, something Janeway was becoming increasingly grateful of; however, again, she didn't give her actions a moments cogitation.

Approaching the replicator, she glanced back toward Seven who had descended the stairs, and asked, although already knowing the response, "Can I get you something?"

Seven had been prepared for this question the moment the captain had risen, so she answered, sticking with her objective to show the captain that there was nothing about Seven that she should cry about, she answered, "Yes, Captain?cranberry juice...please."

For the second time in so many minutes, Janeway was caught completely off guard. She couldn't remember the last time Seven had agreed to 'tea time,' so to speak. Shaking her head and chuckling to herself, another grand Janeway smile graced her thin lips as she reached the wall. Resisting the urge to order a glass of champagne to celebrate this occasion and steady her increasingly nervous demeanor, she quickly made her selections and watched them appear within the energy grid. Snatching up the a steamy mug of coffee for herself and Seven's cranberry juice she gestured toward the couch handing the delicate glass cup to Seven, "Have a seat, dear."

That definitely got the cool blonde's attention, albeit, there wasn't much that got by Seven, especially in regards to this one human female.

"Captain?" Seven queried, accepting the cup, but steadfastly remaining exactly where her feet were planted.

"Yes?" returned Janeway as she eased into a sitting position, determined not to spill a drop of the coffee. Glancing over to Seven who had a most peculiar expression on her face, she requested, kindly, "Please sit down, Seven?it's just not the same if you don't."

"Very well," Seven answered before taking up residence in absolutely the farthest seat from the captain, except for the captain's desk chair which Seven would never presume to sit in without explicit permission; although, she wasn't certain as to why she suddenly felt the need to distance herself from the smaller redhead, who, when just moments ago, she had the almost overwhelming desire to embrace as she had passed. Clearly, she would have to do much more research in the social practices of Starfleet captains because from the moment she entered Janeway's office today she felt like she was barely treading water. Still perplexed, but not certain as to how to proceed, Seven deemed it appropriate to simply sit in silence and assimilate this new data. She was determined to understand these eager yet anxious emotions as quickly and efficiently as possible.

After several healthy swigs of the rich java, Janeway set her cup down only to find that Seven hadn't touched a drop of her beverage. In fact, Janeway became distinctly aware that she was being monitored intensely. Feeling a little ill at east under the scrutiny, she shifted in her seat and asked, "Is there something wrong with your drink?"

Seven of Nine momentarily brought her glass to eye level to examine it. After no more than five seconds of intense study, she answered, "It is acceptable," but still she did not drink from it, nor did she take her eyes off Janeway.

"Well aren't you going to drink it?" Janeway asked carefully. After all, Seven had spent eighteen years of her life as a Borg drone; one never knew what she would do or say next. A quality Janeway revered, even when the majority of the crew did not.

"I will comply" and with that she drank, and drank until it was gone. Setting the cup on the captain's glass coffee table in front of her with purpose, she requested, flat, "Captain, define the designation, 'deer.'"

Reaching for her coffee again, Kathryn muttered, bringing the silver mug to her lips, "Huh?"

Seven's curiosity kept her from sighing. She was normally annoyed when she was forced to repeat herself, a frequent occurrence when dealing with humans; however, Seven tended to grant Janeway a much higher level of patience simply out of respect and admiration. "One point eight minutes ago you referred to me as 'deer.' I am curious as to what this designation means. It is a quadruped mammal found on the North American Continent of Earth, is it not?"

Thankfully, the captain had just swallowed her coffee; she was certain that if she hadn't it would have ended up all over herself and a significant portion of the table and couch. Setting down the almost criminal liquid, she wiped a few drops from the corner of her mouth and stated, "Yes...deer, as in D. E. E. R. is an animal on Earth, but I referred to you as dear, as in D. E. A. R.." Trying to remember why in heaven's name she had called Seven, dear, not even recalling that she had done so, but knowing the pedantic, although charmingly so, in the captain's eyes, Borg would not be mistaken, she finished hoping it would be enough to answer the ever-curious woman's question, readying herself if it was not. "Dear is a term of affection or endearment, Seven. I assume I called you that because you are dear to me."

And there it was again?Seven's smile.

"Yes, I definitely can die a happy woman just knowing Seven has learned how to smile."

This was all too much data to for the lady Borg to assimilate at once. Within seconds of the captain's answer, Seven was certain that she was malfunctioning, but the sensations cascading throughout her body, implant and flesh alike, where too pleasurable for her to alert Sickbay just yet. However, she definitely knew that she had to do?something?to keep herself from falling forward from dizziness. Mimicking the actions of her humanity mentor, she immediately snatched up her empty cup to refill it. "I am in need of liquid refreshment." But standing turned out to be a more difficult task than she had calculated. In a moment of utter gracelessness, Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct to Unimatrix 01, swayed backward and then over compensating for the vertigo, stumbled forward into the arms of Captain Kathryn Janeway, who had immediately started to her feet as Seven's normally alabaster cheeks had flushed into a deep shade of rose.

Miscalculations seemed to be the theme for that day, because Janeway, not used to catching fainting ex-Borg, forgot how the implants in Seven's body made her weight deceivingly heavy despite her thin frame, and with a rather loud umph both women toppled onto the couch. Kathryn took the brunt of the fall and ended up in a position not very becoming of a commanding officer. However, as soon as she adjusted to the weight resting on her, something sparked in Kathryn and suddenly, she was very content to remain in this position.

Not only were Seven's long, muscled legs entwined with hers, pressing against her body in places that they really shouldn't, but her head had landed in the space just between her outstretched arm and her neck. Seven's thick, warm breath was placing butterfly kisses just beneath her ear, and before Kathryn knew what she was doing, she was inhaling deeply and trying to arch her body further into Seven's heavy chest, losing herself in this intimate caress. "Mmm?yes" Once she caught on that her hands were beginning to urge Seven's head toward her chin, she flinched, regaining her senses. "Ohmygod, what the hell am I doing!"she brutally chastised herself just as Seven was regaining her composure.

Janeway fought the urge to push Seven off of her and run away from her own carnal desires, because she was certain that would only cause more harm to the precious being that she cradle in her arms, and Kathryn Janeway would never purposefully hurt this woman?never. Slowly, she shifted so she could take a look at Seven's pale face, needing to know that she was alright.

"Seven?" Janeway croaked, her voice failing her miserably. Then clearing her throat and clamping down and any lingering arousal she was experiencing, she said with more determination, "Seven?are you alright?"

Just realizing that almost her full weight was flung atop her captain, Seven pushed herself up, careful as to where she placed her hands, and stammered, "Captain! I am?I apologize. I have damaged you!"

Seven's wide-eyed agony sent the captain into full Kathryn mode, and not for the first time. "Seven," Kathryn said, maneuvering, quite reluctantly, out from under Seven's weight and helping the young woman sit up herself, but never taking her hands off of Seven's arms, "you haven't damaged me. I'm perfectly fine. Are you okay? What happened?was it the juice?" she asked, lamely, but hoping?praying?that is was, because if it was what she thought it was, she didn't think she could take it. No, she definitely couldn't take?that!

"I am uncertain," Seven replied, feeling the urgent need to escape to the privacy of her alcove immediately now that she was certain the captain was undamaged. Except, knowing that such a hasty departure would disappoint Janeway, she was content to remain in her presence for approximately fifty-five seconds?and then she would leave, promptly. "My neural processor may be malfunctioning, which may have caused the lack of equilibrium; however, I do not believe it was caused by the 'juice.' I have ingested this fluid on fifteen separate occasions and never experienced this response." "Thirteen, twelve, eleven, ten?"

"Maybe you should go see the Doctor? I've never known you to faint," Janeway said, brushing a stray hair out of Seven's face.

"That is correct. I will consult the Doctor. Thank you for 'catching' me, and for the 'juice.'" "Now, go now!"

Without another word, Seven of Nine disappeared through the Ready Room doors in a flash of blue leotard and golden locks leaving Janeway with more questions than answers and in need of a stiff drink and a much to her dismay, a very, very cold shower.

"Finally?" Captain Kathryn Janeway sighed, heavily, as she finished reading the last of the reports that were cluttering her ebony desk. Picking up her coffee cup with one hand as she put down the PADD with her other, she winced as her muscles screamed, demanding to be uncoiled from their ready state. "The burden of command certainly takes its toll," she thought, standing up into a full body stretch, secretly knowing that it wasn't the burden of command that was causing her physical and metal tiredness at the moment. Try as she might to blame it on the almost impossible to comprehend distance between herself and the Alpha Quadrant, the endless struggle to maintain resources and crew moral, and the recent problems with the warp engines, she knew she was just fooling herself. No, the cause of her tension right now was simply her own, human mind?and one, nearly six-foot blonde, ex-Borg drone.

"Seven," she whispered, not a little longingly. "What is it about you that makes me so crazy?yet so content?" Janeway wondered to herself, maneuvering around her office desk toward her Ready Room sofa. Somehow, Janeway always found her way back to this very spot throughout her tour aboard Voyager. This was the place where all her greatest battles were fought. The Bridge was the captain's arena once her mind was made up, but this couch was the place where those difficult decisions were made. This is where she had decided to destroy the Caretaker's array, stranding herself and her crew 70,000 light years from the safety of Federation space. This simple, blue sofa was where she had cried herself to sleep after disembarking from the L class planet where she had found Amelia Earhart and the other 37's , knowing that none of her crew had decided to abandon her and make a home on the Earth-like planet. Kathryn could still feel the immense relief pulse through her veins as, in her mind, she entered the Cargo Bay again only to find it completely empty. That was one of those moments that she could, and often did, conger up from the depths of her mind whenever she doubted herself or the crew's faith in her as their leader.

The couch that she now allowed herself to lie upon, needing to feel its smooth textures on her cheek, was the couch where she decided to test fate and enter Borg space instead of going around it. A move that she knew would change her life forever, but she honestly had no idea at the time how profound those changes would be. To this day, she still couldn't believe sometimes that she had actually made an alliance with the Borg and survived to tell about it. It was also during this time that her relationship with Chakotay was truly put to the test. Previous to that fateful day they had had their disagreements, as any good captain and first would naturally have, but he had never purposefully and so blatantly disobeyed her before. With one foot in her grave, she had begged him to keep the alliance, but he hadn't. Almost as soon as the hypospray had sent her into the oblivion of unconsciousness, he had unwrapped everything she had struggled to keep together. The captain in her could admit that some of his actions were justified, but the woman in her could never understand. That crushing blow had taken a long, long time to heal, and truth be known, she would never totally trust him ever again. There were many people that Kathryn did totally trust, so it kept her from disliking him as her first officer and as a person, but it certainly killed any hope of a romantic relationship. That wasn't something that Kathryn had thought about for a very long time, but she knew that every now and again the thought crossed her first officer's mind, just by his reactions to her.

It was at times like this that Kathryn missed Kes the most. The angelic and extraordinarily wise Ocampa was just the person she wished she could speak to now amidst all of this confusion. Of course, her decision to join forces with the Borg and assist them in destroying species 8472, granting her tiny ship safe passage across Borg space, wasn't the reason for the young woman's sudden transformation, but part of Kathryn felt that the situation catapulted the telepath into what she became faster than it should have happened. Janeway was certain she�d give her eyeteeth to hear Kes� melodic voice right now.

And it was because of that monumentous decision that she was in the turmoil she was entombed with now. Just as one amazing blonde had walked out of her life, another one had entered, throwing into the mix a whole new set of problems for the captain. "But that is why you cling to her so, Kathryn. She tests you, defies you, makes you fight for every single point, and she never, ever lets you take anything for granted."

"But why?why is she so dear to me? Why do I feel like I can't image a day without her?" Janeway asked turning onto her back and letting one arm fall over the side of the couch.

"Because she follows you and trusts you not because of a Starfleet regulation or out of duty, but because she wants to. No captain in history can ever honestly say that they've known for certain the motivations of his or her crew. But you can say with all the certainty in the universe that Seven of Nine is with you because she wants to?not because you are the captain. You are her Collective?you are the ties that keep her together?don't lose sight of that..."

No matter how frightening that knowledge was, all this starship captain could do was smile inside. It was good to be trusted?to be needed, even if feeling this way did indeed scare the hell out of her.

Through all of this thinking about her lovely Borg, Janeway had completely forgotten that Seven had fainted right where she now lay. Mildly cursing her self-absorption, Janeway forced herself to sit up and tap her comm-badge. "Janeway to Sickbay," she spoke crisply, instinctively looking up.

"Yes, Captain?" replied Voyager�s resident hologram, moments later.

"Doctor," Janeway began smoothing out some of the wrinkles in her pant legs, ineffectively, "how's Seven?"

"Captain?" the Doctor came back, perplexed.

Rolling her eyes, Janeway stood making her way over to the replicator?"Just one more cup"?"Seven?she came by today after her 'accident' in my Ready Room this afternoon." Making her selection without having to even think about which sensors she was touching, she continued, "I realize that you might be apprehensive discussing Seven's treatment or condition, but I assure you, I'm only asking as a friend. I just want to know if she is alright?that's all."

Now it was the hologram's turn to roll his eyes. "Captain, although I appreciate your consideration for the Doctor-Patient relationship, Seven of Nine has not been in Sickbay today." Apprehension seeping through his voice, he asked, "What 'accident?'"

Janeway snapped her head toward the ceiling, putting her coffee right back into the energy grid. Now she was certain there was definitely something wrong with Seven since it was not like her resident Borg to not do something she said she would. Before she got caught up in her own postulation, she answered the Doctor's query. "Well, I guess she must be feeling better? It really was nothing to worry about, Doctor?she just had a slight moment of dizziness," she lied and then said, "but if it will make you feel better I'll go check on her now, alright?" She could already hear the Doctor's hesitation, so before he could object, she closed, "Janeway out," and immediately headed for the door, her apprehension and worry in tow.

Turning the Bridge over to Tuvok who was currently the only senior officer present with a simple nod of her fiery head, Janeway quickly made her way to the turbolift. Once inside, she said, "Computer, locate Seven of Nine."

"Seven of Nine is in Astrometrics," replied the ship's surprising human, feminine voice.

Not at all shocked that Seven was still working, Janeway barked, "Deck Five," and quickly she felt the turbolift descend rapidly.

Stepping out into the slightly brighter lights of the hallway, Janeway nodded at two crewman that were waiting for the use of the lift, and hurriedly made her way past them, starting down the slow curving corridor that led to Astrometrics. Slowing her pace as she approached the door, Janeway forced herself to take a deep breath and clear her face of any trace of her own increasingly chaotic emotions. Right now she needed to be there for Seven, not for herself, which was the real reason behind most of her unnecessary visits to the technologically astounding space lab.

The steel colored doors partly evenly granting entrance to the captain. Scanning the room, Janeway was dismayed, and it showed clearly on her thin rose tinted lips as she noted that Seven of Nine was not in Astrometrics. Not allowing herself to call out to her even though the muscles in her abdomen had grown distinctively more rigid, she said, instead, "Computer, locate Seven of Nine."

"Seven of Nine is on Deck Five, section three alpha."

Shrugging, Janeway spun on the balls of her feet and left Astrometrics, continuing down the hallway, quickening her pace knowing the Seven was probably headed for the aft turbolift. "Computer, locate Seven of Nine," Janeway asked again, still quickening her pace, wishing not for the first time that she had been graced with longer legs.

"Seven of Nine is on Deck Five, section nine."

"Damn," Janeway muttered under breath as her powerful stride turned into a rather uncaptainlike jog. Seven was almost to the turbolift, but for some reason, Janeway didn't want to express her need to see Seven over the comm. It just seemed too impersonal at this moment. She wanted?she needed to see Seven's face, to hear her concise voice in person this time. The illogical desire boiled up in Janeway's chest until she was practically in a full sprint, pretending not to notice the bewildered and shocked looks of her crew as she breezed past them since it was well known knowledge that the captain frowned upon crewmembers running in the hallway when it wasn't required.

Rounding the final corner, Janeway caught a glimpse of the statuesque Borg disappearing behind the doors of the lift, and she hurriedly called out, sounding much more desperate than she wished, "Seven! Wait?hold the lift!"

Just when the captain thought all her efforts had been for not, a long, elegantly mesh encased hand immerged from the tiny spilt in the doorway, stopping the momentum of the pneumatic doors in their tracks with relative ease. The computer responded immediately, and the silver doors parted without protest.

Coming to a halt directly in front of Seven of Nine in a huff of air, Janeway suddenly couldn't think how to explain this display. "I guess you forgot that part," her inner voice snickered.

"Captain?" Seven remarked, inclining her head to the right, clearly perplexed.

"Thank you," Janeway managed between deep breaths as she slipped into the carriage of the turbolift. Steadying herself, she remarked, "You're a hard woman to track down. Where are you headed?"

For precisely two point zero eight seconds, Seven of Nine didn't know what to say. Not only was her curiosity peaked by the captain's behavior and her statement, but the warm sensation that she felt in her chest earlier in the captain's presence had now returned with vigor. Modifying her nanoprobes to compensate for the rise in her body temperature, she enunciated clearly, "I was unaware that you were 'tracking' me, Captain. I apologize for any difficulties. My destination is Cargo Bay Two."

Waving her hand, dismissing any pretense that the Borg had caused her any undue inconvenience, Janeway said, "No need to apologize. I should have just hailed you over the comm." Then forcing herself to relax, she asked in a tone she hoped was completely even, "Do you mind if I walk with you?" feeling a little witless. She was the captain?theoretically she could go anywhere with anyone she pleased.

"No," Seven stated and then asked the computer to take them to the appropriate deck, returning to her normal, ramrod stance.

Several moments of silence passed before Janeway thought, "Well? You've caught her?what are you going to say?" The captain brought her hand to her lips as she cleared her throat to silence her annoying silent counterpart, and asked, softly, "How are you feeling? I?," she stopped not sure if she should inform Seven that she knew she hadn't been to see the Doctor, and then continuing after deciding that what the young woman didn't know wouldn't hurt her, "I was concerned when I didn't hear anything from you."

As the doors opened, the female duo stepped out into the empty corridor cutting a direct path to Cargo Bay Two and Seven hesitated, knowing that the captain's concern would grow if she found out that she hadn't sought medical attention; however, unable to lie, she answered, "I am functioning at acceptable levels. Thank you for your concern, but I am undamaged."

Seven reached the large doors of the Cargo Bay, needing to put some space between herself and the older woman, but as she had feared, Janeway was undaunted and followed directly after her. Seven stopped halfway between the exit and her Borg alcove, turned toward Janeway, laced her hands behind her back on readied herself for more questions.

Concern etching small lines around the captain's eyes, she sighed and stated, "Seven, I know you didn't go see the Doctor. I don't want to pry, but I am concerned for your wellbeing, and frankly a little disturbed that you haven't consulted the Doctor as you said you would."

Seven immediately did an about face and went to her alcove, preparing the device for her regeneration cycle, feeling highly agitated. Although, uncertain as to why. The captain wasn't showing any more or less concern for Seven's physical health that she normally did, but for some reason Seven felt suddenly very vulnerable in front of this woman. She had not yet pinpointed the reasons for her recent distress, although she had done a significant amount of research after the episode in the captain's Ready Room, and she did not want anyone, especially the direct cause of her malfunctions, to speculate until she was certain as to their cause. Curtly, she answered while her hands worked quickly on the Borg technology, "Captain, if I had been unable to complete my responsibilities, I would have sought the Doctor's assistance. However, I have just completed a full duty shift and am functioning within acceptable perameters. I did not see it fit to unduly detain the Doctor under these circumstances. I am," pausing for emphasis, "'fine.'"

"Seven," Janeway said, purposefully keeping any hurt that the tall woman's words had just inflicted far from her tone, "I?I'm not going to order you to see the Doctor, if that is what you're hinting at. I was just concerned, but," inching closer to Seven's back, but not making any physical contact despite the reflex to do so, she finished, "I trust you know yourself better than anyone. I was just worried."

Turning around, now face to face with Janeway, she looked down into the captain's greying eyes and responded with more than a small amount of unease, "It was not my intention to worry you. However, I assure you, I am undamaged. Unless there is anything else you wish to discuss, I believe I should regenerate at this time."

"Of course, " Janeway said, backing away, getting the distinct impression that she was being brushed off?not something the captain was accustomed to. If it had been anyone else, she was certain she would have been irritated, but then again, no other crewmember would have dared to be so bold. Feeling somewhat humbled, she merely nodded her head and said turning away, defeated, "Sweet dreams," and made tracks for the Cargo Bay doors.

Formerly Annika Hansen, and now Seven of Nine, felt an emotion she was immensely familiar with as she stepped onto the dais of her alcove and watched the being she cherished more than any other disappear from sight: regret.

2300 Hours

A soft, jazzy sax saturated the still air in the captain's quarters, masking the mood of the lone occupant. Honestly, the captain was more in the mood for some angst ridden, Twenty-first Century rock, but she was certain that there was some protocol in the Officer's Manual that forbade senior officers, especially the captain, from indulging in such entertainment this far into the evening. Not that it would make her feel any better, but at least she could feel like someone else in the world understood what she was going through. Less 'evolved' humans just seemed to express their displeasure so much better than the current generation of artists did, Janeway thought.

Kathryn shook her head, pulled up the thick afghan that covered her scrunched up body to her chin, and refocused on the book her hands knowing that she was about to reread page 154 for the third time. This situation was indeed perplexing. Reading was one of Kathryn's favorite and easiest forms of escape. Rarely did a situation arise that could keep her from enjoying the written word?in fact, the last time she had been too preoccupied to read one of her all-time favorite novels, Joyce Carol Oates' Foxfire, had been when Seven had been so terribly upset after One's death. Janeway had sat exactly where she was right now, curled up listening to one blues song after the other unable to concentrate on anything but what the poor woman-child had been going through.

"It always comes back to you, doesn't it, Seven?" Kathryn asked her absent guest, finally giving up on her book and tossing it to the other side of the couch.

It was late and she was growing weary, but Janeway didn't dare think about the lonely place where she slept. That room would just make things worse and recently, she had almost stopped sleeping there entirely. It was just too difficult some nights to face, but the aches in Kathryn's back were starting to demand that she just face her fear of being alone, and rest herself. But not yet?no, she would just wait until she couldn't see straight and then she would go in there and collapse into a fitful sleep. Yes, that was the plan?and by god, she was going to stick to it. And as several species in the Alpha and Delta Quadrants could attest, once Captain Kathryn Janeway had made up her mind, there was little anyone could do to change it.

Flipping back her blanket, Kathryn pushed herself onto her feet and padded in stockinged feet over to the replicator. "Whiskey and soda," she requested, her voice coarse from lack of use.

Knowing she must look as pitiful as this scene would suggest she was, she waved her free hand in front of her face, trying to physically pushing aside her concerns as she took a healthy taste of the synthesized amber libation. The warm liquid did little to settle her nerves, but it did help to warm the chill that she felt. Kathryn noticed her crumpled tunic lying on the floor beside her dining table, and she made her way over toward it, set her drink on the glass surface with an audible thud and knelt to retrieve the wrinkled black and red shouldered jacket. Just then, the one thing Janeway knew could seriously threaten to send her into a headfirst downward spiral occurred: someone was standing outside her door and wanted to speak with her.

"There's only one person that would dare come here at this time," she hissed, picking up the top half of her uniform and folding it over the back of the closest chair, stalling.

"Decision time, Kate?she's waiting?"

"This is ridiculous?I'm a Starfleet captain for Christ sake!" Janeway muttered, taking another healthy drink as the door call sounded a second time. Then placing one hand on her narrow hips, she said, clearly, "Come in."

As soon as the door's parted, Janeway wondered where a good old-fashioned red alert was when she needed it most.

Formerly of the Borg Collective, Seven of Nine stood in the doorway between the captain's ship and Kathryn's space, which now seemed to be more like the gateway to the older woman's heart, looking more radiant than Athena herself. "Regeneration certainly does wonders," her baser self remarked.

Captain Kathryn Janeway, commanding officer of the Federation Starship Voyager would have sold her soul to the Devil himself for a fleet of Kazan warships at that moment. "Anything would be easier than this?"

"Captain," Seven on Nine greeted, walking just into the room so the door could close behind her.

"Seven, it's late," Janeway clipped, forcing herself to turn around and out of direct eye contact with the Borg beauty's piercing azure eyes. Moving toward the comfort and distance of her couch, she asked, "What's on your mind?" then sat in the corner of her plush sofa, forcing herself to turn back toward Seven no matter how much she knew her emotions would betray the captain in her.

Seven, who constantly took her cues from her human mentor, coerced her wobbly legs into motion as she traced the path of her captain, stopping short of the couch and finding it increasingly difficult to look upon Janeway.

Janeway appeared as she always did, sans the tunic and shoes, but something about the subtle changes softened Janeway's intimidating shell. Seven also noted that the dim lighting was casting long shadows across the captain's classic features and lithe body. Shadows that Seven wanted desperately to caress just as the soft music in the air was caressing her ears. "What are these sensations?" Recalling the gigaquads of data she had assimilated, she answered herself, "This is desire. I am experiencing desire?desire for the captain."

"Desire for the captain!" Suddenly Seven knew that she had made a grave error in judgement. "I should have not come here. I am disturbing the captain's regeneration period. I will not burden her with these irrelevant emotions. I am Borg. I am BORG?desire is irrelevant?desire is irrelevant?I am Borg, desire is irrelevant?"

"Have a seat," Janeway said, pulling her feet to her chest, while finishing the rest of the liquor, wishing she had ordered a double.

"I prefer to stand," Seven informed, in full Borg mode, as she kept repeating her mantra to herself.

Sighing, but not surprised, Janeway smirked despite her leap-frogging emotions, and said, "Seven?you obviously have something important to say, and I really don't want to have to wrench my neck so I can look up at you tonight while we discuss it. So, will you please sit down, for me?"

If Janeway had had the same influence over the Borg Collective as she did over this solitary drone, Janeway would have surely been the Starfleet's most decorated admiral. For as soon as the words escaped the captain's thin, pale lips, Seven was perched on the edge of the sofa, apologizing as she reclined, "I apologize, Captain. I was unaware that my previous actions caused you discomfort."

"Thank you," Janeway smiled, softly and asked, "So, you have something on your mind?" steeling herself against the answer. Her body was so rigid that she was certain she could have walked away without a scratch from the impact of a class five shockwave.

Equally as rigid, Seven answered, "That is correct. I wish to apologize for my behavior earlier in the Cargo Bay." Then taking a deep breath, clearly pondering her next words, she continued, "It was not my intention to upset you, and I do appreciate your concern. I feel as though I have not been 'myself' these past few weeks, especially today, and although I cannot explain all of the emotions I am feeling, that does not excuse my actions."

"Ohgod," Kathryn thought as Seven was speaking, "what a complete and utter ass I've been. Here all this time I was thinking?more like wishing?Seven was somehow starting to return the?fondness?I feel for her, when all that has been happening is that she's been picking up on my own selfish and irrational desires and it clearly has been affecting her negatively. Jesus Christ, what the hell is the matter with me...and when did I become such a raving lunatic! Well, that doesn't matter now?I've had enough of this nonsense. From now on, I am going to be there for Seven however she needs me to be?and not for myself, but for her. Her needs come first?not mine?not mine!"

"Captain?" Seven asked after a few seconds when Janeway hadn't responded to her.

"Yes," Janeway snapped out of her own castigation, "oh, I was just thinking about what you said. You don't own me an apology, but I accept it nonetheless. And I apologize if I over stepped my bounds, but I want you to know, Seven, that if you ever need to talk about anything, my door is always open for you. I don't want you to ever feel like you are alone to fend for yourself in this universe." Placing her hand and Seven's knee she vowed, squeezing slightly, "I swear to you, Seven?I will always be here for you?for better or worse?I'm afraid you're stuck with me." Then retracting her hand, she asked leaning far into the couch feeling much more like herself, she asked, "Did you want to talk about what has been bothering you?"

The warmth from Janeway's hand was still playing deliriously wonderful music on Seven's leg when she answered, standing, "Perhaps tomorrow, Captain. As you stated, it is late and I do not wish to keep you from regeneration."

Suddenly feeling exhausted at the thought of sleep, Janeway nodded, accepting that Seven would talk when she wanted to, and walked her to the door. Just before it opened, she asked, "How about a game of Velocity tomorrow morning?"

"Acceptable?at what time?"

"0600 hours too early for the Borg?" Janeway asked, playfully, missing their competitive banter of the past that had recently faded.

Raising her eyebrow, Seven used every ounce of her confidence driven charm in her reply. "I would like to point out, Captain Janeway, that I have already concluded a full regeneration cycle, where as you have not. I do not believe it is the Borg that you have to fear, but rather your own stamina."

Janeway's laugh came out in a short bark, and in true Janeway fashion she accepted the challenge willingly, "You're on, Seven of Nine?and tomorrow I'm going to show you just how resilient this mere human can be."

Smirking, Seven finished walking away, "As you once said, Captain...'there is always hope.'"

0630 Hours

"Full impact. Round to Janeway. Janeway leads Seven of Nine four rounds to three," scored the computer�s voice, as Seven steadied herself after Janeway had blasted the holographic disc firmly into the Borg�s left thigh. Of course, the holodeck safety protocols kept the disc from making any real impact, but the visual sensation of the disc bouncing off one�s body deceived the senses?even Borg enhanced senses.

"Hmm," Janeway breathed heavily, wiping the profusion of sweat from her brow with the back of her hand, "maybe you should have regenerated just a few more hours longer?" she said, continuing her light badgering of the younger, stronger, and technology enhanced opponent.

Brushing a single golden lock that had sprung loose from her austere bun, Seven stated taking a moment to relax her muscles while the captain availed herself to a few mouthfuls of water, "I believe, Captain, that previous to your last unsuccessful attempt to knock me from my feet, we were 'even.' The only reason you are in the lead now is because I miscalculated your move, expecting you to fire a more precise shot. Clearly, you reflexes are tiring, and I will not make that miscalculation again. I believe the appropriate phrase is that �you should not count your chickens until they have hatched.�"

"Oooh, Seven, " Janeway winced in mock hurt, "you're getting much better at this game," she laughed openly and set down her water.

Smiling as well, although not a openly, Seven replied, "I have had an efficient instructor."

Playing along, Janeway came back, taking up her place to the left and slightly behind Seven, "Well, give her my regards the next time you see her, huh?"

"As you wish," Seven said, readying herself. "Will you 'do the honors?'"

"Computer, begin round," Janeway spoke, bringing up her phaser to the ready position, taking a few long breaths. She would never admit it to Seven, but she was indeed starting to fade?and fast. Velocity was a tough game at any physical fitness level, and even though the captain kept her forty something body finely tuned, Kathryn was still more than thirteen years Seven's senior. Add on the fact that Seven was equally athletic, and on top of that she sported Borg enhanced strength, visual acuity, and reflexes, it was a wonder that the compact captain wasn't six feet under right now, or at least being resuscitated in Sickbay.

Instantly the silver disc appeared, hovering in front of them and both females twitched, waiting for the computer to select the color that would appear on the lights around the edge of the disc. If red appeared, the disc would hurdle toward Janeway at break-neck speeds until either it made contact with the captain, or she fired her phaser accurately, in which case it would turn blue and target Seven of Nine?visa versa if the disc turned blue first.

Janeway watched the disc with one eye and with the other eye kept close tabs on Seven. When they first started playing this game several months ago, Seven had only focused on the disc and the geometry involved in the game, but slowly as they practiced, Seven was starting to pick up some of the less obvious aspects to the game. Physical contact with a player was completely acceptable to a certain extent. If the computer felt too much contact had occurred, it would award the round to the victim. The two big advantages Janeway had was that she was smaller and more flexible, and she had played this game long enough to know just how much pushing she could get away with. This 'secret weapon' was what kept her undefeated these years aboard Voyager. What worried her now more than her tiring body was that today Seven had seemed to finally catch onto Janeway's game and countered it quite nicely. In fact, she couldn't remember a match that she had played in the last year that had been so physical, and on a few occasions, she wondered if Seven had modified the program to allow for more contact without penalty. "That would just be like her. I'm sure she would claim that she simply made the rules more efficient," Janeway thought rather fondly.

Within a second of the disc appearing, it changed, to Janeway's dismay, to a bright, menacing crimson and came straight toward her head. With the help of her Starfleet tactical training, Janeway adeptly crouched, pivoted on the balls of her knee high booted feet, and took aim at the disc as it zoomed over her head. Firing a quick pulse from her phaser, she didn't bother waiting to see her aim hit its mark before she turned toward Seven again, knowing the disc was about to bank off the corner and make for the Borg woman.

What she didn't expect was that when she turned to her right to locate Seven, she was not there. Then feeling Seven's solid form directly behind her, Janeway let out an uncharacteristic yelp as at the same moment she saw the saucer coming directly for her, although now blue. Still, if she were hit accidentally, Seven would still win the round.

Seven closed her mesh covered hand around Janeway's bare left arm and lifted her right arm holding her phaser, placing it just above the captain's right shoulder and fired with accuracy, sending the now red disc back toward the wall.

Janeway knew she was wasting precious seconds trying to figure out what Seven had up her sleeve, but honestly, this new aspect to Seven's play was quite surprising, and more than a little exciting. It seemed that almost overnight Seven had gotten over her fear of physical closeness, at least where the captain was concerned, and was now literally embracing her wholeheartedly. With Seven blocking her escape route to the rear, Janeway had only two choices: either risk a move to her left, which would leave her with little space to maneuver into after her shot, or risk a head on confrontation by charging forward. The ever-courageous Janeway knew that if she could manage not to get walloped in a head on confrontation, she could get away from Seven, and possibly put herself of the offensive again.

Making up her mind, Janeway shrugged away from Seven's grip and charged forward. The red disc rebounded off the back wall and honed in on her and she was closing the distance just as quickly. At the very last moment, she dove to the floor, tucking her shoulder, rolled onto her feet, spun and fired. The saucer was right at eye-level and only a meter and a half from her. With any other opponent that would have been game set and match, but as Janeway was finding out rather quickly, Seven was not any other opponent. A split second after Janeway had fired sending the now blue saucer barreling toward Seven's chest, the Borg had fired as well, and the captain could only watch as the disc instantly changed back to red and firmly pinned her against the back wall before it disappeared.

"Full impact. Round to Seven of Nine. Rounds are even at four apiece."

"Dammit, Seven!" Janeway barked, but not unkindly. Grabbing her towel, she wiped the salty liquid from her face and arms and Seven took her position, looking all too proud of herself.

"Shall we call it even, Captain?" Seven admonished, as Janeway took several healthy gulps of water. "If you are too fatigued to continue, I would be willing to resume at a later time."

"Oh no you don't?just because I don't have microscopic cybernetic organisms running throughout my body doesn't mean that I can't keep up with you. Your butt is mine, Borg," Janeway came back in an adrenaline rush. Smoothing back her hair, she shot Seven her most sinister, yet playful look. "Resistance is futile."

"Computer, begin round," Seven of Nine stated as the disc appeared in front of them, several centimeters above their heads.

For some reason the cards just weren't falling in the captain's favor today because for the third time in a row, the disc turned red and zeroed in on her first, immediately putting her on the defensive. This time, though, the captain applied a new strategy and immediately fired her phaser sending the now blue saucer careening off several walls before it set its holographic sights on Seven.

Seven was a little less quick on the draw and had to take a dashing leap to her right, directly in front of Janeway, to get out of the way of the single-minded object. Janeway quickly countered, shoving Seven back from where she came, but the younger woman wasn't as easily moveable as the smaller captain, and Seven easily made her shot.

The game went on for several more minutes becoming increasingly more physical, until both females had worked themselves into a full frenzy. If B'Elanna Torres had entered at that moment, she would have sworn that she was watching two Klingon warriors. One shove here, two more there?an elbow, a knee, the pain of hip bones; Janeway had never had this much fun playing Velocity in her life. And what was odd was that the more they got worked up, the better they played. Each shot was thought out and executed with decisive skill. It wasn't until Seven of Nine wrapped her left hand around Janeway's torso, pulling the captain's back tightly into her chest that Janeway faltered.

Suddenly it didn't feel like they were playing Velocity at all.

Seven's touch sent tiny tendrils of electricity shooting throughout Kathryn's body, causing her to lose all focus momentarily. Then, her breath caught in the back of her throat as Seven's hand moved upward a few centimeters until she was practically cradling the captain's right breast. But before she could either move away or press herself into the web in which she was caught, Seven spun away from her firing, finding her mark. Fighting with her tired and suddenly very aroused body, Janeway forced her legs into action as the red disc bounced off the nearest corner and started for her, determined to not lose her first match aboard Voyager because she was sexually frustrated. Looking back, Janeway couldn't say for certain what caused her to do what she did next, but it was is a moment she would never forget.

Racing up to Seven, Janeway decided to give the young Borg a taste of her own medicine. Noticing that Seven's long legs where parted fairly evenly as she readied herself, Janeway placed her hand on Seven's thigh and dropped to her knees. At the same time using her hand latched to Seven's now frozen leg to steady herself, she swung smoothly between and around Seven's legs. As she cleared the Borg and pushed herself up, her hand came dangerously close to certain areas a captain shouldn't even know exist on her crewman, causing Seven to wobble ever so slightly.

The quick movement caused enough confusion in the holographic device that Janeway was able to fire the winning shot. This time it was Seven's turn to watch the disc sail toward her face. Instinctively lunging to the side to avoid an inevitable impact, Seven's legs still hadn't quite recovered from the captain's brilliant, if wicked, maneuver, and she started to fall backward just as the disc struck the deciding blow and disappeared. Janeway reached forward and grabbed a hold of Seven's arm to keep her from collapsing backward, but again the Borg proved too heavy for the captain, so for the second time in as many days these two woman ended up in an unladylike heap of legs, arms, and raging hormones.

"Full impact. Round to Janeway. Match to Janeway."

And that was the first time that Janeway ever heard Seven swear.

"Shit!"

"Seven," Janeway snickered and asked, still lying upon the flushed Borg, "are you alright?"

"I am undamaged," Seven replied, clearly frustrated, although her arms were still tightly holding the captain's small body firmly atop her own.

"We've really got to stop ending up like this," Kathryn remarked casually, pushing off of Seven and sitting on the floor as her body screamed, missing the feel of Seven's voluptuous body below hers. "Stop that!" she barked at herself, except this time not has harshly knowing the Seven wasn't quite as innocent as she previously had thought. "No, she's definitely learned a few 'things' since our last match, but that still doesn't mean I should let myself react this way to her."

"Agreed," Seven of Nine responded, sitting up as well trying to calm the heart that was threatening to jump out of her chest.

"You know?I don't think I've ever seen you quite this frustrated?it's rather cute," Janeway laughed, brushing off herself out of habit more than need.

"Indeed," was all Seven could manage as she got to her feet. Once upright, she extended a gracious hand to the clearly pooped redhead.

Janeway accepted the gesture with thanks and once on her feet, she poked Seven in the ribs and said making for her water, "And who taught you to swear like that?"

Flinching from the touch of the captain, Seven took a deep breath and answered, "As I stated before, Captain. I have had a well versed instructor."

Giving Seven a mock evil eye, Janeway wiped off her face with her towel and snatched up her water. After polishing the bottle off she said, "Computer, state the time."

"The time is 0714 hours."

"Damn," Janeway cursed, and started toward the door. Then turning back around at Seven who was starting to follow her, she said, "Seven, I had a ball, but I've got to go or I'm going to be late for duty."

"Ask her before it is too late!"?"Captain," Seven started abruptly, clasping Janeway at her elbow to halt her departure, "would you be agreeable if I requested that you consume your afternoon nutritional supplement with me today?" Seven knew that came out more Borg-like than she intended, but whenever she felt unsure of herself, she consistently feel back on what she knew.

Smiling in amusement and astonishment? "So many wonderful changes recently"?"I'd loved to have lunch with you today, but I can't. B'Elanna has promised me that we'll be getting back underway today, so I'll be needed on the Bridge for most of the day," she replied, ruefully as Seven's glow began to fade, but then quickly countered, "but why don't you stop by my quarters for a late dinner?"

"My word, she has a beautiful smile," Janeway thought as Seven's entire face was set aglow.

"Thank you, Captain. I am agreeable. I believe I will attempt to assist Lieutenant Torres with the repairs to ensure their timely completion," Seven stated.

Janeway chuckled and added walking away, "I'm sure B'Elanna will appreciate your help," knowing that the ex-Borg was probably the last person the Klingon wanted standing over her shoulder today, if she knew B'Elanna as well as she thought she did.

1500 Hours

"Go ahead, B'Elanna," Janeway responded to her chief's hail and stopped drumming her fingers on the armrest of her command chair. Sometimes, albeit rarely, being a Starfleet captain was a truly boring job, but Janeway assumed that all those times when she was surviving on instinct and adrenaline alone probably made up for moments like these.

After spending much of the day in her Ready Room catching up on 'paperwork' while waiting for the final repairs to be made to the warp nacelles and plasma injectors, she had come out to sit and wait on the Bridge, more so to just be seen than for any other reason. Although, waiting with friends sometimes made the seemingly endless hours of waiting tolerable. Although, it wasn't only the lengthy engine repairs that were trying the captain's patience; there was the anticipation of tonight's dinner with Seven. Throughout the day, Janeway had tried to find a legitimate reason to go down to Engineering so she could visit Seven of Nine, something she did more often than she cared to admit, but she knew her presence down there would just distract and probably annoy her already irritable, but brilliant engineer. Still, she had had so much fun with Seven today?actual fun. Janeway was hard pressed to remember the last time she actually had fun, and wasn't just including herself in a social gathering for the crew's sake. "You had more than just fun, Kate?"

"Captain, we've run into a small snag," Torres reported, gritting her teeth.

Not allowing herself to sigh as the rest of the officers, with the exception of Tuvok, did, she responded, evenly, "What happened?"

"One of the dammed plasma manifolds gave out on us during our final diagnostic. We can repair it, but we'll have to use the replicators."

"Of course, Lieutenant?use whatever resources you need," Janeway replied, talking with her hands despite the fact that B'Elanna was several decks below her. "In the meantime, can you give us impulse engines so we can at least get underway?"

"Aye, Captain. Seven's finishing the diagnostics right now?Seven, how much longer?? She says we should be able to bring the impulse drive back online in ten minutes."

"How long for the warp drive?"

"Three hours?assuming nothing else falls apart," Torres said, only half joking.

Shaking her head, she teased, "Make it two, Miss Torres, and you can have Chakotay's job," as she smiled and winked at her first officer who was having a hard time not laughing out loud at the captain's quirky sense of humor.

"As much as I'd love to show up the commander, Captain?I'm afraid three hours is the best I can do," Torres replied.

"Very well?thank you, Lieutenant. Keep me informed. Janeway out."

"You know?I think I'd actually pay good money, if I had any, to see the two of you running this show," Chakotay chuckled, leaning in close so only the two of them could hear what was said, knowing she wouldn't take offense.

Now it was Janeway's turn to control her laughter as she came back, "You know something, Chakotay?so would I."

Ten minutes later, to the second, Janeway was certain, Seven of Nine's voice came over the comm. "Seven of Nine to the Bridge."

"Janeway here. You're prompt as usual, Seven" Janeway said, smiling openly.

"Did you except any different?" Seven responded.

Surprised and a little thrilled by the almost Vulcan humor, Janeway answered, her voice light and melodic, showing no signs of worry, "Absolutely not. What have you got for me?"

"I have completed the diagnostic of the impulse engines. We are ready to bring the drive online when you are."

"Now that's what I like to hear," Janeway said getting to her feet, feeling instantly recharged, "Stand by." Walking up behind her fair-haired helmsman, she said placing a hand on his shoulder, "Mister Paris, if you please."

"Aye, Captain," Paris said as his fingers rapidly began playing his board like a grand piano. "Impulse engines are responding."

"Status, Seven?" Janeway asked looking over Paris' shoulder at the power readings.

"Plasma sequencers are initializing. Injectors are stable. Power output at fifty-six percent and rising?seventy-five percent, ninety percent?we have full power, Captain."

"Well done, everyone. Seven, give my thanks to B'Elanna," she said, then tapping Paris on the shoulder and walking back toward her chair, Janeway ordered, "Helm, engage impulse engines?all ahead full and steady as she goes, Tom."

"Yes, Ma'am," Paris rejoiced, happy to have something to do with his hands except bite his fingernails.

"Commander," Janeway questioned, stopping in front of her chair put not sitting, "coffee?"

"You read my mind," Chakotay grinned, getting to his feet and following the redhead toward her office.

"Tuvok, the Bridge is yours," Janeway informed, pointing to her dark Vulcan friend who stood silently on the upper level of the Bridge.

"You certainly are cheerful today," Chakotay remarked, taking the cup of coffee from Janeway's hand and sitting down on the captain's blue sofa.

"Mmmhmm," Janeway nodded, availing herself in her not-so-secret addiction. "Just glad to be getting underway, Commander," she answered, knowing that was only the half of the story.

"Here, here," Chakotay said, raising his cup above his head and then bringing to streaming, rich liquid to his lips, feeling slightly guilty for allowing Kathryn to use her own rations on his behalf. But that was a battle he knew he wouldn't win?"Part of the job," she had explained during one of their first coffee breaks several years ago, and to this day, he had never once paid for this luxury while in the captain's Ready Room. "You know, Kathryn?" the tall, bear-like commander said, leaning back, "there's no need for you stay on duty any longer. Why don't you take the rest of the day off and enjoy your good mood?I'll cover the rest of your shift for you."

"You're sweet, Chakotay?and don't think you haven't tempted me, but I think I'll wait until the we're warp capable again?thank you though."

"Sure," nodding, "I only offered because I knew you'd decline anyhow," Chakotay smiled, causing his tribal tattoo to crinkle with mirth, something Janeway had always found utterly endearing.

"Is that so?" Janeway bit back. "Well, next time I might just surprise you."

"Who says there will be a next time?"

"Smart ass!" Janeway laughed, lightly kicking the commander in the shin with her foot.

"Assaulting a fellow officer is grounds for a court-martial, Captain," Chakotay needled.

"So is badgering the captain," said Janeway, kicking him again.

Lamely attempting to avoid her small, harmless foot, he continued, flirting mildly, "Are you going to throw me in the Brig?"

"If you don't stop teasing me, I'm gonna blow you out of the nearest airlock," Janeway volleyed.

"Ouch," he replied, softening some, then setting down his empty mug, he asked, "Well, why don't you join me for dinner tonight so I can make it up to you?"

"I'll have to take a rain check, Commander," Janeway answered rising immediately since she knew Chakotay was in one of his 'moods' as she liked to call them and he tended to get awfully presumptious with her at those times, and taking their cups over to the replicator to be recycled, "I already have plans tonight, but thank you, nonetheless."

"Hot date?" Chakotay asked, not realizing what he was saying.

"What!" Janeway allowed, snapping her head toward him before she could stop herself since she had been in her defensive mode to ward off his forwardness. Feeling the blood rising to her cheeks, she immediately inwardly chastised herself, started toward her desk and hoped she wasn't blushing as furiously as she thought she was.

"Kathryn, it was just a joke," Chakotay chuckled, standing and slowly following her, realizing that something was afoot, but not quite sure what, just yet. Then seeing the crimson cheeks of his commanding officer, he stopped dead in his tracks and said, "Kathryn Janeway?you're blushing!"

"No I'm not," Janeway muttered, accessing her personal computer terminal, "Starfleet captains don't blush."

"Well then hand over the command codes and pips right now, because you're blushing?admit it," Chakotay said almost running over to her desk and sitting on the table right next to Janeway.

"Chakotay, really," Janeway came back, trying desperately to regain the upper-hand, "and since when have I allowed you to sit on my desk, Commander?"

"Don't try to change the subject," Chakotay said right on top of her sentence, ignoring her attempt to bring rank back into their conversation. "So, who's the lucky fellow?" he asked, doing his best to back his friend into a corner, knowing only then that she would talk.

"Seven of Nine to Captain Janeway," came the captain's savior's voice over the comm.

If Kathryn Janeway had believed in a higher power, she would have been on her knees praising him or her at that very moment. Pouncing on the opportunity to get away relatively clean, she said, "Janeway here."

"Captain, I have the details on the modifications we made to the impulse engines, and well as the latest report from Lieutenant Torres. Do you wish to see them now, or wait until the final repairs are completed?"

"Bring them down, will you?" Janeway requested selfishly, knowing that the young Borg could just transmit them to her personal workstation, but right now she would take any opportunity to get Chakotay off her back, and a small part of her delighted in the fact that she would get to see her Astrometrics officer, if only for a short few seconds.

"As you wish. I will be with you shortly. Seven out."

"Three cheers for Borg efficiency!" Janeway's little voiced celebrated.

"You were saying, Commander?" Janeway leaned back, stalling for time, knowing that Seven's long legs would bring her to her door within minutes. "Make it quick. Seven is anything, if not prompt."

"Smooth," Chakotay said, retreating, "but don't think I won't forget this?I'll expect a full report," he said backing up toward the door.

"Is that an order, Commander Chakotay?" she questioned, raising her eyebrows.

Smiling and shaking his head at her, he replied, "Yes, it is, Captain?and don't think I won't hold you to it."

"I have no doubt?now get out of my officer before I call Security," she laughed, knowing the next time he got her alone there would be hell to pay indeed.

"Aye, Captain," Chakotay replied over his shoulder as he proceeded to parade boldly out onto the Bridge with a shit-eating grin the size of Texas on his lips.

Less than a minute later the door call sounded, and chuckling to herself, Janeway said, "Come in."

"Captain, your reports," Seven began as soon as the door closed behind her.

"Thank you," Janeway offered enthusiastically, accepting the offering and smiling brightly. "Seven, have I ever told you what a godsend you are?"

Searching through her eidetic memory, Seven replied, promptly, "No."

"Well, you're a godsend."

"Thank you, Captain," Seven said a bit hesitantly, sensing that this phrase was a compliment, but not entirely certain.

"You're welcome," Janeway smiled. In a rare moment of weakness, she allowed hers eyes to take a quick appraisal of the beautiful female form, clad in an amazing tight silver bodysuit, her smile widened just a hair more before she continued. "I need to stay on duty until the warp drive is repaired tonight?so unless it's too late, how does a 2000 hours sound?"

"Acceptable," Seven bobbed her head once. "If there is nothing else, I am needed in Engineering. Apparently, Lieutenant Torres requires my 'Borg efficiency' at this time."

"I does come in handy, Seven," Janeway chuckled, happy that her two finest female officers were coming to some kind understanding, no matter how small. "Dismissed."

As Seven pivoted and made for the doorway, Janeway forced her eyes off of the blonde's nicely packaged bottom, murmuring, "Definitely comes in handy."

1945 Hours

In a rush, Captain Kathryn Janeway practically tore her black and red tunic from her body as she entered her darkened quarters. "Computer, lights, half," Janeway ordered tossing her jacket onto the lounger that lay opposite her bed. Then frowning at as she saw the state of her double bed, she hurriedly straightened out the sheets and threw the comforter over the top of everything tucking the top underneath her pillows, reminding herself that the next time she met Seven for an early game of Velocity, she would not ask her over that same night. The captain was well practiced at making herself presentable in a pinch, but the same was not true for her quarters.

"Aren�t you being just a tad presumptuous, Kate?" her inner voice noted. "I highly doubt Seven will be joining you in the bedroom tonight."

"Quite right," Janeway mumbled as she walked back into the living area which didn�t look much better than her bedroom. Scurrying back and forth, recycling old cups of coffee and her half eaten breakfast from this morning, Janeway stopped for a moment to consider her actions. "What has happened to me? Suddenly I feel like I�m sixteen years old preparing for my first date?"

"This is ridiculous?I am being ridiculous. This isn't a date. This is dinner?with a friend?a sweet, innocent, virginal MEMBER OF MY CREW!"

"But that doesn't mean she needs to think I'm a total slob," she continued her thoughts as she straighten her desk, putting several PADDs in the small left drawer. "Seven is an innocent. She is my friend?she looks up to me?I'm her mentor, nothing more. Yes, she's beautiful. I admit that?but so are a lot of people. Chakotay is handsome, B'Elanna is gorgeous, Lieutenant Fowler is downright delicious, and I am fine with them?okay, so sometimes I'm excited around B'Elanna, but I don't let it show?because I am the captain. I'm the captain of this ship and when you're the captain, beauty is irrelevant."

"You are hopeless, Kathryn Janeway?truly hopeless?"

Feeling somewhat better, Janeway asked, folding her blanket, "Computer, state the time."

"The time is 1955 hours," replied the computer after a short series of beeps.

Still needing to shower, change and decide what to eat, Janeway bit off a curse or two as she turned on the hydro-setting of her shower. She could opt for the quicker and more efficient sonic setting, but Janeway's head hurt enough already that she didn't think she could stand the high frequency sound waves to save her life right now. Plus, her muscles were so tense that she feared her small bones may crack soon under the pressure if she didn't relax. She would prefer a bath, but there just wasn't the time for that.

Stripping down with haste, Janeway hopped into the shower stall and moaned audibly. Then sighing, she grabbed the soap and lathered herself from head to toe. Now standing under the rushing water, letting it wash away a good amount of her strife, she sighed, "I'm just too wound up?that's all. As soon as things get back to normal, this will all just make a good story for my personal logs. I'll laugh about this later?I know it."

Kathryn shut off the water and grabbed a towel just as she heard the door call. Looking around for her robe, she muttered a string of vulgarities that would have made a sailor stand up and take notice when she realized she had left it on her lounger with her tunic. Grabbing a towel and wrapping it around her slight, wiry frame, she poked her head out the doorway of her ensuite and called out, "Come in."

Seven immediately appeared, looking just as she did when she left Janeway last, and stopped in the doorway when she didn't immediately see the captain. Then catching a glimpse of bare shoulders and slicked back hair, she forced herself to look away as she spoke. "Captain, if this is a bad time, I can return at a later hour."

"It's fine, Seven," Janeway replied, making sure to not mumble anymore curses, knowing that Seven could hear everything she was saying or doing. "Make yourself at home?I'll be out in a few minutes."

"I will comply," Seven said, and immediately turned her back to Janeway, letting out the air in her lungs she hadn't realized she was holding.

Although Seven understood what the captain had meant by 'make yourself at home' she wasn't certain as to what that entailed entirely. In her 'home' Seven would either regenerate or access the ship's database and research whatever new aspect of humanity she found confusing or intriguing that day, both of which were not possible from the captain's quarters. Seven assumed she could most likely access any part of the ship at the captain's desk, but she didn't think Janeway would approve of that and Seven desperately wanted to please the redhead tonight. Pleasing the older woman was the Borg's primary objective as of late and Seven of Nine was not prone to failure. "I will not fail."

Normally, she would have been comfortable to simply stand and wait for the captain to present herself, but this evening Seven was determined to immerse herself in as much of her humanity as she understood, so she quickly searched the room for something in which to explore this new objective. As she heard the captain activate the bathroom faucet, she settled on a silver picture frame sitting on the end table in the far corner of the living area. Inching closer to the picture, Seven of Nine could clearly make out the Janeway's brilliant smile, but it was the two women on each side of her that intrigued Seven the most. Both women bore similar facial similarities to her captain, although there were subtle differences. The younger of the two women had long, curly deep red hair that fell just below her shoulders. It appeared to be significantly thicker than the captain's lighter and straighter mane. She too had level, blue-grey eyes, but Seven also noted that they did not hold the wisdom or the intensity of Janeway's mystical, seemingly all-knowing stare. The older woman to the captain's left looked to be at least two decades older than both the captain and her companion. Her greying hair was cut much shorter than the others', although it looked to have a consistency more similar to Janeway's. Her smile was equally as enchanting as Janeway's, and not very dissimilar in appearance. Seven finally noted as she heard Kathryn rustling around from the direction of what Seven assumed was her bedroom, that the three women where seated on the outdoor steps of the entrance to some building. However, there was not enough of the structure visible in the picture for Seven to speculate to its purpose.

As Seven held the small picture in her hands, she had an almost overwhelming desire to press the image close to her chest. Her captain, her mentor, her most cherished friend looked in that picture as Seven had never seen her before. Her entire body seemed to be radiating emotions that Seven was now just starting to feel for the first time. There was clearly joy and affection, but there was a familiarity that Seven longed for more than anything else she could remember longing for. Even when she was first separated from the Hive, desperately needing the Borg's song to fill the empty spaces in her mind, she had not wanted to return to the Collective as much as she wanted to share these emotions and sensations with the woman in this picture that she knew as her captain. "I cannot fail. She would want me to embrace these feelings, and I will not disappoint her."

Kathryn emerged from her bedroom feeling much more comfortable in her own skin. Now freshly showered and donning clean, comfortable clothes, she was certain that she could make it through this night with little difficulty. Yes, she was well on her way to recovery?that is, until she caught a glimpse of Seven delicately tracing her finger along the edge of what she instantly recognized as the picture of her mother, her sister, and herself. Even in the dim light, Janeway could see the desperate determination in the young Borg's face. Suddenly, a lump that felt like the size of a golf ball formed in her throat, and it took everything that the starship captain had not to immediately turn right back around and retreat into the privacy of her bedroom. "Ohgod," she thought, "what have I gotten myself into?"

Just as she felt herself starting to back up, Seven turned at the sound of the captain's rustling grey, wool slacks, and pinned her with a stare that stopped Janeway dead in her tracks. Swallowing the knot in her throat, feeling it push its way into her flip-flopping stomach, all she could do was stare back into Seven's heavenly eyes and try not to tremble. "Ohshit, ohshit, ohshit," she said, over and over again for what felt like an eternity, until she dug deep into her Starfleet arsenal, retrieved her command mask and slammed it down across her features. The familiarity of this impenetrable shield helped Kathryn to steel herself and move forward with a small amount of determination.

In full diplomat mode now, Janeway smiled sweetly at Seven, who was still holding the picture in her human hand, but now focusing solely on the compact commander. "I'm sorry I took so long?I just got here...thank you for waiting."

"Captain," Seven squeaked as she tried to slow her racing heart, but for some reason her nanoprobes could not keep up with her chaotic cardiac functions. However it was only mildly distressing because Seven's thoughts were too wrapped up in the vision before her, that she really could not give the issue much cogitation. "She is?she is?she is perfection!" Seven decided, finally. Somehow coming to the conclusion that she was standing face to face with what she coveted most, Seven found her voice again, and stated as clear as day, "You look," then amending her choice of words, "you are beautiful."

Janeway almost whimpered as a severe fault line formed down the middle of her rumored to be solid duranium mask. Then despite herself, she smiled, blushed, stammered and managed, very huskily, "Thank you," as she felt the distinct sensation that the environmental controls were malfunctioning because her plum, silk shirt felt like it was sticking to her bare chest underneath in all the wrong places. "And you're as easy on the eyes as ever," she added, clearly not in control of all of her faculties. "What are you doing? Don't flirt with her! Shut up, shut up, shut up!"

"Explain," Seven asked, titling her head in curiosity.

Sighing with relief for this was the Seven she was used to, Janeway informed, "It means I think you look lovely, Seven."

Seven calculated that she was headed for certain death. There really was no other option since all of the blood in her body had suddenly rushed to her head. She felt hot, uncomfortable, and full of such unbidden joy that she wanted to launch herself out the nearest airlock sure that this feeling would protect her from the vacuum of space. "You believe I am lovely?" Seven asked in a small voice.

"Of course I do," Janeway came back immediately, becoming slightly concerned. "Doesn't she realize what a living goddess she is? "Don't you think you're beautiful?"

Seven of Nine paused for a beat, lifted both of her eyebrows and stated, flat, at first, "I am aware that several members of this crew find me aesthetically pleasing, Captain. I have never given it much thought, though." With more sincerely, she continued. "Beauty is irrelevant to the Borg; however I am starting to realize that the Borg are not always correct. I do not believe that they will ever achieve perfection if they cannot see the beauty in such a simple thing as a woman's smile."

Scattered amongst the lint of her carpet, lay the remnants of Janeway's previously impenetrable mask.

"Seven?" Janeway breathed as her eyes misted. Feeling absolutely foolish, she managed, "You really are a beautiful person," then, regaining some composure, she finished, "and not just because of your form, but because you have the an amazing soul. Sometimes...well," she shurgged, bashful and shy, "it breaks my heart just thinking about what I would have missed if I hadn't ended up here halfway across the galaxy." Suddenly the overwhelming urge to embrace Seven caused Janeway's arms to twitch, and feeling all too out of control from her own comfort, Janeway changed the subject, turning away from Seven's angelic face. "Can I get you something to drink?"

"I do not require liquid refreshment at this time. I will wait for 'dinner.'"

"Alright," Janeway said nervous, ordering a whisky and soda for herself, perfectly aware that this was the second night in a row she was settling her nerves with alcohol, but honestly what other choice did she have? "It's not like I can go to the Doctor and tell him to give me a muscle relaxer because Seven keeps insisting on being so god damned fascinating." After draining her glass to half in one gulp, Janeway set the cup down on the end table and asked Seven as the liquid warmed her insides and she began to feel the first sedative effects of the whiskey, "I see you've met my family."

Seven looked down at the picture still in her hand, and she smiled, finally understanding the difference between the captain she knew and the woman in this picture. The captain was with her Collective, her family, and within this circle she wasn't the captain, she was Kathryn. "That is 'it,'" Seven thought, "I wish to know Kathryn." "This is your Collective. I understand now. What is her designation?" Seven asked pointing toward the grey haired woman embracing Kathryn.

"That's my mother," Janeway replied, sitting on the sofa, then patting the seat next to her, requesting that Seven join her, she continued, "Her name is Gretchen Janeway?but I call her 'Mama.'"

Seven immediately sat right next to Janeway, her weight sinking the cushion enough that Janeway was now leaning into the right side of her body, lightly. Seven thought about moving for a second, wondering if this contact would make Kathryn uneasy, but then Seven decided that if Kathryn wanted to move, she would, so she remained still and asked, "And her designation?"

"That's my sister, Phoebe," Janeway said. "You two would probably get along rather well?one of her favorite things in life is proving me wrong," the captain chuckled fondly, missing her sister's quick and sarcastic wit. "She also paints?even though her style really isn't of my taste, she was becoming quite popular the last time I saw her."

"Ah," Seven allowed, nodding, "I was wondering why this item of apparel seemed to be out of place with the rest of her attire," she pointed to Phoebe's rainbow splattered apron. Then noticing Gretchen's less colorful apron, she asked, "Does Gretchen Janeway paint as well, Captain?"

"No?but she certainly is an artist in the kitchen," Kathryn remarked, then sighed, missing everything there possibly was to miss about her mother and their ranch in Indiana. "She's wearing the apron because she was cooking dinner when this photograph was taken."

"You mother is a cook?" Seven asked, surprised. Her sister was a painter, her mother a cook?Seven wondered how Janeway had become a scientist and further, how did she become the great captain that she was with such less-scientifically minded people surrounding her?

"My mother is many things, Seven?a cook is only one of them," Janeway informed, reaching for her glass, although not really to drink it, but just to have something to keep her hands busy.

Wanting to assimilate as much information about Janeway's humanity as possible, she said, "Explain."

Taking a sip, Janeway said, "Okay, but first, let's figure out what we're going to eat?because I should warn you, once you get me talking about my family, we could be here a very long time."

"I find this acceptable," said Seven, watching Janeway get to her feet. "However, I am not sufficiently 'hungry,' but I will attempt to ingest a small portion of the nutritional supplement you wish to consume."

"Do you have a preference?or something that you absolutely don't like?" Kathryn asked, running her fingers through her drying hair.

"I do not have much experience with solid food, and the majority of my previous 'meals' were prepared by Mister Neelix and determined by a majority of the crew to be unpalatable. I do know with certainty that I do not like coconut, however."

"I guess you'll just have to trust me then," said Kathryn, making her way to the replicator.

Seven smiled softly and reported, while looking down at the picture again, "There is no one I trust more than you."

Turning around just enough so she could look at Seven, Janeway smiled ruefully, "I'm glad, Seven," wanting to tell Seven she felt the same way, but knowing that was something a captain shouldn't admit to anyone, except maybe her first officer. In her case, her first officer did indeed hold a majority of her trust, but the only being in the universe, except maybe her mother, that she knew would never betray her unless trying to save the captain's life was the woman before her now. Two years ago, she couldn't have said that, but there had been so many changes with Seven?and so many struggles they faced and overcame together, that now the words "I will betray you," that Seven had spoken to her just reminded her of how far she had come?how far they had come together. That knowledge normally comforted the slender captain, but tonight without the shield of her command mask to keep the young Borg from getting too close to her heart, it turned her mouth into a barren desert and set the hairs on the back of her neck standing at attention. "This is so completely insane?Seven deserves someone who can give her all that she needs and wants. I cannot be that person. I'm already claimed by this ship?and I can't tell her how far I would go to keep her from harm?I can't even tell her how much I trust her. She simply deserves better."

"Well?" Janeway asked, prepared to move quickly in case Seven found her selection unacceptable and promptly spat it out. Kathryn, not feeling very hungry herself, had ordered a side of various mild cheeses, several types of grained crackers, and a dozen slices of a plump, Red Delicious apple. To drink, she opted for a mild and fruity sparkling spring wine, one of her favorites, although red wine was her absolute favorite. Now seated on the floor, with her legs crossed underneath her, Janeway struggled with the cork, keeping one eye on the Borg sitting next her.

"It is acceptable," Seven replied after chewing a majority of the food in her mouth.

The captain wasn't sure the was a compliment until she saw Seven reach for another cube of cheese and put it in her mouth, followed by a wheat cracker, followed by another piece of cheese. Kathryn could not hold back her laughter as she watched Seven of Nine struggle to chew the large amount of food. "I guess so," Janeway said, still unable to force open the vacuum-sealed bottle. Then sighing, she handed the criminal bottle to Seven and asked, "I could use some of that handy Borg efficiency, please."

Unable to answer because she was still chewing, Seven clasped the bottle's neck with her human hand. With her Borg enhanced, mesh covered left hand, she modified the implants at her fingertips, until one of them resembled an old-fashioned screwdriver. Positioning it under the lip of the cork, she forced the pliable object up until it sprang loose with a loud pop that caused the captain to jump. The cork immediately blasted away from the bottle, heading right for the light fixture above their heads, but before it had even cleared the bottle by half a meter, Seven used her highly tuned reflexes with precision, snatching the bullet out of mid air with a graceful swipe of her hand. Finally able to swallow all of her food, Seven said, handing the cork to the captain, "This is an inefficient and dangerous means in which to preserve this beverage."

Wide-eyed, Janeway took the cork then the bottle and remarked, smirking, "You're such a show off, Seven."

Seven merely raised her eyebrow and proceed to put two more pieces of cheese in her mouth.

Janeway's whimsical laughter filled the room and the empty spaces in the Borg's heart as she quickly poured a half-full glass for Seven, and a full glass for herself, sensing that she was being studied by Seven. Normally it set Janeway's teeth on edge to know someone was watching her every move, but with Seven it was usually different. The young blonde didn't watch her looking for flaws in character or errors in judgment?she watched her only because she desperately wanted to know how to act. It was a heavy responsibility to be a role model, but Kathryn Janeway was no stranger to responsibility, and she wore that hat as easily as she wore her uniform, and truth be told, being Seven's mentor back to humanity was just as rewarding. "Now try this," Janeway said, handing the champagne glass to Seven.

"Captain," Seven said swallowing, feeling very thirsty, "synthehol adversely affects my neural processor."

"Does this malfunction put your life in any danger?" Janeway asked seriously.

"No, but it affects my motor skills and higher brain activity. I do not function properly, nor am I fit for duty."

Janeway nodded, smiling, handing the glass to Seven, "Same here...that's the idea?and unless I'm mistaken, we're not on duty. This wine is only mildly intoxicating, and you just have to try it with the apples."

"That is correct. We are not on duty." Then taking the glass and a piece of the apple, she said, "I will comply," but she didn't taste the sparkling spring wine just yet, clearly waiting to watch how the process was properly performed.

Knowing this taking turns game well, Kathryn picked up an apple slice, bit off a healthy piece and then took a smaller sip of the wine, allowing the tingling liquid to roll around in her mouth mixing with the apple's juices and her own saliva. Then after a few seconds, she swallowed some and finished chewing the apple. Then nodding to Seven, informing her student it was her turn to play, she leaned back against the couch and stretched her legs out underneath the glass coffee table.

Seven mirrored the actions of her mentor, and when she swallowed feeling the tingle of the bubbles all the way down to her stomach, she smiled and made a small sound that Janeway was certain was a laugh, or as close as the young woman had ever come to laughing. The instinctual reaction caught Seven by surprise, and not able to stop herself, the sound bubbled out of her mouth again, only louder this time. Then grabbing her tensing stomach, she smiled in surprise and pleasure and stared at Kathryn.

"Oh, I'm so glad I was here to see that," Janeway whispered, reaching over to Seven's shoulder and squeezing. Then feeling entirely too mushy, she released the blonde's shoulder and snatched up a few cubes of cheese, popped them into her mouth unceremoniously, and asked between chews, "So, what were we talking about?"

Trying not to blush too fiercely, Seven took another small sip of her beverage, giggled a little again as she swallowed, and reminded, taking a few crackers into her hand just as the captain had just done, "You were about to explain to me the various functions that Gretchen Janeway performs."

A little over an hour and a half and two glasses of wine later, Janeway had finally finished explaining to the enthralled Borg about the difference between Modernists and Traditionalists, and where she fell somewhere in the middle. Seven had asked enough astute, insightful and thought-provoking questions, that Janeway knew that she would replay these last few hours over and over in her head tomorrow, trying to sort through all that she had learned about Seven, and herself as a result. When Janeway had first starting explaining the idea of Traditionalism, she was certain that the technology centered Borg would balk at such an idea, but to her surprise and delight, Seven had pondered the idea of 'living off the land' with such intensity, that Janeway now was certain the idea fascinated her young friend. As she thought about it longer, she realized that Seven was so technology centered simply because that is all she had ever been exposed to. Even on Voyager, everything was driven by technology. There was no way to get away from it. For even in the privacy of the holodeck, the mind still understood that what it was experiencing wasn't actually real, it was just technology making it seem real.

Suddenly Janeway's mind flashed on Seven standing just in front of the lake near her family's farm. Her long, golden hair was pulled into a simple ponytail and hung out from underneath a shabby, straw cowboy hat. She was wearing a light blue denim shirt and darker denim pants the clung to her body in all the right places, leaving tantalizing previews of her body but more to the imagination than her biosuits did. She was standing tall and firm as she placed her hands on hips, closed her eyes and lifted her face to the bright Indiana sun, soaking in the rays as a wide smile graced her full lips. Then Seven brought her head level again, opened her eyes, which sparkled like diamonds and said, looking at Kathryn, "Captain?"

The sound of her name brought Janeway out of her fantasy, and she blinked, shaking her head and apologizing, "Sorry, Seven?I guess I'm just getting tired. It's not the company?just the wine," she said putting down the glass. Then trying to get to her feet, she stopped as her body protested. "Uhhh," she moaned, slowing her upward movement, then stretching her back and shoulders, she complained, "I think I'm getting too old to for all this fun."

"You are not 'too old,' Captain, you simply do not allow yourself to regenerate," Seven reported getting to her feet, and stretching herself. "Besides, you are not the only one experiencing discomfort, nor do I believe that Voyager's decks where designed to accommodate sitting for several hours."

"No, I don't suppose they were," Kathryn chuckled, flattered, yet again, picking up the empty dishes and wine bottle and recycling their energy back into the ship's systems. Then ordering herself a cup of slightly creamed coffee, a nightly indulgence, she queried, "Coffee?"

"No thank you. I am still experiencing some effects from the 'wine.' Caffeine causes similar malfunctions, and I do not believe anymore 'fun' would be advisable."

"That's a shame?you're really missing out," Janeway said, taking her coffee over to the couch. Sitting carefully as to not spill her beloved beverage or irritate her achy muscles, she groaned slightly sinking into the softness of her plush couch and patted the seat next to her, beckoning Seven to sit with her. "I'll only keep her here for a few more minutes?and then I'll let her go?just a few more minutes?"

"Thank you," Seven offered, sitting down with a great deal more ease than Janeway, but once she was seated, this time a little farther from the redhead, Seven suddenly had no idea what to say. There was no transition available to her, nor did she have anything on her mind that would require a 'philosophical discussion' with the captain. So, she sat silently, staring at the hands folded properly in her lap.

Janeway was happy to just sit in quiet with the young woman and drink in the sight of her, but soon her back muscles began an even more angry protest from her recent neglect, and Janeway sighed knowing that if she didn't go take a hot bath in a few minutes her whole body would be as stiff as the hull of her ship in the morning. "If it isn't already," she groaned silently, as she sat forward and set her coffee on the glass table.

"Are you damaged?" Seven asked with a hint of concern, seeing the discomforting lines around the captain's mouth.

Grabbing her shoulder and rubbing it intensely, Janeway snickered and replied, "I don't know about damage, but definitely a severe breach of protocol is occurring."

"Then I will assist you," Seven said, turning toward Janeway, placing her hand on the captain's shoulder and nudging her to turn around.

"Ohgod," Janeway thought as an unmistakable expression of pure an unadulterated fear fell over the captain's features. Then quickly trying to hide her obviousness with the pain her muscles were inflicting, she said, trying to get away from the Borg, "That's okay, Seven. I think I had just better go take a hot bath and then go to bed...thank you, though."

"Captain," Seven started, not letting go?"I will not fail?I will not fail her?"?"it is illogical for you to reject my assistance. This will be at least your third cleaning ritual today, but still you are in distress. Please turn around so that I may have better access to your body."

"Yes?give her better access, Kate!" her baser self shouted, bouncing with anticipation.

"Seven," Janeway said again, not giving into her desire, no matter how much her inner voice was screaming at her right now, "don't think I don't appreciate it, but I really need to just go to bed and sleep this off."

"Captain, if you are afraid that I will damage you, please do not. I have the knowledge of thousands of species and that knowledge includes anatomy?including human anatomy," Seven reminded, bluntly, keeping any desperation out of her monotone voice.

"I don't fear you, Seven," Janeway softened at the Borg's words, "I don't fear anything about you, and I know that you would never hurt me?it's not that?I'm?well, I'm just?"

"Then what do you fear?" Seven asked curious and frank.

"Nothing," Janeway lied, and before she could protest, stretch the truth, or out right fib anymore, Seven had repositioned herself on the couch. Her back was now leaning into the corner of the sofa, and she had spread her legs, opening a space that she wished Janeway to fill between them. The captain let out only a small yelp as Seven's strong arms reached around her waist and lifted her off the cushion she was on, into the small space Seven had saved for Janeway's narrow hips with amazing ease. When she felt Seven's thin, and tightly muscled legs enclose her own, wiry appendages, she gave up the lame fight that she had attempted to put up and placed herself in the capable hands of the defiant Borg.

When Seven removed her hands from the captain's trim waist, and smoothed a few strands of hair away from the captain's neck and shoulders, Janeway bit down hard on her bottom lip, keeping herself from audibly gasping. Instead her already rigid shoulders steeled themselves even more. Seven sensed the changed, and said softly, "Please 'relax' your shoulders, Captain. If you do not, this procedure could cause you pain."

"Easy for you to say, Seven," Kathryn thought, a little acidly. Then scolding herself for letting her own irritation at her lack of self control shade her view of Seven's intentions, she said, forcing herself to slump somewhat into Seven's hands that had now found their way to her shoulders, "I will comply."

"Thank you," Seven said as she started to press her fingers into Kathryn's shoulder blade. She started with only light pressure, watching the captain's responses carefully to assist her in knowing how much of her strength to use. When the captain allowed a low, guttural moan and let her head fall forward, Seven knew she was utilizing the correct amount of pressure and she did not deviate from that technique until the captain's shoulders where hot from her ministrations. By this time, Janeway was completely lost in Seven's magical hands, moaning and encouraging her unbidden.

Kathryn was certain that the floor could have given way to the death chill of space and she wouldn't have given a good goddamn. And as if the universe was testing her resolve, she hardly gave any thought to Seven's next 'demand'; she was putty in the younger woman's hands, and Seven could have done anything she wanted with the captain at this point and Janeway would have merrily went along with it. "Mmm...absolutely anything she wants?"

"The texture of this garment is hindering my access to your lower back, and I fear that the mesh on my left hand will damage the fabric if I apply anymore pressure. You should remove it," Seven stated plainly since she certainly did not want to ruin such a wonderful addition to the captain's wardrobe.

"Yesofcourse," Janeway mumbled, and lazily unbuttoned her blouse. Once she had it completely open, exposing her completely bare chest to the warm, still air of her quarters, she shrugged one arm out of the garment, and then allowed Seven's poetic hands to take care of the rest. Even her inner voice was deathly quiet at this moment, as if it was just waiting on pins and needles to see what would happen next, and though there was still a small part of the captain that wanted to stand up and protest this behavior, Janeway really had no energy for fist-a-cuffs with herself, or anyone else for that matter, so all she did was drop her hands to rest in her lap and remained completely still.

"Mmm...ohyesss," Kathryn hissed with pleasure, as she felt one cold metallic hand and one searing human hand on her bare skin. As Seven pressed her nimble fingers into her lower back muscles, Kathryn arched forward, and clasped onto Seven's thighs, squeezing, her body on auto-pilot.

Seven flinched at the response and asked, "Am I applying too much pressure?"

"Mmmno?itssogood," Janeway slurred, drunk in her own pleasure, and pressed her body into Seven's hands urging her on. "Mmmmoreplease...ohyes...mmm...right there."

Seven assumed that the good captain new what she was doing, so she continued to apply a great deal of pressure to the various pressure point on the captain's back. Each time she migrated to a new one, a deeper and louder moan came from the woman seated between her legs. The sensations that the captain's smoky voice, smooth skin, and spicy scented hair caused the Borg were clearly beginning to eat away at her technique. "This is arousal," Seven determined as the analytical part of her mind made note of the increase in her body temperature, blood pressure, and breathing. Her chest also felt unduly warm and tight, and there was a slow, throbbing and distracting ache at the juncture of her legs. The logical side of her brain wanted her to continue her explorations of the captain's and her own body, but the more human side of her brain knew that she should not, although she was not certain as to how she knew, but she assumed it was instinctive, something Seven didn't totally understand, but was starting to embrace.

So she slowly eased her hands back up to the captain's shoulders and neck and after several more long moments of gradually decreasing the intensity of her massage, and thus the captain's vocals, she stopped entirely once the captain had fallen silent for almost five minutes. As she started to remove her hands from the captain's shoulders, she felt Janeway start to fall backward. Seven immediately returned her hands to the captain's body to steady her recline, but did not stop the small woman from coming to rest on her chest.

"Captain?" Seven whispered into the back of Janeway's head, breathing in deeply the freshly showered scent of Kathryn's now dry hair, "are you damaged?" When there was no response, Seven titled the captain's face to the side so she could look at her. The captain's eyes were closed and her lips were slightly parted, and Seven noted as she heard the distinct sound of the captain's steady breathing that she was asleep.

Not knowing how to proceed, Seven contemplated the situation for a few moments, then carefully, as to not disturb the slumbering woman in her arms, reached over to the other side of the sofa and grabbed the captain's afghan. Softly, she opened the blanket and pulled it across the captain's bare chest, understanding that this was not the time to experiment with her sexuality. Seven only wanted to experience that aspect of her humanity when the captain was fully alert and a willing participant. Once the blanket was covering a majority of their bodies, Seven wrapped her arms around Kathryn's front and settled into a comfortable position, prepared to spend the rest of the night there if need be. As Kathryn's head fell against Seven's chin, she allowed herself to cuddle it softly with her cheek and then acting on instinct again, she turned and quietly pressed her lips to the captain's temple and then whispered almost inaudibly, "I will not fail you."

0030 Hours

Kathryn Janeway stirred slightly against the Borg's soft chest, turning to her side to press herself farther into the comforting warmth of Seven of Nine. Then feeling the protection of an arm draped languidly but firmly across her chest, she brought her own hand up to it and pulled the soft hand up to her bosom. Then she murmured something incomprehensible and fell back into the depths of an easy sleep.

Seven, who was still awake pondering all the she had learned about herself and the women in her arms since they had met, froze when she felt the small, but definite swell of the captain's left breast. Even though she had not initiated the contact, she knew that if she allowed it to continue she would be doing herself and especially her captain a grave injustice. Deciding it was time to return to her alcove and allow the captain to regenerate in her usual fashion, whatever that was, Seven pulled her hand away from Kathryn's chest, somewhat reluctantly, and then tapped the captain on the shoulder softly, but persistently, and said, "Captain, you must wake. It is time for you to regenerate, and I am required to return to my alcove." When the captain did not stir in the least, she said with more force in her voice, "Captain Kathryn Janeway, you must comply."

"Huh?" Kathryn mumbled, snapping out of her sleep, confused and barely lucid.

Seven wrapped her arm around Janeway chest again to simply put the captain's confusion at ease, and said softer, "Captain, you must wake up now. I am required to return to my alcove and you must regenerate."

"Seven? What time is it?" Kathryn asked, bringing her hand to her head feeling hazy.

Seven answered, quickly, "It is a few minutes prior to 0100 hours."

"0100 hours!" Janeway yelped, fully awake now. Then as if she just realized that she was leaning rather intimately against Seven, sans her shirt, Janeway pushed herself up, clutching the blanket to her chest. "Why didn't you wake me up?" asked Kathryn, frantically trying to locate her blouse, not to mention remember how it had come off.

Seven reached down to her feet to retrieve the captain's silk blouse, then handed it to her as she answered, "I did not see any immediate need to disturb your rest."

Taking the shirt from Seven's extended arm, she turned her back to Seven, dropped the blanket and quickly put on the delicate shirt, asking, "You shouldn't have let me use you as a mattress, Seven. You must be terribly uncomfortable."

"I am uncomfortable, Captain. You are as 'light as a feather,'" Seven informed, purposefully using one of her known to be accurate, human expressions to settle the small captain's unease.

"Well, I don't know about that," Janeway came back, turning around, clearly feeling embarrassed, but not as openly irritated. Now realizing that she was acting like a child, she said, extending her hand to help Seven stand up, "But thank you anyway. You're awfully sweet."

"It was 'nothing'," Seven replied rising and placing her hands behind her back. "I hope you have 'pleasant dreams'. I will undoubtedly see you tomorrow at the staff meeting. Good night, Captain," Then turning to leave she was stopped by an insistent hand on her elbow. Seven pivoted again, just in time to see Janeway approach and wrap her no longer bare arms around her waist.

"Not so fast, you," Janeway said, hugging Seven a little modestly. "I'm sorry I was cranky just then. I didn't mean it," then backing away slightly so she could look up into Seven's face, she said, softly, "Thank you again for being so kind to me. Sometimes I don't know what I'd do without you."

Seven felt overwhelmed by the statement and pulled Janeway into her chest again, hugging her fiercely. After a few moments, she said, "You are welcome, Captain. I do not know what I would do without you, as well."

Janeway forced herself to pull away as another wave of drowsiness swept over her, and as she walked Seven to the door, she said, "And Seven, one more thing?"

"Yes, Captain?"

"Call me Kathryn, when we're off duty...alright."

"Yes, Kathryn," Seven answered in a flash of teeth as bright as the sun.

0900 Hours

[Resume recording...]

"Yes. Where was I? Oh right, insanity?

Last night, Seven of Nine...yes, Seven of Nine, came to my quarters for dinner. It was a lovely time, truly lovely until the point where I lost my mind.

I can not believe I could have been so stupid and completely irresponsible as to not only allow her to massage my back, but also allow her to remove my shirt in the process. On top of that, oh wait, there's more...I fell asleep in her arms sometime during her ministrations only to wake up snuggling her bosom, half naked, wrapped in a blanket like a child clinging to her mother.

The only thing else I remember for certain after that is that I embraced her at my door and told her to call me by my first name?it's such a blurry chaotic memory I can't help but wonder if I really am starting to lose my grasp on things. I've never behaved this way before?never, not even when Chakotay and I were stranded for all those months on that planet several years ago did he and I ever even come close to the level of intimacy I allowed myself with Seven last night.

Seven of Nine?I can't believe I'm saying this about Seven...of... Nine. Okay, I'll admit that I find her attractive. Good god, you'd have to be completely blind not to appreciate her spectacular physique, but that doesn't explain away everything. It probably explains how my shirt came off, but it certainly doesn't explain why I allowed myself to fall asleep in her arms. I don't fall asleep in someone's arms! Oh, but I did last night, didn't I...

And I don't know what brought it on, but all of the sudden, I just couldn't resist her. I didn't want her there, but then I didn't want her to go. And the longer she stayed, the more I addicted I became. Do you know what I did yesterday during our Velocity match? I actually crawled between her legs to make a shot! Granted, this was after almost an hour of non-stop, all or nothing play with my undefeated streak seriously in jeopardy, but my god?what in the hell was I thinking? Okay, I admit that I would have never had done that if she hadn't had her hands all over me the entire match, yet still...what have I become? I've become Tom, except much, much worse because even though I'm sitting here saying these words right now, in the back of my mind, I'm trying to figure out when I will see her again...at least Tom is up front with his intentions. Ohgod?help me?

I'm not even going to discuss the fact that I am more than thirteen years her senior, or that Seven is female...a part of my sexuality I've never acted on before. Nor am I going to mention the fact that she is, and always shall be part Borg. You know why? Because those things don't even matter. She's an amazing being, whether she be human or Borg?and she deserves to be seen as such.

And poor, Seven! Lord, what I must being doing to that poor woman! She deserves so much better than me. I should be shot?that's what should happen. I should be dragged out on my selfish ass and shot dead. Period.

[End recording?]

1000 Hours

Captain's Log: Supplemental
Stardate: 50324.5
Subject: Crazy

[Begin recording...]

"After reading the last of the final Engineering reports on the warp drive repairs, I received a personal communiqué from Seven. It reads:

And yes...I'm insane."

[End recording?]

1300 Hours

It took all her strength, cunning, and reserve, but somehow, Captain Janeway had pretty much managed to avoid all contact with Seven of Nine, and Commander Chakotay who was still trying to get the dirt on the good captain, for nearly a week. They had all spoken to each other each day, but the captain kept it purely professional. Thankfully, if not a little to the woman inside's dismay, Seven had complied with the captain's wishes, never once approaching her for a matter other than that of ship's business.

Even though she felt completely wretched, she knew that this was a matter that couldn't be broached easily or with haste. The bottom line was the even though Kathryn was realizing more and more each day that she was indeed a woman made of flesh and bone, who could still burn with passion and desire that threatened to temper the hottest of suns, she was still, at the end of the day, the captain of this vessel. Starfleet protocol, notwithstanding, there easily could and probably would be some serious consequences to her actions if she pursued a relationship with any member of crew, but especially Seven of Nine. Reactions that she couldn't take lightly, still over forty years from the nearest Starfleet outpost.

And then, of course, was the fact that she wasn't even certain what was happening between her and Seven. There was little doubt in her mind that the young woman was starting to express herself more, with regards to her sexuality and the emotions that follow those discoveries, but other than a gut feeling and some awkward moments, Kathryn really didn't have much to go on. Yes, she admitted that Seven had probably used the physical contact required, well required if you want to win, in Velocity to take her first steps into physical intimacy, but that didn't really explain the way Seven had behaved in her quarters last week. If Seven had just been looking for a cheap thrill, she could have found one very easily in the captain that night, but she had conducted herself far better than Janeway probably would have if she had been in Seven's shoes. And even though it was Seven who initiated the contact, Seven knew nothing of subterfuge or trickery. When she requested that Kathryn remove her shirt, Janeway knew without a shadow of a doubt that it was because the material was slippery, and because she hadn't wanted to damage it with her mesh encased hand, not because she wanted to fondle her captain.

All of this, on top of her already grotesquely overflowing plate, today Janeway felt that if she didn't make a decision to pursue Seven on Nine, or not, soon, she was going to completely lose her mind?if she hadn't done so already. The captain in her told her that of course she had lost it. That part of her mind told her constantly that even considering becoming involved with a crewmember was immediate grounds for a psychiatric review, but the woman in her told her that if she didn't at least try, she would be asking herself 'what if' until the moment she died. This was positively the worst conundrum, equal parts personal and professional, she had faced since the still unspeakable incident that took the life of her father and fiancé, and precisely why she had tried to avoid love at all costs since stranding herself far, far away from everyone and everything she knew.

It was so much easier for Kathryn before she had made contact with Starfleet via a Hirogen long-range communication device. Before that day, all she had to do was remind herself that she couldn't give up on seeing Mark Johnson again because giving up on him would have meant that she was giving up on any hope for a speedy return to the Alpha Quadrant. But after that day?"After that damned letter"?her trusty excuse for remaining celibate died a quick but painful death with the news of Mark's recent marriage.

"Yellow alert, Captain to the Bridge," came Chakotay's steady voice over the ship's comm system snapping the captain out of her sorrowing cogitation.

Within seconds, Janeway was marching from her Ready Room doors up the stairs toward her first officer who was standing in the middle of the command deck. "Report," her voice boomed as she scooted in beside him, placing her hands on her narrow hips.

"We've picked up a cloaked ship closing on our position, Captain," Chakotay explained, turning away form the front viewscreen and looking down at her.

"Cloaked?" Janeway said, not quite understanding. Normally the purpose for having a cloaking device was so that one couldn't been seen.

"Captain," Tuvok said, fielding her implied question, "Ensign Kim," he turned slightly toward the young man who was feverishly working on something, "spotted a minor spatial anomaly approximately ten minutes ago. After conducting a series of scans, we have determined that the only logical conclusion that can be drawn is that the anomaly is indeed a cloaked ship."

Janeway had never liked cloaking devices. She had always thought that it was a cowardly way to do battle, although she did understand the need for them from time to time. But to her, it always seemed like they were all too often used as a vehicle of war, rather than defense. "Distance?"

"Mister Kim is currently working on a means to track the ship, Captain," Tuvok stated. "Our last contact with the ship placed them fifteen million kilometers to starboard."

"What's our shield status?" asked Janeway making her way up toward Operations where Kim had hardly taken his eyes of his board.

"The deflector shield is at maximum."

"Good?we'll stay at yellow alert for now." Then coming over to Harry's side, she asked, "What do you see, Harry?"

"Not a whole lot right now, Captain," he sighed, but then pulling up the data he recorded from where they first spotted the mystery ship, he said, pointing at his console, "Here is the sensor record from ten minutes ago. See here," Kim pointed, tapping the board to enlarge the image, "Voyager's long range scans picked up a slight phase shift, just a few thousand kilometers from the Mutara Class Nebula we observed earlier. I ran the scan through the image sequencers a couple of times and found this," he continued as he brought up the image on the small viewer behind them. Turning with the captain, he noted, "From this view, you can slightly tell that something isn't quite right, but when you switch to infrared, and magnify, you can clearly see the evidence of plasma flow. The rest of the ship's energy signature is being masked by the nebula. Honestly, we're lucky we picked up anything at all, Captain."

"Well done, Mister Kim," Janeway nodded, impressed, patting Harry on the back. "Any idea where the ship is now?"

"No, Captain. I think they got wind that we spotted them because they're no where to be found?as far as I can see, but I'm still working on a way to track them."

Janeway leaned against the side of the young Ensign's console resting her jaw in her hand, clearly weighing her options. Then standing up straight, she turned toward the conn and ordered, "Mister Paris, hold course. I don't want to give them, that is if they're still watching us, the wrong idea." Next, turning back to Kim, she asked, "Do you need some assistance interpreting this data?"

Harry, never one to let foolish pride get in his way, answered honestly, "I'd love some, Captain."

Smiling, proud of an officer who knew when to not try to impress the captain, thereby impressing her more so, she tapped her comm-badge and said, looking down at her feet, " Janeway to Seven of Nine."

"I am here, Captain," Seven's clear, concise voice sounded over the Bridge's speakers.

"Seven, Ensign Kim is going to send some sensor logs down to you shortly. We're fairly certain that we've got a cloaked vessel tailing us, but we haven't been able to track its position. I want you to have a look at the data to see if you can find anything as to how to locate them, or possibly with whom we're dealing. Report directly to me as soon as you have something."

"I will comply."

Seven of Nine crisply ended her conversation with the captain, trying not to feel like a complete and utter failure; something that did not sit well with the cool, perfection driven blonde. As the data from Operations was uploaded to Astrometrics, Seven immediately began compiling the information as she continued thinking about her stagnate relationship with the captain.

After she left the captain's quarters six days ago, Seven had immediately returned to her alcove and began researching all the information she could get her hands on regarding Traditionalist dating rituals, the mating and procreation practices of same-sex pairings, and any Starfleet protocols regarding crew fraternization, which she was glad to find that there were none. Although she did admit that there was implied discouragement with regards to the commanding officer fraternizing with fellow crewmembers; however, it was never clearly disallowed.

What she found had given her so much hope that she and the captain could find an understanding out here in the middle of the Delta Quadrant and begin to slowly build a life together. Seven, of course, knew that this wasn't going to be an easy task by any means�nothing ever was when Kathryn Janeway was involved�however, she had believed that they were on their way. But now, Seven was certain that she had made an egregious miscalculation. Part of her wondered if it was the personal communiqué she had sent Kathryn the next morning, after consulting her research as to what an appropriate response would be at that juncture. After she never heard back from the captain, Seven assumed that Kathryn had been angry with her for bringing up personal matters while they were on duty, but then as several more days had passed, she didn't think that was the cause of the captain's distance at all. She had never known the older woman to hold a grudge where Seven was concerned, and surely, she would not begin now after such a slight infraction. Seven could think of at least five other things she had done that had directly violated the captain's direct orders, and still they had remained friends. So, after putting the note as the cause aside, she had spent the last two days trying to figure out what she had done so terribly wrong that the captain felt the need to distance herself completely from Seven. And even now as her mind analyzed that data from the mysterious ship, she still hadn't the foggiest idea what the captain was thinking.

The defiant part of Seven wanted to march into the captain's Ready Room and demand an explanation, but Seven had decided that she was going to set her stubborn, self-righteous demeanor aside for the time being and remain patient. Seven of Nine had no idea of what it was like to be responsible for the lives of nearly one hundred and fifty people, as well as an entire starship, but she assumed that the burden was significant. And assuming that, she could not allow herself to unduly burden the captain just yet. However, as each day passed, Seven's resolve to be patient and let the captain come to her was slowly being chipped away, and she knew that if Kathryn continued to avoid her in the coming weeks, she was just going to have to go to the Bridge and have a discussion with the redhead, because for Seven of Nine, failure was not a option. She and Kathryn, according to the ship's computer, as well as her own mind and heart, were infinitely compatible; meaning that no matter what alternate universe they existed in, as long as their paths intersected for long enough to break down any barriers that the woman were prone to throw up, they would inevitably find themselves either butting heads or making love?in most cases, a lot of both.

"I will not fail us, Kathryn," Seven said outloud as she worked. "Resistance is futile."

Just then, Seven deciphered a familiar energy signature from the data streaming across her console that threatened to take away the one thing that she could not exist without: Kathryn Janeway.

Captain Janeway sat quietly in her command chair getting the distinct impression that she was being hunted. She wasn't sure when she had become so paranoid, but she imagined that the change had occurred sometime during her first year in the Delta Quadrant. Before that, she had seen and experienced her fair share of the malevolence that still existed in many parts of the galaxy, but somehow, her belief and immersion in Starfleet had kept her feeling relatively safe no matter where she traveled. Something that she didn't realize how much she depended on?how much she took for granted until it was all taken away from her in one fell swoop.

Since Day One of their time in this quadrant, they had encountered species after species that seemed hell bent on ripping her and her precious cargo apart limb by fragile limb. Kathryn speculated that a majority of this quadrant's 'problems' were due to the fact that it was home to the bane of the galaxy: the Borg Collective. Janeway often wondered how the United Federation of Planets would respond to the constant threat of assimilation. The optimist in her believed that humanity, and the rest of the member species would persevere, and not give into the temptations of evil, but the realist, the scientist, in her also knew that any species, no matter how evolved, would be hard pressed not to fall back on their ancestral instincts to hunt, or be hunted.

Still, this ever-necessary practice of looking over her shoulder every five minutes was beginning to take its toll on her spirit and her faith in goodwill. And it scared the hell out of her to think that she might never be able to feel perfectly safe anywhere again, even if they did reach the Alpha Quadrant in one piece. The fear of being alone was a powerful, powerful force whose meaning Janeway was only beginning to comprehend.

"Captain, we're being hailed," Kim yelped, obviously surprised.

"Tuvok?" Janeway said, jumping to her feet and spinning around to look at her dear friend and Security Chief.

"A ship is decloaking ten thousand meters off the port bow, Captain."

"Jesus, they're were right on top of us," Janeway thought, then asked, "Weapons?"

"I'm reading a total of ten phaser banks, and three torpedo launchers. Two forward and one aft," reported the swarthy Vulcan, reading the data as it came in. "Their weapons are not powered as far as I can tell, Captain."

"Which means that we really don't know," she said to herself. Then clearing throat, she began rapidly, "All stop. Mister Kim, open a channel."

"Channel open," said Kim, looking up from his console.

Kathryn folded her arms across her chest, and said in her trademark, command voice, "This is Captain Kathryn Janeway of the Federation Starship Voyager. What can we do for you?" Immediately, she placed her hands behind her back, which was her signal to the Bridge crew to watch her carefully, for if need be, she could have Harry cut communications, Tuvok fire weapons, and Chakotay, who was now making his way to the auxiliary helm control, get them the hell out of there, all without saying a word. Of course, the only person who couldn't keep an eye on the captain's silent hand gestures was Mister Paris. So, during these events, his job was to protect the Bridge crew at all costs, in case they were suddenly boarded. To assist him in his duties, ship's maintenance had installed two phaser holsters just underneath his console, out of view from anyone looking in on the Bridge from the viewscreen, but readily accessible in a pinch.

"They're responding, Captain," Kim reported, readying himself for anything and everything.

"On screen."

"Captain Janeway," said a relatively humanoid looking, despite his ruddy eyes and phosphorescent skin tone, male from the main viewer. His voice was even, with little inflection, which told Janeway that he was either completely harmless, or one terribly unfeeling being. She hoped it was the former since she always seemed to get herself into trouble with uncompassionate races. "You have entered Culaaket space. I am Seylupen Jaffen. I apologize if we have alarmed you by remaining hidden...however it was for our own protection. Please state your business here."

"Sounds honest enough,"..."We're just passing through, Mister Jaffen. We aren't familiar with this sector," Janeway said, remembering to not give too much information away?a lesson she had learned several years ago when it seemed that every time she told someone that they were from the Alpha Quadrant and trying to get home, several weeks of hell followed. "I apologize if we have trespassed."

"The Culaaket only inhabit this sector. We do not own it. Therefore, I cannot forbid you from passing. However, it is my sworn duty to protect the people of Culaaket, and," it was the 'and' that got Janeway's attention, and as everyone expected, she clinched her fist behind her back signaling to the trio watching her every move to be ready, "I must inform you that we have scanned your ship and detected Borg biological and power signatures within your vessel. Since your vessel is obviously not Borg, Captain Janeway, would you care to explain this?"

"Here we go again!" Honestly, if ever there was a moment when she wanted to throw her arms in the air and stomp her feet in a first class temper tantrum, it was whenever she had to explain away her benevolent Borg Astrometrics officer. "Those readings you detected belong to my Astrometrics officer, and the alcove that she utilizes to regenerate. We severed her from the Borg Collective many months ago, and I assure you, neither she nor I is any threat to you. We're just on our way home."

"Very well, Captain Janeway," Jaffen said, visibly uncomfortable with the idea of a Borg drone, severed or not, intruding on his space, "we will not keep you from your destination any longer then. However, I'm sure you won't mind if we keep an eye on you, for our own protection, of course?"

"Not at all. Thank you for your cooperation. Good day," and with that, Janeway signaled to Harry to cut the transmission. Then forcing herself to breathe a little easier, she walked up to Tom and said, "Alright Tom, give me the fastest route out of here?best speed."

"Aye, Captain," Tom replied, plotting the course and taking the ship to the standard cursing speed of Warp Six.

As Janeway felt the warp drive engage in a steady murmur beneath her feet, she turned around and headed for her command chair as she heard the turbolift doors hiss open. Sensing something was amiss, she lifted her head just enough to lock onto the crystal eyes of Seven of Nine, who looked as scared as Janeway had ever seen her.

"Captain!" Seven exclaimed, much more feeling being emoted than usual from the woman that had been nicked named as the 'Ice Queen' by several of Voyager's lesser officers.

"Seven, what's wrong?" Janeway asked, getting that sinking feeling in her stomach again.

"You must come with me immediately. You are in grave danger. Come with me now, there is no time to explain," Seven cried, acting completely out of character which caused Tuvok to take two small steps in her direction, keeping one eye on the distraught Borg and one eye on the ship's sensor readings.

Then noticing something perplexing on his console, the left the Borg where she was holding the turbolift doors open, deeming this situation more urgent. As he had feared, three more ships began decloaking around the small, sharklike form of Voyager. "Captain, three more ships have decloaked around us, all within ten thousand meters."

"Red alert," Janeway barked, not allowing herself to look back at Seven. Her ship was in trouble and she needed to stay focused. "Get us out of here now, Mister Paris!"

"I'm working on it, Captain, but they've got us boxed in. If we drop out of warp, I might be able to break free long enough to get clear space in front of us," Tom said, hoping he sounded more convincing than he felt.

"Captain, all ships are charging weapons," Tuvok stated. "Our shields are at maximum."

"Captain, come with me immediately! You must comply!" Seven said, gritting her teeth with impatience.

"Not right now, Seven!" she snapped, wishing she didn't have to, and sat down, bracing herself. "Tom, slow us down and see if you can lose them. Tuvok, if they fire on us, do whatever you have to do to get us out of here in one piece. Harry, send them a message informing them that if they don't back the hell off, I'll be forced to use all of the technology at my disposal?word for word, Mister Kim," she hissed.

Then finally having her fill of the chain of command for one day, Seven of Nine yelled bitterly, with tears in her eyes, still holding the lift, "Kathryn! You must trust me, but I cannot protect you if you do not. Please, Kathryn, come with me now, there is no more time!"

That outburst got more than just the captain's attention, and for a split second everyone stood frozen where they were. Even Tuvok took note of the emotion in the young woman's eyes and voice.

Kathryn immediately responded, knowing that she did trust Seven, and doubling knowing that there was obviously something more sinister brewing than a mere space fracas to upset the normally stoic woman. "Commander, you have the Bridge," Janeway said getting to her feet and making her way toward the side staircase as two Culaaket soldiers materialized, flanking her. They each instantly grabbed Janeway by her arms, and just as she started to react, she felt the unmistakable sensation of dematerialization.

As soon as Seven had heard the sound of the transporter beam, she snapped into action, operating purely on instinct. With three powerful strides, the nearly six foot blonde was one step from the upper deck's safety railing. Using her Borg enhanced athleticism, she leapt onto the thin rail and catapulted off of it looking eerily similar to a lioness striking out at her prey. But the only purchase she found when she landed where Janeway had just been was the stone hard deck, and she did not greet it kindly.

In a moment of pure rage, using her mesh encased hand, Seven took a single swipe at the thin, grey carpet, shredding it easily. Then realizing that she was wasting precious seconds, she turned and said to Tom, who was trying to break Voyager free from the circling ships, "Lieutenant Paris, we must depart this sector as soon as possible. Be efficient."

1400 Hours

"Now just wait a goddamned minute, Seven," Chakotay barked, on his feet and stalking toward the cool blonde. "I'm in command of this ship! Tom?we�re not going anywhere," he concluded, pointing to the conn.

Seven suppressed the urge to grab the tall Native American by his throat and squeeze until his life signs were terminated, or until his head came off which would have the small effect. Instead, she placed her hands behind her back to reign in their ire, and stated, "This is inefficient. We must depart this sector immediately before Voyager is destroyed and before the captain is terminated."

"Commander, all four ships are firing," Tuvok informed, a very slight unease in his voice.

"Tom, evasive maneuvers," Chakotay said, throwing himself into the captain�s empty chair. "Tuvok, fire at will."

Seven grabbed onto the handrail next to her as several photon torpedoes impacted directly with the intrepid class starship. However, other than a bit of a rocky ride and a few blown conduits, Voyager remained undamaged, so far.

"Shields at ninety-two percent, Commander," Tuvok reported, accessing the shield status from his console, then setting the frequency to rotate every three seconds, he finished, "the Culaaket are still in pursuit." Then firing a series of short controlled bursts from Voyager�s aft phaser banks with little effect, he reported, "It appears that their technology is equally matched to ours."

Brazenly marching up to Chakotay, Seven said, remaining upright, "Commander, we must retreat immediately! There is no time to explain. Comply!"

Standing up, violating the Borg�s personal space, a trick he learned from the captain, he snarled, "I do not take orders from you, Seven of Nine, and I won't I just turn around an leave Kathryn without a fight. Now either make yourself useful, or get the hell of the Bridge!"

"Commander," Tuvok said, keeping his eye on the tense situation inside and outside the ship, he said, "three more ships are decloaking to port, and long range scans are detecting a total of ten more vessels on an intercept course."

Chakotay turned to Harry, and asked, "Any response from the captain�s message?"

"No, Sir," Kim reported looking a little worse for the wear.

Grabbing Chakotay�s arm, Seven pleaded, "Commander Chakotay, you must trust me. If we do not flee, Kathryn will die. Our only recourse at recovering her is to leave?but we must do so now. I will explain when we are clear from any threat. That is all I can say."

Thrusting his arm out of the Borg�s grip, he said to Tom, his voice full of anguish and rage, "Tom, can you get us out of here?"

"It�s gonna require some non-Starfleet sanctioned tactics, if you catch my drift," Tom answered.

"Understood," the ex-Maquis leader acknowledged, knowing exactly what the hotshot pilot was talking about. Then turning to Seven, he said, "Have a seat, this could get ugly."

Kathryn Janeway recovered quickly from the disorienting sensation of transportation. Before she even opened her eyes, she was swinging her small, but deadly trained fists. However, the only damage she managed to do was to her shoulder when she didn�t make contact with the body she was expecting to be present. The inertia of her wicked right cross sent her careening to the cold, metal floor.

Pumped full of adrenaline, Kathryn jumped to her feet ready for war. Her thin lips were pulled back in an angry snarl, and her fisted where clench so tight that her knuckles threatened to break through the skin. She would have made an honorable Klingon warrior.

But there was nothing to fight except her fear.

The captain slapped at her comm-badge, and barked, not loudly, "Janeway to Voyager," but there was no answer, although the devince did chirp, so she knew that it was at least still functioning. She tried again, to no avail before giving up on communication and focusing on her immediate problem. Just as she started to let her muscles uncoil slightly from their hyper ready state, the floor beneath her shook, causing the captain to snap back into her ready stance. When it shook three more times, the impacts coming precisely one second apart, the captain in her resurfaced and began registering data. "That's impact from phaser fire. You�re on a Culaaket vessel. Voyager's engaging them. There's no immediate threat to you. Assess the situation. Your first priority is Voyager�s safety." Now in full captain mode, Janeway took a look around to see if there was anything that could help keep her vessel safe, either by damaging systems on the ship she was on, or getting herself back to Voyager so they could get away from the Culaaket.

The room she was in was blanketed in blackness. So dark that she didn�t know how big it was, but her senses told her that it wasn�t more than ten meters in diameter. There was no ambient lighting nor where there any windows as far as she could see. There was a small sliver of light coming from what Janeway thought was a doorway to her left, approximately five meters away, but it wasn�t significant enough to illuminate the rest of the room. As more phaser impacts were made causing the ship to lurch forward, Janeway instinctively reached out for something to grab onto, but again, there wasn�t anything, so all she could do was catch herself as she fell.

Pushing her small, wiry body upright again, she started to make her way to the small sliver of light, taking great care to feel around the floor where she stepped. For all she knew, there could be a gapping hole in the floor in front of her. That thought brought up a whole knew series of chills to the captain�s neck, and she froze where she was. To test her theory, she would have normally just called out and listened for an echo, but right now, the one thing that she didn�t want to do was draw attention to herself. While squatting on the floor where she stood, about three meters from the light source, the captain put her brain to the task at hand. She needed something to slide across the floor. Her first thought was one of her shoes, but she quickly decided against that. Her heals were significant enough that if she lost one, she�d have to lose the other one just to walk around with any ease, and Kathryn didn�t want to find herself in a survival situation without the heels of her shoes, that could easily be turned into lethal weapons. Of course there was her communicator, but she dismissed that thought before she even had it. Then bringing up her arm to massage her sore right shoulder, her fingers grazed across the four gold discs pined to her collar.

"Of course," she whispered, removing one of her precious pips that she had worked so hard to attain. Then setting it on the floor at her feet, using her index finger, she flicked it across the eerily dark floor, listening intently. The tiny disc served its captain well, skidding audibly across the floor and rebounding off the wall near the light.

Sighing with relief, Janeway got to her feet and walked toward the light, still a little tentative that the ground beneath her feet would remain solid. When she approached the door, she cautiously put her hand to it, excepting to be shocked from a forcefield or some other form of energy, but thankfully, there was none. It was cool to the touch and felt extremely durable. She didn�t try knocking on it to see if it was hallow, knowing that any sound she caused could be her undoing. Now using both hands, she ran her fingers up and down the door quickly searching for a lever, panel, or anything that could tell her where she was, and furthermore, how to get out. Again, there was nothing. She could clearly feel the seam of the doorway, although the top was out of her reach, but there was no way that she could see to open it. Curious as to the light coming from underneath the door, Janeway pressed her whole body as flat as she could make it and peered underneath. She couldn�t make out much, but there was either another room or a hallway. She couldn�t see any movement, but of course she knew that didn�t mean there wasn�t something or someone out there waiting for her. Pushing herself up to her knees, she pulled another sacrificial pip from her collar and pushed it across the room to left. To her right was a wall perpendicular to the door.

The second tiny disc did its duty also and impacted squarely with some solid object, be it the other wall or something more sinister, Janeway didn�t know. Staying on her hands and knees, she carefully crawled toward the unknown object, using her hands to feel her way around. The other object turned out to be the third wall, and it was only approximately three meters away, a lot closer than she had first thought.

Taking a moment to reassess her situation, she tried her comm-badge again, knowing that it wouldn�t work, but having to try anyway. This time, though, instead of giving up, she continued talking, hoping Voyager could receive her even if she couldn�t hear them. "Voyager, I don�t know if you are readying this, but I�m going to hope that you are. I'm okay. I believe I'm being held on one of the Culaaket vessels, but I can�t say which one. I�m in a room without windows, but I'm alone, and so far unharmed. I�m going to try to get out of here and attempt to make definite contact with you as soon as possible. Janeway out."

For the next half hour, or so, she really couldn�t tell, Janeway, using all of her pips, covered every centimeter of the room on her now filthy hands and knees only to find that she was completely, and utterly alone. There was nothing in the room except a door and one, very pissed off starship captain. Of course, she had no idea what was above her head, but Janeway pushed that unsettling thought from her mind and she strode to the door and began banging on it furiously. Since there was no way for her to get out on her own, she was going to need a little help.

After two minutes of constant banging and cursing, still no one was paying her any attention. Trying a new tactic, she backed away from the door a step or two, turned to her side, and started kicking the hell out of it with her right leg, thinking to herself, "If I get out of here alive, I�m going to have Seven modify a phaser and rig the heel of my shoe to hold it." Then lowering her leg, doing an about face, she continued her kicking with her left leg, "And in the other heel, I�ll store a battery pack, just to be safe."

During the middle of her assault on the door, it suddenly lifted exposing the captain�s eyes to a blindly light, as three shadowed figures appeared. Ignoring the pain in her cornea, Janeway instantly reacted lowering her left leg, spinning on its tired muscles and delivering an impressive roundhouse right with her right leg to the head of the nearest attacker, or rather victim in his case. Janeway let the momentum of her savage blow swing her all the way around coming back to front to continue her assault, as her first victim�s body collided painfully with the near wall.

Janeway jumped into a crisp front snap kick, letting her trusty heel grind ruthlessly into the chest of the closest man. She was just about to finish him off with a palm thrust to his nose, a blow she knew could kill most humanoid species, when two more individuals appeared in the corner of her slowly adjusting eyes. Turning to fend them off, she had no time to react further when the largest one that looked to be well over six feet tall, and probably outweighed the slight woman twice over, rushed her.

Kathryn tried sidestepping out of his way, but his reach was too great, and in a bone crunching impact, the massive soldier tackled the redhead, collapsing her lungs. It was probably the single most physically painful moment of her life, and she really wasn�t all the upset when other beings approached her and injected her with something that sent her into a dark, warm, painless place.

1430 Hours

"Report!" Chakotay yelled, picking himself off the hard deck, where one of Tom's fancy moves had sent him since they had to take some power away from the inertial dampers to give more power to the shields and thrusters.

Harry Kim wiped the dampness from his sweat-drenched forehead. then cluched the sensor panel again and his answered, "That last hit took out their communications array, Commander."

"What�s their weapons status?" asked Chakotay, sitting back down ignoring the small trickle of blood from his bottom lip.

"The lead ship�s forward torpedo bays have been destroyed, Commander. However, their phasers are still functional," Tuvok reported as the enemy ship�s phasers pierced Voyager�s aft shields, impacting squarely on Deck Fourteen.

"Hull breach on Deck Fourteen, section fifteen beta!" Kim called out, as he worked to route power to the emergency forcefields. "Forcefields are holding."

"Inform all personnel on Deck Fourteen to evacuate," Chakotay said, praying that no one was in that area when the hull gave way. "Paris, keep us in front of that lead ship?I don�t want to get in the way of another one of their torpedoes."

"Aft shields are down, Commander. Forward shields are down to fifty percent," Tuvok stated, his monotone voice sounding rather ominous.

"Disengage forward shields and shore up the back," Chakotay ordered, sensing that this was their only opportunity to get away relatively unharmed and set their plan into motion. "Tuvok, target the lead ship�s engines with the aft phasers banks, and prepare to release the package." Then standing, he went over to Tom, leaned in close and said, "Alright, flyboy, you�ve got one shot. When I give the signal, you�ve got twenty seconds to break free and go to warp."

"Like takin� candy from a baby, Chakotay," Tom said, paying close attention to his board and the piloting tendencies of the other ships circling closely.

Tapping his comm-badge, the burly commander said, "Chakotay to Seven of Nine."

"Seven here, Commander," she replied over the comm.

"How's your injury?"

"I have finished 'wrapping' it and I am 'leaving Sickbay' now," Seven spoke using the code the Commander had informed her was appropriate due to the circumstances.

Right after Chakotay had decided to take Seven's advice and retreat from the Culaaket armada, he had typed out a message to her on the computer terminal between them asking her if the Culaaket were eavesdropping on them. Seven had informed him, by typing back, that he was correct. She further explained that they had used the channel that Mister Kim had opened previously with them to lock on to Voyager's communications frequency and established a link. Now they could hear and see everything that they were doing. She informed him that there was a way to break the link, but that it was time consuming, and would certainly result in the captain's death. After that, Chakotay had sent a cryptic message to the senior officers informing them of what he wanted them to do, and what words to use to keep their plan a secret and more importantly, Kathryn alive.

"Good, I guess it's time to roast the turkey. I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm starving," Chakotay said looking over at Tuvok.

"Here, here," Tuvok said, attempting to put as much feeling as possible into is words, and failing miserably. That was his signal that he was ready to fire phasers and deliver Seven's 'injury' to the lead Culaaket vessel, where she had informed them was where the captain was being held captive.

"Paris," Chakotay said, tapping him on the solider, "she's all yours." Then turning to Tuvok he said, "Commander, you're with me."

Just then, Paris went to full impulse, rolled the ship, and changed Voyager's heading abruptly by ninety degrees. As he did this, Tuvok fired quick, but deadly accurate pulses from the aft phaser banks, which damaged the lead Culaaket's engines severely, bringing them to a screeching halt, and deployed a modified torpedo supercharged to emit a powerful electromagnetic burst in ten seconds.

Tom came hard to starboard as clear space opened up in front of them and engaged the warp engines. Voyager was nothing but a twinkle in the horizon when the electric pulse discharged disrupting all electrical signals within a five-hundred thousand kilometer radius.

2000 Hours

After several hours of repairing various conduits on a majority of the decks, shoring up the hull breach on Deck Fourteen, and generally putting Voyager and themselves back together after her little romp with the Culaaket, the senior officers and the Doctor gathered in the Conference Room for Seven's briefing on the situation and to formulate a plan to rescue their abducted leader. Seven of Nine sat in her chair, opposite of the captain's empty chair, which Chakotay refused to sit in, looking at the unmanned space as if any moment it would be filled by the small, but impossibly dynamic frame of Captain Janeway?of Kathryn. But Kathryn never appeared, and due to her absence, the electricity that the auburn haired female radiated wherever she went was tangibly missing.

Seven forced herself to focus on the task at the moment, knowing that if she ever wanted to see her beloved captain again, she was going to have to make it happen. Of course, she would require and accept the assistance of the others in this room, but Seven knew that she was the only one that could save Janeway. An understanding that steeled her determination and allowed her to work at maximum efficiency. "I will not fail you, Kathryn."

"I know we're all tired and still have several more hours of work ahead of us, but I want to start out by thanking you all for what you've done so far and for your persistence. I also want to ask that what we discuss in this room stays here, for the time being. There will come a time soon when we'll have to inform some of the crew, but I only want them to know as much as they have to. Understood?" After everyone nodded their heads seriously, he continued, "As you all know, the Culaaket have the ability to monitor our communications, and even though we've dealt with that problem now by getting out of range, we can't be sure that they won't regain that ability once we enter their space again. Seven," Chakotay said, nodding to the tall blonde, "you're on."

Seven merely nodded, stood and accessed the Conference Room's computer display. Bringing up a schematic of the Culaaket ship, she started, her words crisp, pure, and devoid of emotion. "The Culaaket, designated as species 267 by the Borg Collective, were first encountered approximately eighty Earth years ago. At that time, the Collective deemed them as a minor threat and did not attempt to assimilate them. Several years later, the Borg revisited the Culaaket homeworld and discovered that they had made a series of technological advances, and deemed them worthy of assimilation. Several space colonies and transports were assimilated; however the Collective did not assimilate the entire race."

"Why not?" B'Elanna asked, curious, hoping she didn't looked as scared and angry as she felt on the inside. Her half human, half Klingon physiology constantly left the woman with conflicting emotions, but that wasn't really the case now. She was angry?down right pissed, that someone would dare come aboard their ship and steal their captain. And she was scared to admit to herself that there looked to be a real possibility that she might never see Kathryn Janeway again. That was something that B'Elanna didn't think she could take, not after all they had been through together, and not after she felt that not only had she finally really earned the captain's unwavering trust, but that she had earned Kathryn's friendship. B'Elanna forced herself not to let her mind wander into her memories of dancing closely with the blue-eyed beauty, while most of the crew looked on in envy, shock, and awe, nor did she let herself think about how many times she had finished giving a report to Janeway in her Ready Room and didn't stay for coffee, even though she really wanted to. At first she thought that she was just reaching out to someone, anyone other than Tom Paris, that always seemed to make time for her, but after a few months of nervousness and eagerness, she realized that she was attracted to her captain. At first Torres had laughed at herself for developing a crush on her commanding officer, yet again, but as she thought about it longer, she knew that it was a little more than a crush?well, at least it could have been. Now there was a very real possibility that she would never know. One thing that Torres didn't need more of in her life were 'what if's,' so when Seven answered, she listened preparing herself for battle like any Klingon warrior would.

"The Collective had gained sufficient technological and biological information from the few thousand Culaaket they did assimilate and did not deem it an efficient use of resources," answered Seven. Then when the Klingon didn't inquire further, she continued her monologue. "This event has allowed the Culaaket to continue to prosper, and it has also allowed them to develop a definite 'fear' of the Borg. During my time with the Collective, the Culaaket's assimilation status was reviewed several times, and they have often been 'visited' by the Borg; however, the Borg, at the time of my departure, did not deem them worthy of further assimilation. Thus, they continue to exist as individuals, but the Borg's influence has also caused them to develop more aggressive strategies with which to gain technology, and thus increase their chances of surviving the next Borg attack. An event they no doubt believe will occur. Their means of acquiring this technology is through bartering. They have developed a tactic that we have just witnessed, but apparently their 'operation' has expanded, a situation I was not aware of," Seven stated. The distaste for her lack of knowledge was clear on face.

Chakotay noticed this immediately and reassured her, "That's okay, Seven. No one blames you. Keep going..."

Taking a deep breath, she nodded and continued, "The Culaaket's bartering system is efficient, although immoral. I will explain the tactic in regards to our situation. The Culaaket vessel remained cloaked while they determined if we would pose too great a threat to them. Then they established a brief and formal communication, which allowed them to use their technology to continue to monitor Voyager's activity unbeknownst to us. This allowed them to gain the data they needed to penetrate our shields with their transporter and abduct the captain."

"Why did they just take the captain?" Tom asked, clearly hating the absence of Janeway. He and Chakotay had an antagonistic history, and he didn't like the idea of spending potentially the rest of his life taking all of his orders from the commander. Janeway was much more willing to trust him, and he knew that if weren't for the now missing woman, he probably would still be rotting away in a Starfleet prison, or dead. He owed her practically everything, and he didn't feel like he had even come close to paying his debt yet.

"The captain of a vessel is the most valuable member of her crew, Lieutenant Paris," Seven answered, not a little condescendingly. "She is the most resourceful, the most coveted, the one that brings order to chaos?and the one that her crew would pay any price to protect. I realize that Starfleet protocol would contradict this statement; however I do not believe that there is anyone in this room that could disagree with me, considering our distance from the Federation." When no one spoke up, she nodded and continued, "The Culaaket will not terminate the captain if they believe that we will 'make a deal' with them. However, I am also aware that the captain would never allow this to happen: the reason why we needed to flee the situation as we did in order to assure her survival."

"Okay, let me get this straight," Ensign Kim spoke up, needing to think out loud. "The Culaaket have abducted the captain, hoping that we will barter her life for technology?and possibly our whole ship. Something that the captain would never allow?so, we've left her there to save her life? I don't understand."

Sighing, she answered, "They will not terminate her if they believe that we are willing to barter with them; however, knowing that we cannot do that, but cannot afford to lose the captain either, we had to flee in a manner that allowed them to believe that we could possibly come to an agreement. That is why we have remained out of reach of their monitoring devices, but still within reach of their scanning equipment. We hope to give them the idea that we are 'weighing our options.' Currently, the Culaaket are no doubt performing repairs as are we. We estimate that due to the damage we inflicted to their communications, weapons, and engines, their vessel will be fully functional within fifty-two hours. In order to assure the captain's survival, without breaking Starfleet protocol, I have devised the following plan of action?"

0500 Hours
One full day later

Kathryn Janeway awoke with an intake of air she felt she had gone without for several days. The burning sensation in her lungs caused her to cough hoarsely, which in turn sent red hot pain tendrils across the side of her torso. Bringing her hand to her right side, she winced as she touched her badly bruised rip cage. Allowing her eyes to flutter open, not a little frightened of what she might see, she was shocked to find that she was in a clean, well-lighted room, lying on what seemed to be a cot of some sorts. Forcing herself to sit up, despite the agony of the movement, she immediately began searching for an escape route. To her surprise, again, there were no doors to this small room. There was a wide entrance, but nothing holding her in it.

The captain immediately got to her feet, now fighting shooting pain throughout her whole body now and cautiously made for the entrance. Just then a man's voice came over the speakers and said, "I wouldn't do that if I were you. That forcefield has enough juice running through it that the pain would make your bruised ribs feel like a mild skin abrasion."

"Shit!" she cursed in her mind. "I demand to speak with whomever is in charge," Janeway said, putting her hands on her hips, showing no sign of pain anymore even though it was quite agonizing.

"Of course you do, dear. I would expect no less of the great Captain Janeway. Kathryn, your reputation certainly proceeds you. But I honestly must say that I expected?well?that you'd be a little more durable. Although, I'm certain that the guard in our infirmary would beg to differ. I've always found aggressive women very appealing, Kathryn."

"I assume this is Jaffen," Janeway said, rather than asked, seething with anger at his presumptious words.

"I see that your little entanglement hasn't affected your memory, Kathryn," Jaffen replied, purposefully using her first name as often as possible. This was a fun little game he had played many times before with starship firsts from across the galaxy. "They're so easily annoyed," he chuckled to himself.

Trying not to let the irritating man get under her skin, but not doing a very good job, she barked, "Jaffen, if you're smart, you'll release me right now!"

"Or what, Kathryn?you'll call me bad names and stomp around?" he pressed, "or, oooh, I know, you'll sick your pretty, pet Borg on me and my crew and attempt to assimilate us? Yes, I know all about Seven of Nine, Kathryn. You and she have certainly left an impressive mark on your journey. But never fear, dearest, I think my crew and I can handle one lowly half Borg drone and your little ship." Truth be known, he was a little more fearful of the ship than the Borg woman. Voyager's crew had turned out to be a more resourceful without their captain barking orders than most ship's he encountered and his ship had sustained a significant amount of damage, but he had utter confidence in his crew and he knew it would be no time at all before they would be fully operation again. Normally whenever his ship, the lead vessel, was damaged, they maintained an escort for protection during the trade; however this situation was special. Voyager contained Borg technology: the only kind of technology that could effectively be used to destroy its maker and that made the prize for acquiring such technology very handsome. Due to the monetary amount he knew his soon to be cargo would reap, he had dismissed the other ships for fear that another would try to take what was rightfully his and claim the reward and the prestige he knew he was soon going to be given as their own. No, it would be all his and he was almost giddy imagining the possibilities.

Trying to get the upper hand, Janeway shifted gears quickly and asked, "You've obviously brought me here for a reason...so, let's hear it?"

"You really are in no position to be making these demands, Kathryn?nor am I that easily fooled," Jaffen said, knowing that he wasn't going to get much fun out of this one right now and not really caring anymore knowing that this little game he played to keep himself amused mattered little now. Then lowering his voice a register and sounding much more threatening, he added, "Know that my guards have been ordered to look after you and see that you behave yourself. Do not test me, Kathryn Janeway, or you will die a slow painful death. I will contact you after I have made contact with the new captain of your vessel. Hopefully, for your sake, he will be more reasonable that you are."

As the communication was cut, the lights in the room were lowered significantly until Janeway could barely see her hand in from of her face again. Sighing, out of frustration and relief, she allowed herself to sit upon the cot. "At least I know that Voyager is still in one piece." Then forcing herself to lie down, knowing that she needed to conserve her energy, she continued thinking as she grew weary from the intenst pain, "But what does he want from me?"

Suddenly, Janeway remembered Seven's words, "Captain, you must come with me immediately. You are in grave danger?there is no time to explain," and she shuddered at the desperation and fear in the Borg's voice. Turning on her back, she put her arm to her forehead and thought about the last few seconds on the Bridge before she was abducted. Seven had been so upset and it was clear to Kathryn now why?Seven had known this was going to happen. "But why didn't she just tell me that the Culaaket were about to transport aboard and kidnap me?"

"Who knows...and that doesn't make any difference anyway because I still wouldn't have listened until it was too late."

Janeway sighed at that admission because she knew it was accurate, she wouldn't have acted any differently no matter what Seven had said. And it wasn't like Seven to be purposefully obtuse or secretive?she obviously had good reason not to shout out the obvious, although Kathryn couldn't figure out why, she was sure Seven was trying to protect her as best she could. In a rush of pure emotion brought on by the recent week's personal stresses, the pain in her side, head and legs, and the fact that she was being held captive without any idea as to why, she said, crying in her mind, hoping somehow that her young friend could hear and forgive her, "OhsevenI'msosorryI'vetreatedyouthisway!" Then forcing herself to breath easier to keep herself from showing any weakness externally, she continued, "I'm sorry for everything. I'm sorry that I couldn't just trust you, or trust Chakotay enough to turn the ship over to him immediately. I don't know what's wrong with me? I do?I do trust you?I guess it's just me that I don't trust. I don't trust that if I let myself fall in love with you that I'll be able to choose you over my duty?or my duty over you. I know you don't know this?but I can't?I can't choose, not like that. I couldn't do it to save Daddy versus Justin, and I couldn't to it for you either. You deserve someone that puts you first always, at all costs?and I can't?no matter how much I hate it?I can't?please, don't let me die in this cell without seeing her face again?please, please?I need to see...herface?"

Sleep comes easiest for faithless people when there is nothing left to do but pray.

1100 Hours

"Lieuteanant Torres, I require your assistance," Seven of Nine said as she walked into the Chief Engineer's office, located just off of Main Engineering.

"Kahless, Seven!" B'Elanna growled, spinning around alarmed, "You scared the shit out of me. Do you always have to sneak up on me like that! You'd think in those heels, you'd make more noise," Torres swore, wiping the soft ridges of her forehead with the back of her hand.

"It was not my intention to 'sneak' up on you. I shall endeavor to make more noise the next time I approach you," Seven stated, annoyance not filtered.

"See that you do," B'Elanna came back sensing rather than hearing the condescending tone in the Borg's voice. "Now, what is it you need?"

"The following modifications need to be made to the ship's environmental system," Seven explained, handing the PADD she was holding over to Torres.

As B'Elanna read the list of requests, her eyes began to bulge. Finally, she looked up at Seven and asked, "Why the hell do we need to change the lighting to emit a low level ultra violet spectrum?"

"It is our intention to make this ship seem as though it has been overtaken by the Borg, is it not?" Seven stated more than asked.

"But this is on the whole ship! I thought we were just going to modify the Bridge?"

"That is insufficient," Seven replied, swinging her arms slightly as she spoke. "The Culaaket will undoubtedly perform a ship-wide scan as they did before. Our deception would make more of an impression if it were thorough. Can you make these modifications?"

"Just hang on, Seven," Torres said, trying to reign in her temper knowing it wouldn't do her or the captain any good to land herself in the Brig?but really, sometimes she just wanted to smack some sense into the Borg. "Have you cleared this with Chakotay?"

"The commander is working with Mister Tuvok and Mister Paris on our 'plan of action', and I did not deem it necessary to disturb him. You can authorize these changes, can you not?" Seven asked, desperation starting to break through her icy exterior.

"Yes, Seven, I can?but I'm not sure I should. How the hell is anyone supposed to see what they're doing?" B'Elanna asked, easing up a bit on the aggression, but not much.

"Where you able to see when you transported to that Borg cube and retrieved the transwarp coil?" Seven asked, rhetorically, knowing that she could see perfectly fine.

"Barely," B'Elanna came back, frustrated.

Knowing that was an exaggeration, Seven continued, "Then the crew will not be hindered. Will you make the necessary modifications?"

Turning her back on Seven, B'Elanna growled, "Fine! Anything else you need?"

"Only that which I have already requested. Since you have not objected, I assume that you will comply," and with that Seven turned around and started out the door.

"Hey, Seven," B'Elanna asked, her curiosity needling her ever since the meeting last night in the conference room, "you've always been hell-bent to succeed as long as I've known you, but I've never seen you this?" searching for the words, she finished, "wrapped up in something? How is this different than anything else you've done?"

Seven was aware that the captain would not approve of her speaking of her feelings for her with the rest of the crew before she had fully expressed them to Kathryn, so she simply responded, still speaking the truth, "It is not in my or this crew's best interest to lose Kathryn Janeway."

"Well, you can say that again," B'Elanna agreed whole-heartedly, turning her back on the Borg.

Recently, most of Torres' aggression toward Seven was admittedly due to the fact that she realized that Janeway had a great fondness for the tall, leggy blonde. At first, B'Elanna thought that it was purely some kind of maternal instinct coming out in Janeway, something she was rather prone to, but the more time Torres spent with her captain, the more she began to think it was much more than a motherly bond. When the realization hit her, Torres had immediately started taking her jealousy out on Seven in spades. She didn't feel like she could take it out Kathryn because B'Elanna herself still maintained a relationship with Tom Paris. Plus, Kathryn continued to treat her with kindness and compassion, just as she always had, even when Torres knew she was being unduly ill-tempered toward the blonde and probably deserved a swift kick in the backside. Since she had never made any kind of real play for Janeway's affection other than a few fleeting moments on the dance floor, and one slightly promising moment in the Jefferies Tubes where they had passed each other as they moved about doing repairs after one of their many run-ins with some aggressive species, and both caught each other looking back to the other at the same time, she couldn't blame the captain for finding the Borg's attentiveness appealing. Torres was certain that if someone as gorgeous as Seven of Nine doted on her as much as she did the captain, she would find her quite appealing as well. Plus, there was the fact that more than anything, Torres just wanted to be friends with the captain. That was the main reason she had resisted pursuing her for so long. She would never make a move until she was absolutely sure herself that was what she really wanted, and doubly sure that was what the captain wanted. To damage her friendship for some kind of summer fling would have been one of the worst mistakes she could have ever made, and even though she was feeling regret right now for never once telling Kathryn that she thought she was amazing, she was still certain she had made the right decision to just see where things went.

As far as Seven's feelings were concerned, B'Elanna never really knew what to make of them. Sometimes she thought that Seven just idolized the captain like practically everyone else on the ship did, except for a spare few that really were hopeless. But then sometimes there were moments when Seven would speak of the captain or to her, and she swore that she could see Seven blushing. And finally there were the few times when she had caught Seven studying intently on something and that clearly she did not wish B'Elanna to know what that was. Once Seven had been called to the Bridge and had left the PADD where she sat, without deleting the contents first. Torres' well-known curiosity of course got the best of her. What she had read had completely stymied her. Inside the small data device was practically every byte of information there was available on Janeway from the ship's database. Much of it was really dry general knowledge like what year she was born, the names of her next of kin, known allergies, stuff that didn't really tell anyone what an extraordinary woman she actually was. However, B'Elanna had poured over the contents hoping to learn more as well, but when she was done snooping, suddenly she had felt really wretched. Not only did she feel like she was violating the captain's privacy, even though the information was public record, but she felt like she was possibly interfering with something she simply wasn't privy to. "Who was she to get in the way of the captain's love life?" she had thought, knowing that although she was highly attracted to Kathryn and respected her as a woman and as her captain, there was something in the way that Seven looked at her that she just couldn't quite replicate. Maybe it was because Seven had never been involved with anyone before and didn't know how awful it was to love someone and not to feel that returned, thus she didn't hold anything back? Torres wasn't certain of what was different, but she did know that she could never stand in the way of real love because she herself was still hoping to find it. She would never begrudge anyone that opportunity just because she got hot and bothered in their presence.

So after that, B'Elanna had backed away some, not really trying to push them together but just to see what would happen. If nothing came of it, then she could reconsider her situation and her attraction for the captain more seriously, but if something did, the last thing she wanted was to be a problem. Not only was it very dishonorable, but it was just asking for trouble when dealing with a woman B'Elanna knew could melt titanium with just a look and a few well spoken words.

And now?well, now she didn't know what to think. She wasn't certain what she had expected the Ice Queen to say, but she had thought it would be a little more along the lines of "I cannot function without her," or something like that. "So much for being able to smell love a light year away, Torres," she said out loud as she began making the necessary modifications to the ships environmental system, cursing under her breath. "Just was I need?a dark, humid ship full of people running around emitting Borg bio-fucking-signatures."

1500 Hours

"Hey princess, wake up!" said a voice somewhere in the distance, as Kathryn Janeway fought her way back to consciousness.

"Hmmm?" she mumbled, slowly opening her heavy grey eyes.

"I said, 'wake the hell up,'" said the voice again, "I've brought you some food and water, and don't try any of that kicking shit with me, or I swear to you I'll blow your pretty little redhead right the fuck off."

Mildly annoyed at the woman's audacity, Janeway turned her head just enough to see a rather large, amazon-like, raven haired female standing just outside the forcefield holding a tray in one hand and a weapon in the other. Janeway quickly sized her up and decided that in her current state she was probably no match for the woman. Truth be known, Janeway knew she probably wouldn't stand much of a chance even if she had all of her faculties assisting her. Raising her hand, in a way to show her submission, she said, her voice coarse from lack of use, "I won't harm you?you have my word."

"Ha! Right...your word, like that's supposed to mean something to me" the amazon came back, uncertain. "Just remember who's in charge here and we'll all live to tell about it. Now roll over on your stomach and put your hands out to the side where I can see them."

"Is this really necessary?" Janeway asked, somewhat relishing in the fact that she scared such a fine female specimen so.

"If you want your food, it is!" the woman answered back quickly.

"Fine," spat Janeway, rolling over onto her stomach, and biting down almost hard enough to draw blood on her bottom lip at the pain. Then easing into the soreness, she released her hold on the cot, forcing her damaged chest to bare the brunt of her weight and held her trembling arms out to her sides, taking long, deep breaths to keep her blood flowing freely. Janeway heard, but did not see, because her face was pressed into the pillow to keep herself from crying out, the Culaaket woman disengage the forcefield, throw down the tray of food and quickly reengage the energy field. It had taken all of approximately five seconds. As soon as the field went back up, Janeway brought her hands back to the cot and pushed up enough so that her ribs weren't coming into contact with the cot. Continuing to take slow, deep breaths, she pushed herself the rest of the way up, and carefully twisted her body into a sitting position. Kathryn looked up just in time to see the large woman retreat into the hallway before the lights dimmed significantly again.

All of this darkness was beginning to become slightly unnerving to the starship captain, but she put her fears aside for the time being and forced herself to stand and retrieve her food. As she approached the tray, she said audibly, "Thanks a lot." Of what little food there was, most of it was now on the floor, as was the cup of water. Gingerly bending down, Kathryn picked up the tray and the empty cup and took them over to her cot. Thankfully, some of the water had spilled into the tray, so at least she wouldn't be totally dehydrated, but the thought of having to drink the water that had mixed with some now mushy bread-like substance was far from appetizing. Of course, that wouldn't stop her from drinking ever last drop of it, but that didn't mean that it would make her any more amiable toward her captors.

"Jaffen, when I get my hands on you, you'll wish you'd never been born," Janeway vowed quietly as she took her first tentative bite of the soggy bread, praying that it wasn't poisoned. She didn't think that it was, but one could never be certain.

After forcing herself to finish all of the mush, even though after five mouthfuls she though she was going to be sick, she tilted the tray and let the remaining murky liquid pour out into the cup. Then closing eyes and forcing the knowledge of the substance she was drinking out of her head, she opened her sore throat and let the liquid rush down her gullet without having to taste it much. Then swallowing quickly, the shook her head and wiped her mouth with the back of her sleeve. The survivalist in her quickly reminded her to keep the hard plastic tray and cup near her bed. The cup wouldn't do her much good, except to maybe heave it at someone, but the tray's edges were hard enough that it could make a decent weapon if used with enough force. She knew she was tired, and her body fighting to heal itself, but she was certain if the need arose, she could find the force required.

With nothing better to do now but either go round and round with herself over what a fool she'd been this last week�the woman telling her she should run toward Seven as fast as she could, and the captain telling her to order a full retreat�or sleep, Kathryn choose the latter easily. Her body obviously still needed rest because the captain was certain that she was starting to develop a fever, and her mind needed rest, or at least a reason not to think. She thought for a minute about tucking the tray underneath her pillow, but then she remembered Jaffen's warning, so she left it on the floor, but still within grasp.

This was the hardest part about being held captive?the endless waiting and the ever-present question, 'what if.'

"What if Voyager can't rescue me? What if they are destroyed trying? What if I don't try to escape hoping for a semi-diplomatic solution and no one never comes and I've lost my best chance at freedom? What if I do try to escape just as Voyager is attempting to rescue me? What if Seven of Nine is on the away team and is killed? What if I develop an infection from this internal bleeding and die? What if I have to spend the rest of my life in this place and never tell her how much I love her?"

"No! Don't say that word?not that word?that word isn't just. You're just afraid. You're afraid of being alone. You can't go around telling people you love them just because suddenly you want to stop being lonely. It's not right."

No matter how hard Kathryn tried to shut out her conflicted mind and just sleep it all away, she couldn't. What seemed like days, but was only a few hours passed before she was finally able to quiet her fever crazed mind and rest. The burden of her command and her feelings for Seven not far from her thoughts as she slumbered.

2100 Hours

"Seven of Nine to Commander Chakotay," Seven said exiting Sickbay and making her way toward that deck's transporter room, looking now, with the Doctor's help more similar to the Borg drone she was when she first boarded Voyager. The doctor's skills with cosmetics were 'impressive,' as she had stated after taking a gander at his finished product in the mirror he had produced.

They had both opted to keep her hair, neither of them wanting to do any more work that necessary to the already over medically treated woman, but other than her buttery thick locks, she barely recognized herself. Her skin now glowed a pasty grey, and her lips were completely devoid of the naturally coral tones she was accustomed to. Her ocular implant had been enhanced with a red laser beam, to mimic the kind worn by tactical drones; however they had not placed a fully Borg optical implant over her eye for fear that it would limit her depth perception. Seven was certain that no one would notice the difference.

Her attire had also undergone a drastic change. Now instead of a skin-tight bodysuit, she wore a thickly padded one-piece suit that was made to look as if parts of it were made out of some sort of metal. She wore a tight black leather glove over her human hand, but left her Borg hand exposed. Her shoes were now a thickly soled pair of combat style boots that laced up the front and came to mid shin.

Seven's cortical implant had undergone some drastic changes as well. Now with the help of one of B'Elanna's 'little gadgets' as the Doctor had called it, her bio signature was emitting a strong dampening field that would hopefully allow her to board the Culaaket vessel without being detected until she had set her plan in motion. A few hundred thousand of her nanoprobes had been extracted and reprogrammed to assist her in the ruse. The modified nanoprobes were now being housed and kept dormant just inside the tip of her assimilation tubules. Once released, they were programmed to assimilate the area in which they came in contact with, but only on a cosmetic level. The nanoprobes would then fuse themselves becoming nothing more than microscopic junk piles amongst the rubble they left.

The Doctor had also willing turned over his mobile emitter to the capable hands of the ex-Borg. It was now programmed with a holographic Borg that would follow her and mimic the actions of a real Borg tactical drone. Seven had informed him that this risk to his freedom was not necessary that she believed that she could still be a convincing Borg alone, but he had insisted, telling her that he wished to do his part in rescuing the captain. Seven, of course, could not deny him this, so the now black emitter clung relatively unseen to her right arm.

There would be no energy weapons on this mission, since the dampening field was not strong enough to block a phaser's energy signature from the Culaaket's internal sensors. However, Seven had more than a few still very real Borg attributes that she planned to utilize. She was certain that with the combination of the Culaaket's rational, but zealous fear of the Borg, the modifications to Voyager's Bridge and ship wide environmental systems, the fifty or so crew members aboard that were sporting armbands that were emitting false Borg bio-rhythms, and her own bag of tricks, that her lack of firepower would not be a factor.

"Go ahead, Seven," Chakotay's voice came over her communicator that was also hidden from sight.

"My modifications are complete. I am ready to begin when you are, Commander," Seven stated, reading herself for the critical mission ahead.

"Acknowledged. Stand by, Seven," Chakotay said, and a few beats later, his voice rang out through out the entire ship, "All hands, begin phase three of Operation Assimilation." Then a few more seconds later, his voice could be heard again, "Chakotay to Seven."

"Seven here."

"We should reach the Culaaket ship in ten minutes. Prepare to transport."

"Acknowledged," Seven said, stepping onto the transporter dais and turning to face front. The young ensign manning the station seemed uneasy looking at Seven in full Borg gear, and when she would have normally ignored the woman's fears as being irrelevant, she found herself wishing to comfort her. Softening her stance some, she stated, "Ensign Roland, the sight of me makes you uncomfortable."

Roland, nonplussed by the question, merely nodded and continued to look at her board as if she had something to do.

"I too find it unsettling," Seven said honestly, and then said nothing more. If the woman wished to speak, Seven would allow it, and if she didn't, Seven wouldn't force her to do so.

The young ensign looked up a little shocked at the admission, and then said, laughing some, nervously, "I guess it's natural." Then smiling even more, she finished, "I'd sure like to know how the captain is going to explain this one to Starfleet Command, though."

"Perhaps she will come down with a case of temporary amnesia and forget to make note of it?" Seven replied, allowing a slight smile to grace her lips, but careful not to smile too fully to as to not crack the makeup covering her features.

Laughing, and then realizing what just happened, Roland queried, "Was that a joke?"

"That is correct."

"It was funny," Roland smirked, shaking her head, "but don't tell the captain I was laughing at her, okay?" the young ensign added, suddenly a little panic stricken.

"I will not," Seven said as Chakotay's voice came over her the speakers again.

"Chakotay to Transporter Room Three."

"Roland here, Commander," the young woman said, her face now void of any of the previous moments light-heartedness.

"Send our friends a gift."

"With pleasure," Roland said engaging the transporter and sending the Borgified Seven of Nine to the Culaaket vessel.

"Mister Kim," Chakotay started, trying not to sweat in the hot, humid air of the now Borg like Bridge, "open a channel and send out the standard greeting."

"Aye, Sir," Harry nodded as he waited for the channel to open and then accessed the standard Borg greeting that Seven of Nine had retrieved from one of Voyager's old logs. Part of him wished he could see the look on Jaffen's face when instead of the commander's voice, he heard that of the Borg Collective threatening assimilation. "They've received the transmission, Commander."

"Tom, take us in, right over their front bow, nice and easy," Chakotay ordered as calmly as he possibly could. "Tuvok, ready all weapons, and Harry," he said, looking up at the young man of Asian decent, "keep an eye out for other Culaaket ships."

"Aye, Sir," Kim replied, and then reported, "We've been scanned?but they're not hailing us."

"Send out another greeting...just to make certain they got it," Chakotay said, smiling wickedly, knowing that the Culaaket were probably pissing in their pants right about now.

Seven of Nine materialized into the bright lights of the Culaaket ship and instantly knelt into a half crouch ready to pounce of any life form that may be near. Luckily, Ensign Roland had effectively scanned the ship prior to transporting Seven and placed her in a deserted part of the ship. From the containers scattered liberally around the floor around her, Seven assumed she was in some kind of cargo facility, and furthermore that she was probably on a lower deck far from the Culaaket's Bridge, which was the plan.

Seven immediately activated the implants in her left hand and quickly her metal encased fingers grew several centimeters until they resembled claws rather than her normally rounded digits. Once that was done, Seven activated the Doctor's portable holographic emitter and instantly next to her a Borg tactical drone appeared. The sight was definitely more unsettling than Seven had expected, but she quickly pushed aside the unnerving thought, and went to the nearest computer console on the far wall.

Using her assimilation tubules, Seven interfaced with the Culaaket's systems, first locating and accessing the ship's environmental system, changing the settings to resemble that of a Borg Cube. Then accessing the ship's schematic, she located the area in which the captain was undoubtedly being held. Performing a quick scan of the area, she was not surprised to find that it was heavily guarded. Once filing the information into her eidetic memory, she released half of the modified nanoprobes and let them begin their single-minded task. Almost immediately, she saw the changes taking place through out the ship's systems as the lights dimmed significantly and the air grew steadily more humid. Once erratic blinking red lights began appearing all over console in front of her and the console itself began to take on a distinctly Borg appearance, Seven turned toward the door to the cargo hold and made her way toward the nearest lift.

It was time to make herself seen.

The automaton followed right behind her, being programmed to not move more than two meters from her at all times, for that was the limit of the emitter's projection ability. Seven had also programmed the hologram to continue the mission for her in the event that Seven was damaged and not able to do so herself. If that were to occur, the tactical Borg would remove the emitter from Seven's sleeve and place it on his arm. He would then locate the captain and return her to Voyager protecting her from harm at all costs. Seven had not divulged this information to anyone, not even the Doctor, knowing that they probably wouldn't approve of Seven's methods. She didn't believe that them not knowing would endanger the captain any more than she was already threaten, so she was willing to face the consequences of her deceit in the event that they found out. She was willing to face anything at this point as long as Kathryn survived and was returned to her ship. Seven knew that the captain had to be returned at all costs. She was certain that without Kathryn Janeway as their leader, the crew of Voyager, several of which Seven considered her friends, would surely perish. This was unacceptable to Seven. Not to mention the fact that Kathryn Janeway perishing was as unacceptable of an outcome as their ever could be.

The lift doors closed behind her and the drone as she heard an eerily familiar mechanical voice come over the Culaaket's communications system.

"We are the Borg. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile."

Now accustomed to the means of her mission, Seven of Nine couldn't help but smirk, knowing that for once, the Borg were going to help the crew of Voyager rather than plague them as they had done on several occasions in the recent past. As the lift whisked her up toward the fifth deck, Seven readied herself for a battle she knew she could not afford to lose.

Kathryn Janeway's eyes flew open from her fitful rest as hot, damp air began pouring in droves out of the vent above her, covering her burning skin like a blanket. If the event hadn't been so abrupt, she would have welcomed the warmth, but, maybe it was just her fever talking, she didn't think it was standard operating procedure, even for the Culaaket. When the lights above her dimmed as they usually did periodically, she thought that she was just being paranoid until she noticed the difference. The lighting was dim like before, but there was a definite difference to this spectrum. Instead of a soft, amber light, the bulbs above her head were giving off an eerie purplish hue. Goosebumps formed down the captain's spine as the familiar sensations filtered through her mind. Suddenly she knew something was definitely wrong because even though she thought that she was very possibly hallucinating, she had the distinct impression that she was now on a Borg Cube. The similarities were undeniable and not a little frightening.

Instinctively, Janeway grabbed the tray she had left near her cot, and got to her feet. If she was indeed about to be visited by the cybernetic monsters, well then she was prepared to put up a fight, although knowing that there wouldn't be much an exhausted, wounded, Starfleet captain could do to protect herself from assimilation with only a plastic food tray as a weapon.

A small whimper escaped her lips, despite herself, as every Starfleet officer's worst fear came true in a mechanically melodic chorus above head.

"We are the Borg. We will add your biological and technological distinctiveness to our own. You will be assimilated. Resistance is futile."

Janeway balled her hands into fists and then closed her eyes as she whispered a silent prayer to whomever would listen. "Please, please, don't let Voyager be assimilated. Don't make Seven go back there?she still has so much to experience. Please don't take that away from her. Don't take that away from my crew?they don't deserve that. Take me?take me?but don't take them."

An alert klaxon rang out into Seven's left ear as the lift door parted evenly in front of her, and she shielded her face as a blast of suffocating, hot air poured out from the vent above her head. The lighting on this deck was quite a bit dimmer than she has calculated, so she adjusted her ocular implant to compensate for the lack of ambient lighting. Suddenly her vision became a shadowy spectrum of greens as she proceeded down the hall, holographic drone in tow. As she had planned, the humid mist hanging in the air was doing its part to conceal her dark body adequately from the sensitive ruddy eyes of the Culaaket.

As she approached a cross section, her enhanced hearing picked up the muffled tones of what she made out as three Culaaket personnel approximately fifteen meters down the hall perpendicular to her. Since Seven could not avoid a confrontation with them because she too had to make use of the hallway herself, the Borg activated the laser beam in her now enhanced ocular implant, moved the holographic drone directly in front of her as a shield, turned the corner and started down the hall with purpose to her step.

When she heard the bloodcurdling scream from one of the Culaaket males, Seven said, lacing her voice with definite malevolence, "We are the Borg. You will be assimilated. Resistance if futile." Then for effect, Seven raised her mechanically enhanced hand and produced her assimilation tubules, letting them twitch up and down as they hung in the air.

The Culaaket male that had previously being emitting a sound that was similar to that of Naomi Wildman's, Voyager's only child, shrill scream, collapsed to the floor as soon as Seven appeared out of the thick mist. As any good Borg would do, Seven merely stepped over the unconscious man, not seeing him as a threat, and started toward the other two Culaaket soldiers that were walking backward just a quickly. Unfortunately for Seven, the man who had collapsed had not been carrying a weapon, and the one Culaaket that looked as if he might put up a fight was carrying an energy weapon of some kind.

Fortunately, Seven had done an effective job programming the holographic Borg that was in front of her because as soon as the brave Culaaket soldier raised his weapon, the tactical drone raised his mechanical arm that contained a frightening set of metal pinchers and began moving them up and down, heading straight toward the now less courageous man. The woman behind the man screamed at him, grabbed his shoulder and practically dragged him down the hall, yelling for him to hurry all the way.

Seven and the drone continued to follow them down the hall until they disappeared around another corner. Then Seven quickly turned around and started down another hall, not allowing herself to run knowing that the Borg did not run, and she was determined to keep up the charade as long as possible. Stopping for a moment to locate her position in regards to the whereabouts of the captain and listen for any potential threats, she tapped the comm-badge hiding underneath on the padded flaps of the fake armor, and said, "Seven of Nine to Borg vessel," speaking in code as planned, certain that the Culaaket were receiving the data just as Voyager was.

"Borg vessel here. Status?" Chakotay's voice came quietly over the tiny communication device.

"The Queen is nearly in sight. I have encountered several specimens of species 267. They have not posed a threat," Seven stated evenly, keeping her concentration on her surroundings.

"Acknowledged. Proceed."

Seven was a little nonplussed that the Culaaket had not yet engaged Voyager, but right now she couldn't worry about that. She would just have to trust that when and if they did attempt to fight back that Voyager would be able to hold them off until she had assured the captain's safety. Starting down the hallway again, letting the holographic drone flank her now, she adjusted her nanoprobes to compensate for the rising temperature in the ship. It was clear to Seven that she was indeed adapting to her humanity because, perfectly comfortable in the hot, thick air of a Borg Cube before, she was feeling quite uncomfortable in this environment now.

When Seven approached the door that led to the holding cell area of the Culaaket vessel, she stopped at the console in front of it and interfaced with it using her assimilation tubules again. Accessing the ship's internal sensors that were now having a hard time compensating for the thousands of nanoprobes running amuck throughout the ship, she was finally able to determine that there were a total of six cells; however only one of them was occupied. She was also reading three other life forms approaching that cell which undoubtedly contained Voyager's captain. "I am coming, Kathryn," Seven said, steeling herself and preparing to do whatever it took to succeed. Releasing the rest of her nanoprobes that would begin assimilating the immediate area, hoping to disturb the Culaaket on the other side of the door enough that they wouldn't try to interfere with her objective. Taking a deep breath, keeping the drone to her right, she pressed the sensor next to steel door and watched it slide open.

Kathryn wasn't certain how long she had been standing and pleading to a divinity she wasn't sure was there to spare her precious ship and her Astrometrics officer from the will of the Borg Collective when she heard several familiar voices approach her holding cell. One of them was the raspy voice of the amazon woman she had spoken with a few times previously, although there was a degree of fear ridden agitation to it that Janeway hadn't heard before. The tone of the woman's voice was enough to confirm to Janeway that the Borg had indeed stopped by to welcome the Culaaket vessel and all of her occupants into their ever growing Collective. Only the Borg could reduce the bravest of people to withered, weeping lumps of flesh and bone. Even Janeway herself had thought that only reason she hadn't collapsed into the fetal position the first time she encountered the Borg was because her years of Starfleet training and sometimes her greatest vice and greatest virtue: her pride.

"Hey, princess!" the amazon called out to Kathryn. "Call off your drones off right now?or I'll rip out your cold-blooded heart and eat it for lunch!"

Janeway had grown accustomed to the woman's sharp tongue in the last several hours, but this by far was the most outlandish threat she had ever heard, not to mention completely bewildering. Kathryn Janeway's temper was well known throughout the Delta Quadrant, and she didn't disappoint her reputation in her reply. "If you lay one hand on me, I swear to Christ that it's the last mistake you'll ever make. Now what the hell are you talking about?"

"Don't play stupid with me, you Borg Bitch! Call them off right now!" she screamed, approaching the still active forcefield, visibly ragging, but not entering the cell, obviously fearful of the woman who she thought controlled the rebel Borg vessel.

"I can't call off the Borg any more than I can sprout wings and fly!" she spat, completely confused now. Then sensing an opportunity to possibly escape, or at least get out of the confines of her cell, she said, pulling the reigns up on her anger, "But if you let me out of here I might be able to help. I've had some experience with the Borg, but I can't do anything in here." Then throwing down the tray she was still clinging to prove that she wasn't a threat, she concluded, "Hurry! The Borg are anything, if they aren't efficient. If they've boarded the ship we can't waste a second."

Just as the words has escaped her lips, everyone froze where they were and the consoles on the far wall began to bulge and then in an explosion of sparks and technology, several metal tubes appeared from within the console and attached themselves to the wall and began to pulse with cybernetic life. Janeway's mouth feel open, unbidden as she watched the very walls around her sprout all sorts of Borg technology, something she had never seen occur before. Soon the whole room began to hum to life, and before she could continue to appeal to the Culaaket for her immediate release, one of the guards pivoted on his heels and started for the door screaming something Janeway couldn't understand.

At the same moment he approached the door, it opened revealing two shadowy figures. Janeway couldn't make them out clearly due to the thickening fog, but as one red laser beam penetrated the mist, she knew exactly who the visitors were. Immediately Janeway retrieved her trusty tray and readied herself for the fight that was inevitable hoping that she could put up enough of a defense that the Borg would simply just terminate her quickly instead of the alternative: assimilation.

Just as the door opened in front of Seven, a Culaaket officer appeared running right for her. The man immediately slammed on the brakes, trying to keep himself from crashing into her, but his momentum was too great and if it weren't for Seven's superhuman reflexes, he would have plowed right into her. Instead, Seven lifted her Borg arm quickly and grabbed the man by the neck, closing off his air passage. It took little effort for Seven to lift him several centimeters off the floor and send him thundering into the wall on the other side of the room, some six meters away.

Quickly, she turned to access the immediate threat to the captain, and thankfully the Culaaket were no longer paying Janeway any attention. They were, however, focused on herself and the holographic drone to her right. Seven noted that both were armed and rather large specimens for their normally slighter species, and both were standing their ground. Seven would have been impressed by them if it weren't for that fact that they were threatening her, and moreover, they had threatened the captain.

When the large male raised his weapon and discharged it, Seven hurriedly stepped in front of the holographic drone. The blast impacted squarely into his chest, and he reacted as he was programmed to. The tactical drone took a small step backward, then raised his arm and proceed toward the man, unaffected. The man attempted one more futile volley, but the hologram was undaunted in his single-minded pursuit.

"Fuck!" he said, throwing down his weapon and stepping backward, "They've already adapted! Let's go!" he ordered, grabbing the hefty woman by her arm, urging her to follow him out the rear exit.

"You go!" the amazon said, throwing down her thought to be useless weapon. "I'll hold them off." Then turning and pushing him away, she barked, "Go, now!"

The man didn't falter another second and in a rush he flew out the back door leaving her face to face with Seven of Nine.

Seven quickly deactivated the holographic drone to her right, not so much because she no longer required his services, but she hoped that his sudden dematerialization would confuse the woman enough for Seven to gain the tactical advantage. She calculated correctly, because as soon as the Borg disappeared, the woman stopped her forward progression for a second, obviously not understanding. Seven efficiently used this short break to her advantage and rushed the much thicker woman, practically growling with fury.

Kathryn was frantic.

Not only was she trapped with only a forcefield between her and life as a mindless automaton, she couldn't see anything that was happening. The humidity in the air had grown so thick that she could barely see two meters in front of her now.

She flinched as she briefly caught a glimpse of someone flying across the room and heard, rather than saw him crash with deadly force into the wall on the other side of the room. Then she forced herself not to yelp as one, and then a second pulse was discharged from one of the Culaaket's weapons. Janeway backed herself up into the shadow of the corner, holding her breath, hoping that the man had damaged the resilient cybernetic attackers. When she heard him scream that the Borg had already adapted, she cursed in her mind and moved out from the corner, but remained under the cover of darkness. If she was going to fight, she couldn't very well do it from a corner since she felt the Borg had enough experience with humanity that it wasn't likely they would pass her over, deeming her as irrelevant.

When she heard the irritable amazon order her companion to retreat while she held the Borg off, Janeway was duly impressed. Indeed, under different circumstances, this woman probably would have made a fine addition her security team. She was certainly formidable when she wanted to be, even if a more than a little ill-tempered. Janeway wasn't looking forward to watching this woman's last moments, no matter how much she had threatened her life in the last two days. Janeway was hard pressed to think of anyone who deserved to die at the hands of the Borg, except maybe Madge Culla from the Kazan Nistrom. Yes, she would definitely get some pleasure, no matter now immoral, out of watching that man turned into a Borg drone. Although, she knew that would never happen because as Seven had stated some time ago, the Kazan were deemed unworthy of assimilation by the surprisingly discriminating Borg Collective.

The captain gasped audibly as she saw the tall Borg rush the amazon, who looked like she had been caught unprepared for the Borg's agility. Kathryn herself was confused by the behavior of the drone. She had never known the Borg to pounce. Usually the half-mechanical beings were methodical and almost robotic in their movements, never expending more energy that required to accomplish their directive to conquer.

When the fracas moved out from her view, knowing there was nothing she could do to help the Culaaket woman, she backed up again and tried to hide as much of herself in to the long shadows of her holding her cell, knowing that it was only a matter of time before the strange, and obviously deadly Borg turned its sights on her.

Seven of Nine was a little surprised at the woman's strength as she attempted to knock the woman to her feet. She was successful in catching her slightly off guard, but she was unable to entirely gain the advantage. Instead of falling backward, the woman was merely taken back several steps. She recovered quickly, and Seven knew that she had greatly underestimated the woman's fortitude. Seven immediately took two steps backward to put some distance between them as she adjusted her ocular implant a second time, returning her sight to that of her normal setting. She would not be able to make out all of the woman's movements as clearly; however the one disadvantage to her night vision was that it hindered her depth perception greatly. Seven deemed that in hand to hand combat, depth perception was the more advantageous of the two options. Plus, she knew that her Borg enhanced reflexes would make up for what she couldn't see.

The large woman snarled, sensing that this Borg was one that she could possibly have success with, and lunged forward, leading with her wide right fist. Seven easily blocked the punch, side-stepping to her right while clasping onto her forearm and throwing the amazon into the nearest wall. When the woman turned back around immediately, obviously running on pure carnal instinct, Seven announced in a low menacing voice, "I am Borg. You will be terminated. Resistance if futile."

The threat only managed to inflame the woman's already crazed temper, and she deftly spun on her back foot, back handing Seven squarely across the face. The impact was enough to crane Seven's head to one side, but it did not set her back one step. Seven countered quickly with her Borg hand using her modified implants and cut a deep gash in the woman's cheek.

The amazon howled in pain and brought up her knee to try to fend off the Borg, but Seven was ready for that, and using her gloved human hand, she easily blocked the attempt. They quickly, she clasped the woman by the throat and held her in place against the wall. Seven pulled back her left hand, leaving it flat so she could drive her knife fingers into the woman's skull, but she suddenly realized that she should not terminate her lifesigns, even though her instincts were telling her to do just that. The captain?Kathryn would not approve of her killing this individual unless she had no other option, and Seven knew that she had another choice. Her contemplation taking less than a second, Seven modified her implants to her normal harmless state, grabbed the woman by the bridge of her neck and shoulder and applied a Vulcan neck pinch.

The woman immediately collapsed into Seven's arms, who negligently tossed her aside. Seven of Nine then spun around to face the holding cell that she knew contained Kathryn and was a little perplexed when she saw no one inside. In fact, she hadn't seen Kathryn at all during the fighting?she had just assumed she was there. Concerned, she called out, emotion liberally flowing out from her usually monotones, "Kathryn?Kathryn, please respond!"

Kathryn was now certain she was hallucinating. When she had first heard what sounded to be Seven's voice threatening the amazon woman, she thought that she had just imagined the tone, knowing that the fever her injuries had caused here playing tricks on her mind, but now, she was honestly not sure if she had been killed somehow, or knocked unconscious without her knowledge. The voice was clearly Seven's, but the scenario didn't fit, and Janeway was having too difficult a time wrapping her mind around the recent events to allow herself to answer the hail. Remaining where she was, she held her breath, sure that whoever was just outside of the forcefield would hear her ragged breathing if she did not.

Seven was now more than a little concerned. She hadn't given any validity to the fact that the Culaaket could have already killed Kathryn, because it was illogical, but now in her quickly degrading mental state, Seven wasn't certain she had calculated the actions of the Culaaket correctly. She listened intensely for a moment, but heard nothing, so she adjusted her sight again to that of the flat, green plane of her night vision. And there in the shadows of the deep cell, Seven saw her?and to her great relief, she was alive. Adjusting her vision to normal again, she stood just outside of the forcefield, accessing the console, and said softly, "Kathryn, do not be alarmed. It is Seven of Nine. I have come to take you back to Voyager. I am attempting to disengage the forcefield."

Kathryn's heart was in her throat, and as she allowed herself to speak, although not completing trusting her senses, she croaked, "Seven?"

"That is correct," Seven replied, allowing herself to smile some. But then her smile faded as she took a closer look at the console. Her nanoprobes had preformed their task efficiently, and now the console was quickly becoming a useless lump of Borg and Culaaket technology. She was furthered dismayed when the Culaaket computer announced without feeling, "Warning, the ship's self-destruct sequence has been activated. You now have three minutes to reach minimum safe distance."

"Shit," Seven allowed, tapping her comm-badge. "Seven of Nine to Voyager."

"Go ahead, Seven," Chakotay responded, his voice clearly anxious.

"Commander, I have located the captain. She is functioning; however she is being held behind a forcefield that I have not been able to disengage. The Culaaket have activated the self-destruction sequence of this vessel. This event will occur in two minutes and forty-two seconds. Can you lock onto the captain's lifesigns?"

"Negative, Seven?that forcefield is disrupting our transporter signal."

Seven sighed and stated, "Keep this channel open. I will inform you when I have her."

"Acknowledged?make it quick, Seven," Chakotay said, not really needing to remind her what would occur if she wasn't prompt.

"Seven," Kathryn asked coming out of the darkness, her instincts to be the captain returning despite her fever, injuries, and the confusion, "what's wrong with the forcefield?" Then seeing her Astrometrics officer for the first time, she gasped, "Seven, my god, what's happened to you?"

Seven allowed herself two seconds to stare into the tired, dirty, and worn, but still amazingly lovely face of Kathryn before she made her way to the holding cell's main computer board, explaining, "I am 'fine,' Captain. This is merely a disguise. The forcefield's console has been damaged by my nanoprobes, rendering it useless. I am attempting to access a secondary system now. Do not panic, Captain."

Her heart still racing, but feeling a little better knowing that Seven hadn't somehow been reassimilated, she started pacing back and forth quickly, trying not to think about the seconds that were ticking off on the time bomb they were in the middle of. "You assimilated the console?" she asked, needing to understand what was happening.

"That is correct," Seven answered as her fingers were flying across the board. "It was the only way to make the Culaaket believe that the Borg had taken their vessel."

"Warning, you now have two minutes to reach minimum safe distance," informed the computer.

Seven increased the speed of her fingers as she accessed file after file trying to find one that would disengage any or all the forcefield systems on the ship, but her nanoprobes were making the task difficult working as quickly as she was. When the board flickered and then sprouted four metal tubes, which attached themselves to the other side of the console, Seven knew that she was not going to have any further use for this piece of technology. She allowed herself to look up into Kathryn's stormy grey eyes, as she attempted to use all of her human and Borg intelligence to get them out of this predicament.

"Warning, you now have one minute to reach minimum safe distance."

"Seven," Janeway cracked, in full captain mode as she pinned the younger woman with a level ten Janeway look, hoping to will her into motion, "we could use a little of that Borg efficiency right about now."

"I will comply," Seven replied, snapping into action. Stalking up to the assimilated console she brought back her metal encased hand, balled her fist, and drove it into the device. The console didn�t have much of a chance against Seven�s drive to succeed, and it easily gave way to her fist, shattering completely. Instantly the forcefield disappeared. Seven, if surprised that it worked, didn�t show it more so because they had absolutely no time. Running over to Janeway, she picked her up as she yelled, "Voyager I have her! Energize!"

Kim reacted faster than anyone, his hands at the ready state. As soon as he heard Seven say she had the captain, he located their lifesigns, activated the transporter, ran their signals through the pattern buffers, through the biomedical filters, and activated the autosequencers which would put them back together again in Sickbay. "I�ve got them!" he exclaimed, snapping his head up.

"Go, Paris!" Chakotay ordered, bounding to his feet and pointing for emphasis.

Quickly, Paris rotated his hand over the console, engaging Voyager�s warp drive and taking the ship to the speed of light with only seconds to spare as they easily out ran the ungodly wrath of an antimatter explosion. Then sighing, he turned around, smiling, and joked, trying to break the tension you could cut with a knife, "Now, can we please turn on the damned air conditioning?"

Sitting back down, but not in the captain�s chair, Chakotay tapped his communicator, and said with a certain amount of relief in his voice, "All hands this the commander. The captain and Seven have safely returned to the ship. Stand down Operation Assimilation. Excellent work everyone." Then tapping his badge again, he continued, "Chakotay to Seven of Nine."

"Seven here, Commander," she answered calmly, stepping away from the captain�s biobed.

"How�s the captain?" he asked, holding his breath. Seven had stated before that she was undamaged, and he had even heard her speak over the communications channel he held open with Seven just minutes before, but until he knew for certain, he wasn�t going to stop worrying.

"The captain is being treated by the Doctor as we speak," she answered, turning her back as the doctor began removing her clothing. "She has been damaged; however the Doctor has assured me that her injuried are not life threatening. She is currently sedated," Seven reported, sounding much more like the stoic Borg of the past.

Sincerely, he asked, "And you?"

"Despite my appearance, Commander," she sighed, "I am functioning acceptably."

Chuckling, remembering how taken back he was when he had had his first look at the Doctor�s cosmetic work, he closed, "Glad to hear it, Seven. Well done. As soon as you�re �deassimilated,� report to the Bridge for a briefing. Chakotay out."

Only then did Seven allow the impact of what had just occurred sink in. The wave of emotions was too great of her to effectively control and comprehend, so she did the only thing she could think to do, she laid down on the biobed on the other side of the room and cried until she couldn�t cry any more.

"Seven?" the holographic Doctor said, concern creasing the lines in this computer-generated forehead. "Seven, what is wrong?" he asked coming to her side and placing her hand on her shaking shoulders. "Are you damaged?"

But Seven was too distraught to speak. All she could do was latch onto the Doctor�s arm, pull herself up and into his arms and sob and shudder?and shudder and sob. She did not like feeling so out of control as she did when she cried, something that rarely occurred, but it was something that she was unable to control, so she clung to the Doctor until the moment passed.

"There, there," the Doctor cooed, lamely, doing his best to soothe Seven, although he would be the first to admit that he wasn�t the best person to handle a hysterical Borg. After several minutes, when she had almost stopped her rigid shaking, he pulled away some and asked, "Seven, are you damaged?"

Seven wiped her running nose with the back of her human hand and stated, trying to pull herself back together, "I am undamaged, Doctor," then hiccuping again, she continued, "However, I cannot explain this reaction. The mission was successful and Kath?the captain will live, despite her injuries. Possibly I am malfunctioning?"

Trying not to find humor at the Botg�s expense, although sometimes it was impossible not to, he said, "Seven, I don�t think you are malfunctioning. Crying is a perfectly normal human reaction to many things, including stress. It is the body�s way of releasing anxiety. Don�t you feel better now?"

"No," Seven clipped, finally getting her breathing under control.

"Now there�s the Seven I�m used to," he said releasing her and going back over to his other patient who was sleeping comfortably, "as stubborn as ever."

Ignoring the Doctor, she followed him over to where the captain lie, a teal Starfleet issue medial sheet covering her naked body. Placing her hands behind her back to keep herself from touching the captain, something she was certain would draw more attention to herself than she was prepared to explain, she asked, "What is her status?"

"Well, she�s fighting an infection, but I�ve administered the necessary antibodies, so her fever should abate shortly. As soon as that happens, I�ll work on her ribcage," he answered while monitoring the captain�s status.

"She had damaged her ribcage?" Seven asked, concerned.

"I doubt that she did the damage, Seven, but yes, she has three broken ribs which caused the infection."

"When will I be able to speak with her?"

Mildly annoyed, he answered, "Not for two or three hours?she needs her rest."

"You will alert me when she is lucid," Seven ordered matter-of-factly, turning and heading for the door.

"Where do you think you�re going?" the Doctor asked, his mouth gapping open and the Borg�s audacity.

"I am going to �deassimilate� myself, Doctor," Seven answered using Chakotay�s term correctly.

Curious and a little perturbed that she wasn�t going to allow him to assist undoing what he had so wonderfully put together, he queried, "And how are you going to do that?"

Thinking for a moment, she turned all the way around and answered, "I believe the appropriate term is �take a shower.'"

"Seven," the hologram pointed out, "you don�t even have crew quarters. Where are you going to find a shower with a hydro-setting?"

"I will utilize that captain�s. Since she is sedated, I do not believe she will require its resources," then walking out, she finished, "I will return afterward and you may assist me with my ocular implant."

0030 Hours

"Captain??Captain?can you hear me?" the Doctor asked, leaning in close to Janeway�s ear.

"Doctor?" Janeway asked, opening her dreary eyes, only to shut them again at the bright lights shining down on her.

"Yes, Captain. You�re in Sickbay. How do you feel?" he asked out of habit and began running a medical tricorder over her head and chest.

"Could you lower the lights, Doctor?they�re awful bright," she asked, crankily, squinting and frowning.

Rolling his eyes, he ordered, looking up, "Computer, lower lights to half."

Once the lights became manageable, Janeway replied, "Thank you. I feel groggy?what time is it?"

"It's 0030 Hours. The grogginess should go away after a good night's rest. Well," he said snapping the tricorder shut with one hand, "you're healed. Not that it was the most difficult task I've ever accomplished, but the outcome is the same."

"What happened?" she asked, rolling onto her side, testing the sensitivity of her torso. There was slight discomfort, but nothing like the agony she had experienced previously.

"Do you want the long or the short version?" he asked in his usual annoying way.

"What were my injuries, Doctor?" Janeway snapped, acidly.

"You suffered three broken ribs which punctured the surrounding muscle tissue. This in turn caused some internal bleeding which lead to a massive infection. It's a good thing Seven got you when she did. A couple more days like that and your fever could have caused permanent brain damage." Then folding his hands over his chest is asked, "How did these injuries occur?"

"I was tackled," Janeway answered, bitter, grabbing the blanket and slipping off the biobed while wrapping the thin material around her body. "Where are my clothes, Doctor?"

"I recycled them, Captain?they were, unpleasant to say the least. Are you planning on going somewhere?"

Janeway walked up to the replicator and ordered a whole new uniform, replying, "I'm going to talk to the commander about what happened. Do you have my communicator or did you recycle that as well?"

Realizing that he had forgotten to take the device off her tunic, he stammered, "Uhh?I forgot to remove it." Then recovering, he chastised, "Captain, it is in the middle of the night. I'm sure there is nothing that you and the commander could talk about that can't wait until the morning. Now, if you promise that you'll go directly to your quarters, I'll release you, but if you don't give up this idea off a late night rendezvous with the commander, then I'll have to insist that you remain in Sickbay until the morning."

Janeway turned toward that Doctor, staring at him in such a way that he wondered if the force alone would disrupt his program, then faced back to the replicator and ordered a new communicator and four shining new pips to replace the ones she had lost on the Culaaket ship. Once she had everything she needed, she started for the Doctor's office, saying, "Fine. I'll just change in your office."

"Thank you," he said, sighing. The captain of a starship was always the most difficult patient to manage, and even though he hadn't actually treated any other captains except this one, he was certain she was right at the top of the list. "If you need anything else, you know where to find me. Computer, end program."

Janeway turned around to watch the hologram disappear and then quickly put on her clothes before anyone wandered in requiring the Doctor's assistance. She didn't bother putting on her undergarments, shoes, or accessories knowing that as soon as she got back to her quarters they'd all have to come off again. Stuffing the tiny pips and communicator into the bottom of her shining new boots, she walked out of Sickbay, barefoot and made her way home, wondering where Seven of Nine was. She was tempted to track the woman down immediately, but she was under orders from the Doctor, the only person that could give her orders, so she decided that the conversation she was needed to have with the Borg would just have to wait.

0200 Hours

Now returned to her normal appearance, Seven stepped down from her alcove dais, taking a deep breath. She had programmed her regeneration cycle to conclude prematurely because when returning to Sickbay after her shower and short debriefing with the commander, the Doctor informed her that she would be able to speak with the captain only after 0200 hours. Now that the prescribed period of rest had occurred, Seven immediately exited the Cargo Bay and started for the turbolift, her long legs pounding mercilessly on the worn carpet.

When the lift doors opened on Deck Five, the young woman could barely control her anticipation, and by the time she reached the small doors of Voyager's infirmary, she was practically running. But to Seven's dismay, the captain was not on the biobed Seven had left her on, and the Doctor was no where to be found. "Computer, activate the Emergency Medical Hologram," Seven stated, standing erect and pinning her hands at the small of her back.

"Please state nature of?oh, Seven," the Doctor smiled, but then frowned when he noticed that the ex-Borg was clearly not pleased.

"Where is Captain Janeway?" Seven asked, curtly.

"Oh?I forgot to tell you that I released the captain to her quarters."

Seven raised her eyebrow, which looked much like the Vulcan form of astonishment. "You forgot, Doctor? I was not aware that this was possible?"

Rolling his eyes, he said, "I'm a Doctor, Seven?not a secretary. Now is there something else I can help you with or can I be deactivated?"

"You may deactivate yourself," she said turning her back on him and walking out quickly.

"Gee, thanks," he sneered, snidely and then disappeared.

Seven tapped her comm-badge as she made her way to the turbolift, "Computer, locate Captain Janeway."

"The captain is in her quarters," the computer's voice answered promptly.

After a quick ride in the turbolift, Seven stepped onto the dimly lit carpeted floor and Deck Three, and followed a familiar path to the captain's quarters that were located at the end of the hallway. As she approached her destination with determination, she was surprised when Commander Chakotay appeared around the corner. Stopping just in time to keep from colliding with him, she halted and said, out of respect, "Commander."

"Seven, where are you headed in such a hurry?" he smiled.

"My destination is the captain's quarters," answered the cool blonde, hoping that was enough information for him.

Perplexed, he asked, "It's awfully late, Seven?don't you think you should let the captain rest?"

"I am aware of the time," she came back, her breath as icy as it had ever been. "However, it is imperative that I speak with her at once. I assure you, I will not disturb her long."

"I'm sure you have a very good reason for speaking with her, but I'd still prefer if you didn't disturb her with ship's business right now. Why don't you tell me what's going on and I'll try to help you," he said, sincerely, having no idea he was coming quite close to be seriously injured by the easily annoyed woman.

"Commander, I appreciate your willingness to assist me," she lied, "however, the matter is of a personal nature," furious that she was required to have the conversation at all.

"Oh," Chakotay allowed, surprised, and then realizing that the young woman was probably having some kind of problem dealing with humanity or whatever usually plagued her that she would only share with the captain, as was her way, he nodded and finished, "alright, Seven. Please make it quick, alright?"

"I will comply," she nodded and headed toward the captain's door, as Chakotay shook his head and made his way to the turbolift, too wound up to sleep.

When Seven approached the captain's door, she was relieved to note that Janeway hadn't activated the 'Do Not Disturb' privacy seal that she did from time to time. Pressing her index finger to the console, she placed her hands behind her back and waited for a response. Thirty seconds later when there was no response, she activated the door call sensor again. By the time she pressed it for a third time, Seven was practically shaking in fear. When there was still no response, she used her command code to open the door and she ran into the room shouting, "Kathryn! Kathryn, please respond!"

Captain Janeway sat straight up were she lay on her couch, her heart jumping to her throat. Then catching sight of Seven who was running into her bedroom, she said, her voice thick and heavy, "Seven?Seven I'm right here?what's wrong?"

Seven whirled around, her long arms flailing with the movement, and then sighed as she saw the head of her captain poking up from behind the living room couch. Then feeling completely foolish, she tried to explain herself as she quickly walked toward Janeway, "I am 'sorry' for the abrupt entrance, Captain. I was concerned when you did not respond to my repeated attempts to get your attention." As she rounded the corner of the couch and Janeway came into her full view and the Borg felt herself blush furiously at the sight before her.

The captain was lying across the couch, although now sitting up, dressed only in a delicate pink robe. And it was quite clear to Seven that the only thing she had on underneath was a pair pink panties. Obviously during her sleep the tie holding Kathryn's robe closed had loosened significantly, because a great deal of the captain's small, but lovely breasts where on display. A sight that Seven did not disapprove of; however she was certain the captain was not aware of this since she had obviously been jolted out of a deep sleep. Averting her eyes, Seven said rather shyly, "Kathryn, your garment is?displaced."

"Huh?" Janeway said looking down, then catching a glimpse of her overexposed chest, she said, blushing herself, "Oh," and grabbed the sides of the robe and pulling them tightly closed. Once this was done, she got over her initial embarrassment and asked standing, "Seven, you didn't answer my question. What's wrong?"

Once she was certain the captain was fully covered, she turned back toward her, cheeks still warm, "There is nothing 'wrong.' I?I merely wished to know that you were functioning properly since I did not have the opportunity to speak with you before the Doctor released you."

"Oh," Janeway muttered, looking down, not knowing what to do and feeling entirely too silly for a woman of her age and status. "Well what are you waiting for, Dolt! Go hug her and show her that you're okay." And for once in a long time, Janeway listened to her instincts without argument, and proceeded to wrap her arms around the thin frame of the younger woman, burying her head into her welcoming chest.

Seven, now familiar with this form of affection, immediately wrapped her arms around Kathryn and squeezed her tightly, but not too tightly remembering that she had suffered internal injuries. "Am I hurting your damaged tissue?" Seven asked, still not sure about the amount of pressure she was applying to the smaller woman's delicate frame.

Kathryn responded by squeezing Seven tighter, and soon it became apparent to the Borg that the woman in her arms was doing something she had never actually seen her do: cry.

And the Borg had no idea how to proceed.

She recalled her hysterics in Sickbay late yesterday and how the Doctor had tried to soothe her, so she decided to not to try and mimic his actions since they left her feeling quite infantile, something she was certain the captain wouldn't respond well to. Instead, she just continued to hold Kathryn close, and before she even realized what she was doing, she was stroking Kathryn's auburn kissed mane and planting small, delicate kisses at the top of the captain's head. The actions shocked the analytical part of Seven's being, but since the captain was not objecting or attempting to break the contact, she continued until Janeway's shoulders settled and grew limp. Then slowly, she guided them over to the couch. Kathryn was still clinging desperately to Seven and did not attempt to break the contact as Seven began to sit, so she reached down, easily lifted Kathryn's legs and sat on the couch, cradling the captain across her lap like she were Seven's child.

After several more minutes of sitting quietly, holding Kathryn who had yet to release her grip on the Borg woman, Seven wondered if she was supposed to say something, but she honestly had no idea what that might be, and not for the first time, she wished Voyager's databases contained more information on human behavior. Thankfully, for them both, Kathryn finally managed to put back together her shattered psyche, and whispered into the groove of Seven's neck, "I'm sorry, Seven. I don't know what got into me?I was so scared that I was never going to see you again?I'm so sorry, Seven?I'm sorry for everything?please forgive me?please forgive me?I'm so sorry?I'm sorry."

"Do not be 'sorry,' Kathryn," Seven said, looking down at the captain's red, puffy eyes, "I would never leave you. I will never leave you, Kathryn. You are safe now, and I am here. Do not feel as though you need to apologize to me. You have done nothing wrong."

Wiping her eyes with her long, elegant fingers, Kathryn said, "But I do, Seven. I'm sorry I ignored you this last week. It was wrong?I was wrong, and I promise it will not happen again." Then putting her head back to the Borg's shoulder, not able to look into Seven's eyes, she continued, trying desperately to not break down again. "And after two days, I was so scared I'd never see you again and it was killing me on the inside?and then when I thought the Borg had attacked, I was so scared that Voyager would be assimilated?I just can't tell you how frightened for you I was."

Seven was amazed yet again by this woman's courage. "She was concerned for my wellbeing when she believed she was about to be assimilated?" ?then refocusing on the important matter at hand, she chose her words carefully, and responded, "I understand why it is difficult for you to express your feelings about the changes that are occurring in our relationship, Kathryn. That is why I allowed you your distance. I cannot say that I understand everything that you were thinking; however now is not the time to discuss that." Seven grabbed onto Kathryn's hand and pulling it to her chest as she explained, "I am 'sorry' that the methods we used to retrieve you were frightening, but I assure you it was the only way to assure your survival." Seven finished by grasping the captain's strong chin in her hand so she could look her square in the eye, "Do not concern yourself with these things now. Know that you are safe, your ship is safe, her crew intact, and that I am here to protect you, as I will continue to do until I cease to function."

Kathryn could only nod her head and try to just accept this without over analyzing it or fighting it. There was someone for her that she could open up to. Someone very real and very determined to protect her at all costs. That knowledge, for now, was enough to allow the captain to settle into the strong arms that enveloped her and fall into the comfort of a peaceful sleep.

0900 Hours

Kathryn Janeway, the much loved and respected commanding officer of the Federation Starship Voyager, awoke with a deep intake of breath, bringing her hands above her head and stretching out her recovering body luxuriously. Then reaching out to the body she expected to be there, she opened her eyes when all she felt was a cold, flat pillow. She brought her hand to her eyes, wiping the crust that had formed in the corners during her rest, as she said, "Seven?darling, are you there?"

But there was no answer.

Pulling herself to her feet, she was somewhat surprised to find that she was naked except for a delicate pair of pink underwear. Her confusion caused her to feel vulnerable, even in the confines of her home, so she reached down and grabbed her robe that was at the edge of her lounger, right where she usually kept it. Still adjusting the sides, she padded to the doorway to gaze into her living room, only to find it empty. Leaning in the doorway to her ensuite, she mumbled, "Ohgod?I didn't dream that?did I?"

Immediately, she went out into the living room looking for some proof that Seven had indeed been there last night, or rather, early this morning, but as she expected, there was none. Seven wasn't the type of person to not pick up after herself. Sighing, and feeling like she needed something to make her feel like herself again, she walked over to the replicator to order herself her first cup of coffee in almost three days. "No wonder I feel so crazy," she said, knowing very well the fits caffeine withdraw could send her into.

Working now on auto-pilot, letting her routine work its regenerative properties on her tired mind, she sat down at her desk and accessed her personal computer. There was a message from the Doctor telling her that he was releasing her to active duty, but under the stipulation that the only thing she did today was receive the commander's report on the situation with the Culaaket. Not terribly upset since she really wasn't sure she could handle a full day's work, she sent a short message back to the Doctor promising to be a 'good girl.' The next message was from the commander, welcoming her back and informing her that whenever she felt up it, he was prepared to give a full report. She finished off her first cup of coffee and informed him that she would meet him in her office at 1100 hours for the debriefing. The third message was from Lieutenant Torres which read:

Janeway laughed out loud at that and sent a quick reply back, but left it in a personal memo format since there were plenty of other more important messages that she knew her engineer would have to wade through:

The fourth, fifth, and sixth messages were from various crewmembers that she had come to know through one circumstance or another, welcoming her back and sending their well wishes. She took a moment to thank each and every one them for their kind words and all their hard work, even though she didn't know quite was that entailed yet. The last message was from Neelix, telling her that he was planning a special celebration in honor of the captain's return and the crew's outstanding work as soon as she was up to it, and that if there was anything special to eat or drink she wanted, all she needed to do was ask. Allowing herself a small indulgence, she informed him that tomorrow night would be acceptable, and that if he could make sure that nothing he fixed tasted or had the consistency of mushy bread, she would be duly grateful. Of course, what she really wanted was a plateful of her mother's famous caramel brownies, but Janeway had tried and failed on several occasions to replicate the recipe. The finished product were of course edible, but the knowledge that they weren't the same always caused Kathryn to throw them right back into the replicator to be recycled.

Janeway was a little disappointed that there wasn't a message from Seven, more so because it would have either confirmed or denied her suspicion that she simply dreamt that she and the young woman had shared a special and rather intimate moment last night. Pushing her concerns out of her mind for now, she recycled her coffee cup and headed for the shower. She would just have to speak with Seven after her meeting with Chakotay?although, she wasn't certain how she was going to broach the subject of her 'dream.'

1200 Hours

"Well, you certainly out did yourself this time, Commander," Janeway remarked, retrieving another cup of coffee form her replicator.

"I'm just sorry I never got to see the look on Jaffen's face when he thought the Borg had overtaken Voyager and had their sights set on him," Chakotay chuckled, scratching his chin.

"You're not the only one," she replied, letting her detest for the Culaaket commander play on her lips.

"Anyway," Chakotay came back quickly, changing the subject sensing that Jaffen was a sore spot for his captain, "B'Elanna says that the modifications we made should be taken care of by the end of Beta shift?so, by tomorrow you'll have your old ship back, good as new."

"Now that is good news?I don't know how Starfleet would feel if they suddenly showed up to find a Borgified Bridge," Janeway said sitting back down at her desk.

"Well, I'm sure they'd be okay with it as long they knew the captain was safe," Chakotay answered, honestly.

"You're right, Commander?I didn't mean to sound judgmental ?it's just a little unsettling to walk out there and see my Bridge looking like it had a transporter accident with a Borg Cube."

"No offense taken, Kathryn?I'm just glad to have you back."

Leaning back in her chair, she smiled and sighed, "It's good to be back?and thank you for coming after me."

"Just doing my duty, Captain," he smiled, "Besides, I'm not sure we could have done it if it weren't for Seven. You should have seen her. I've never seen her so involved." Uncrossing his legs, he admitted, "Don't get me wrong, I could have done without feeling like I was taking orders from here at first, but once I caught on to what was happening, we were able to work very well together. I think she's finally starting to find her place here?you would have been proud of her."

"I am proud of her?I'm proud and each and every one of you?a captain couldn't ask for a better crew," Janeway said, trying not to get misty. "And in the meantime, I'm officially noting in the log that I am asking that a commendation be put in each of the crew's permanent records. You've all made me proud to be your captain. Thank you."

"On behalf of the crew, we accept wholeheartedly," he said standing, "Now if there's not anything else, I'd like to go assist B'Elanna with the 'deassimilation' of the ship?"

"By all means, Chakotay?'deassimilate' away," Kathryn said, making a large, sweeping motion with her right hand.

Once he was gone, she allowed herself to shake her head and laugh a moment at the weirdness her job entailed sometimes. Then remembering when Harry Kim had told her he thought the same thing once, she laughed and said to herself, mimicking what she had told Harry, "Kathryn, you're a Starfleet officer?weird is part of the job."

Janeway picked up her coffee cup and accessed her personal computer, immediately making a note in the log of what a fine job she felt her crew and done upholding the standards of Starfleet, with regards to not trading technology for her life, and asking that a note be made in all of their permanent files. Just as she was about to log off for duty, she received a priority message. It was from Seven of Nine:

Kathryn immediately put her coffee down and sent a reply back, feeling like she was dancing on air, now knowing for certain that she hadn't dreamt Seven's visit. It had been very real, and that was how Janeway wished it had been. Throwing caution to the wind, the captain in her be damned, she wrote:

Kathryn could barely contain her excitement waiting for Seven's response. She felt dizzy, recharged, faint, larger than life, and tingled all over. Within a few minutes, Seven's reply came through and she practically assaulted on her computer to access it:

When Kathryn Janeway left the confines of her Ready Room visibly glowing and quickly headed for the turbolift without so much as a 'Call me if you need me, Chakotay,' Voyager's first officer smiled to himself, knowing that he had guessed right informing Seven of Nine that the captain would have the rest of the day off. He wasn't quite sure what was going on between them, but he was fairly certain it had something to do with romance.

After he had run into Seven on her way to the captain's quarters in the middle of the night, he had gone to the gym and worked out the tension in his muscles for an hour. On his way back to his quarters, he had passed Seven of Nine in the hallway again, presumably just leaving the captain's quarters since there were no other crew quarters down that hall except his, and he noticed that not only did she completely seem as though she didn't see him, but she had the biggest smile on her face he had ever seen. He had actually seen teeth?up until that point, he wasn't certain she even had them. Putting that bit of knowledge together with Seven's actions of the Bridge before Kathryn was abducted, and her actions after she was taken, finally flipped the switch in his mind. So, as any good first officer would, he informed Seven that the captain would be free for the day after their meeting, because if being with Seven made Kathryn happy, then he was happy because as goes the captain, so goes the ship. Plus, if Kathryn did get involved with Seven, then maybe everyone would stop thinking he was involved with her then maybe?just maybe, he could get a date sometime this century. With that little bit of knowledge, Chakotay prepared himself to go above and beyond the call of duty for his captain and do everything in his power to get those two stubborn, defiant and perfectly matched women together.

Kathryn would never what hit her.

1230 Hours

Kathryn Janeway felt as if she had just been transported into some kind of alternate reality because not was she only she certain that there was a very real attraction between her and the amazingly beautiful and intelligent creature she knew as Seven of Nine, formerly Annika Hansen, she was accepting it and relishing in it. And for the first time in a long, long time, the Delta Quadrant didn�t feel like a death sentence, but rather the rarest gift of rebirth. She was practically bouncing as she made her way toward her quarters. She even took the opportunity to talk with a few crewmembers she was sure she hadn't spoken with in several months. Of course they had been respectful, if not a little taken back by the captain�s obvious good mood considering all that had happened to her, professionally, in the last few days, but Janeway didn�t let that stop her from continuing the conversations. Soon, several other crewmembers had stopped to find out what all the fuss was about, and within minutes there were fifteen or so crewmembers crowded around the captain talking and laughing about how crazy it had been the last two days making Voyager look like it had been commandeered by the Collective. It wasn�t until someone mentioned how determined Seven had been to make everything perfect, that Janeway realized that she had lost all track of time. So politely, she dismissed herself, telling them all she had an important meeting to attend shortly, but that she looked forward to hearing all of their stories tomorrow night at Neelix�s party. As she walked away, she received several smiles, a pat on the back and a few waves goodbye, and when she finally rounded the final corner to her quarters she felt as though she had just died and gone to heaven. Really, how could she ask for anything more than a thoughtful and incredibly devoted crew and the companionship of an amazing woman? But when Kathryn entered her quarters, smiling freely, she got the one thing she hadn�t received in well over half a decade: roses.

Sitting on top of her glass kitchen table was a crystal vase that held one and a half dozen perfect, pink, white, and her favorite, red roses.

Janeway was so overcome by the gesture, that she brought her hand to her chest, clutching it tightly for fear that her heart could jump right out if she didn�t hold it in place. Thick, wet tears formed in her eyes as she managed to walk over to them and read the card that simply read but left no question as to who wrote it:

Janeway brought her hands to the delicate pedals and then knelt down to inhale their sweet perfume. The aroma was a perfect mixture of a deep, thick honey and the light, airy scent of nature�s beauty. Carefully, Janeway examined each one, trying to find the most perfect bud of the bunch, then selecting on the darker, pink ones, she pulled it out and took it to her bedroom. Ordering the computer to bring up the lights full, she walked into her closet and pulled out a small, cedar chest. Inside this chest lay practically everything that Janeway had left of her home in the Alpha Quadrant, as well as a few choice items she had picked up along the way during the great voyage to the other side of the Milky Way. Amongst pictures of and letters from long, lost friends, a few pieces of jewelry, plaques and awards she had received throughout the years, a painting of her sister's, a scarf of her mothers, and the flag from her father�s funeral, Janeway found what she was looking for. In a stasis tube to keep it from decaying was something no one knew she had: a piece of Seven�s original body armor. It was just a small piece that had broken off while the Doctor was tending to her after she had been severed from the Hive. Janeway to this day didn�t know why she had picked it up and kept it, but she was glad that she did because now it symbolized more than just her determination to uphold the ideals of the Federation; it also symbolized the amazing journey that life takes one on.

She carefully released the vacuum seal and slipped the rose and the card into the top before sealing it back up. Now Seven�s first moments aboard Voyager would rest forever in perfect peace next to her first steps into the great unknown: love. Realizing the time was getting late and that Seven would be at her door any moment, she quickly rearranged the items in her secret chest and placed in all the way in the back of her closet where it couldn�t been seen unless someone was looking for it.

Just as she had expected, the door call rang out, right on time.

Kathryn quickly picked herself up, suddenly feeling much more nervous than she thought she would. Of course, this anxiety was due to the fact that she knew without a shadow of a doubt now that she was falling madly in love with the woman at her door. This was far beyond attraction and desire?this was something so very different from anything she had known. It was electric, dynamic, scary?it was so fast, once she stopped fighting it, that if she wasn�t absolutely sure she was awake, she would have thought she was dreaming. But what she didn�t know and what was really setting her nerves on end was if that Seven did, or if she even could feel that way too. After all, what kind of experience did Seven even have with love? None, that Kathryn was aware of, and even though her crew for certain thought otherwise, Janeway knew practically every thing that occurred on her ship, as any good captain would.

"For goodness sakes, Kathryn?it�s only lunch?you�re acting like you�re about to propose marriage. Get a hold of yourself, will you?"

Realizing her little voice who suddenly sounded much like that of her younger sister, Phoebe, again, was absolutely correct, she shook her head, settled herself and went to the door. When she opened it, she forced herself to hide her dismay and greet her visitor warmly.

"Hi, Captain," Naomi Wildman, the ship�s only child saluted.

Quickly Janeway�s disappointment faded and she looked down upon the small, redhead girl. It was no secret that the captain had a great fondness for the youngster. Not only was she the first child born aboard Voyager, and Seven of Nine�s dear friend, but she was also bound and determined to become the captain�s personal assistant. Of course, there was no such title, even though Janeway often thought at times that there should be, but Kathryn really could no easier deny the sweet girl that privilege than could she stop drinking coffee.

Putting on her best captain�s face, Janeway greeted, "Hello, Miss Wildman. What brings you by today?"

"Seven asked me to bring this to you," the child reported, producing a PADD from behind her back and handing it to Janeway as she finished, "and she also told me to tell you that she 'apologizes for her tardiness, but that it couldn't be helped.'"

Janeway accepted the PADD and asked, "Thank you. Did you want to come in and have a snack with me while I wait for her?"

"No thanks, Captain," Naomi signed, clearly wishing she could agree. "My reading class begins soon and Ensign S doesn't like it when I'm late."

"Ensign 'S'?" Janeway queried, smiling. Naomi really was too cute for words.

"I'm unable to pronounce his name correctly, yet, but Mommy says that Ensign S is sufficient," she young girl said, doing her best Seven impression.

Janeway forced herself not to chuckled, and tried to imagine any word that the precocious girl couldn't pronounce. She was quite bright for her age, no doubt partly due to Seven's influence. Then scanning through the crew manifest in her head, she nodded and said, "You must mean Ensign Sivaprakasam."

Naomi practically jumped in the air saying, "That's it!" Then turning very serious as she tended to do, she whispererd, "You're really good at that, Captain."

No longer able to control her laughter, Janeway knelt down and whispered back, "I've just had more practice." Then standing back up she concluded, "Thank you again, Miss Wildman."

"Just doing my duty, Captain," the young girl said, but didn't attempt to leave, hoping that Janeway wouldn't forget her favorite part of their meetings.

Janeway realized what she had forgotten and then said with all the authority she could muster at this charming moment, "Dismissed."

Naomi smiled and then walked away, as Janeway also waited in the door for her favorite moment, and Naomi didn't disappoint either. Just as she was about to round the corner, she turned and waved goodbye. Janeway waved back until the girl was gone and then walked into her quarters letting the doors close behind her. Turning her attention to the PADD she had received, she accessed the message, which was curiously sealed with a command code.

Janeway laughed out loud as she realized why Seven had sealed the message with an encryption code that only Janeway's own command could decode. "Well," she mumbled erasing the message and walking toward the ensuite, "I guess I'd better do what I'm told then."

It was a little known fact that the captain, as well as having a raging addiction to coffee, also had a penchant for long, luxurious baths. It was rumored throughout the ship that she even had jets installed prior to disembarking from Deep Space Nine but of course, no one knew for sure, and Janeway wasn't about to give up that bit of information. Since no one had ever used her bathtub, except for herself, it would remain a mystery. Then smirking as she drew her bath, she allowed a deliciously wicked thought of sharing one with Seven waltz across her mind; however, she knew that if that moment ever came to fruition, and oh how she hoped it would for several very intimate reasons, Seven's the one person on her ship that would keep her secret safe.

The ceramic oversized tub filled with hot, steamy water quickly as Janeway, an accomplished chemist in her own right, added a dash of patchouli oil, two dashes of myrrh, and just a touch of lavender. Then methodically taking her uniform off one piece at a time to keep it from wrinkling, she folded it up neatly and set the articles on the lid of the commode. Once that was accomplished, she ever so slowly, absolutely prolonging each moment to build the anticipation, lowered herself into bath water, moaning in pleasure. There really weren't too many things better than a bath for the captain. Settling in, she lowered the lights to a quarter and ordered the computer to play her absolutely favorite Twenty-First Century contemporary artist, k.d. lang's, albulm Invincible Summer. As the smooth, sensual melody of Consequences of Falling, began to play, Janeway leaned her head back, closed her eyes and began to hum along, which was all she could manage in tune, having never been graced with a pleasing singing voice, even if her sultry speaking voice was usually rather coveted. Janeway had loved that song since she first discovered it over ten years ago while going through some of her father's old files, he had apparently been a great fan as well, but the words had never really meant anything more than mere words until now. Now it was almost is if the song had been written for her, but instead of allowing melancholy to seep into this perfect moment, she just allowed herself to flow along with the chorus just happy be alive and feel at all. Of course, she was certainly not going to reflect upon how close she and Seven had come to death just yesterday right now?that would be disobeying orders?but the knowledge did help her to just live in the moment, something her duty and responsibilities kept her from doing more than she would wish them to.

Forty-five minutes later, Janeway was now finished with her bath, dressed in a light, airy pair of cream drawstring slacks, and a simple, tank top of the same and fabric shade, feeling sexier in these basic clothes than she had ever felt. The smooth fabric was cool on her still pink skin as she breezed around her quarters using this good mood to do a little housework, something she was generally not fond of. However the smooth music in the air and the lightness of her heart made the task bearable. Besides, she really needed to keep herself busy while she waited for Seven's arrival. The bath had done well to calm her nervousness, but this was still a new budding love?and that never came without a certain amount of anxiety. Janeway was certain that if she weren't nervous, then she would seriously have to consider her motives. But her motives were pure and thus so were her reactions.

Just as she was running out of things to straighten or pick up, the door call sounded. Checking her clothes for impurities, then brushing back her hair behind her ears, realizing she hadn't given into that nervous habit in years, she laughed at herself, smiled and said, "Come in." Seven of Nine entered wearing her plum bodysuit, and although looking magnificent as normal, Janeway could easily see the worn expression in the young woman's doe-like eyes. Tilting her head, she asked, softly, "Seven, are you feeling alright?"

The tall blonde smiled immediately at the sight of the captain, despite her tiredness, and answered, "I am functioning. Although, the recent events have left me feeling?depleted."

Putting on her best compassionate face, Janeway sauntered over to Seven, clasped her by the forearm, squeezing it slightly, and said, still soft, "That's perfectly understandable. If you need to go regenerate, I won't mind. I'd much rather you be comfortable."

"No, Kathryn," Seven said pulling her into an warm embrace, "I will 'live,' and I am feeling 'better' now that I am here with you."

"Mmm," Janeway said hugging her back readily, "well, I'm glad." Then pulling back some so she could look up into Seven's eyes, she smiled and said, "And thank you for the flowers, darling?they're beautiful. I love them."

Seven smiled, however it was clear that although the smile was sincere she was definitely worn out. Whenever Seven was tired, she would admit, although probably the last to do so, she wasn't always the most gracious she could be. With this in mind, he chose her words carefully so as to not put Kathryn off. "You are welcome. Although I will admit that I do not understand this 'tradition' completely, the research I conducted informed me that this was an acceptable gesture to make at this juncture." Seven deemed that she had succeeded in her attempts to express herself because the twinkle in Kathryn's now bright blue eyes informed her that the captain was still pleased.

"You researched this?" Janeway smiled shyly, feeling much like a schoolgirl at the moment.

"That is correct," Seven answered, bringing her hand up and brushing the captain's auburn tinted hair from her shoulder so she could see her graceful neck. There truly was not a part of Kathryn's body that didn't mesmerize her, except for the few parts she hadn't seen yet, but she was certain that they would be just as lovely. "Since I have no practical experience with romantic relationships, research is required."

That admission caught Janeway's attention, and instantly her protective instincts bubbled up as she said, her face becoming a little more serious than she would have wished, "You know, that's something we really haven't talked about and I think that we probably should..."

Seven palmed Janeway's high cheekbone in her human hand and replied, "You are correct. However, it is not a discussion I want to have at the moment."

"Alright," Janeway accepted, completely entranced by Seven's touch and piercing stare. This was a first for her. In her previous relationships she had pretty much worn the pants, so to speak, but with the younger, less experienced woman, she felt very much like she would just have to get used to not being in control all of the time, and for a starship captain in her position of never being able to stop being the captain completely, it was a welcome occurrence. "What do you want to do then?"

"First," Seven started, bringing her other hand up to Janeway's free cheek, leaving no doubt that she would have her way, "I wish to kiss you on the mouth, Kathryn, and then I would like to consume our lunch. Do you find this acceptable?"

The only thing that came out of Janeway's quivering lips was an incomprehensible squeak, and then before she had a second to recover and answer with more vigor, Seven bowed her head and softly touched her lips to the captain's.

The kiss was tentative for the first few moments, but as Seven gained confidence, she pressed her lips firmer into Kathryn's thin, but still soft and yielding mouth, and dropped her arms behind the captain's tilted head, keeping the contact. When she felt Kathryn's lips part slightly as a soft moan escaped from them, Seven held her tighter, wrapping one arm around her small waist to keep her steady.

Kathryn thought she was going to collapse when she felt the tip of Seven's tongue touch hers, and she latched onto Seven's arms, holding on for dear life. And still Seven deepened the kiss again, pressing her tongue farther into Kathryn's accepting mouth, and as she moaned, not able to control herself, her arms fell limp at her sides. The only thing keeping her off the hard deck were Seven's strong limbs.

Seven sensed that the captain was having difficulty, so she slowly eased up on her oral embrace. Then finally breaking the contact, she opened her eyes to find Kathryn's still closed. She smiled softly as the blue-grey eyes of the woman that was her everything fluttered open looking quite dazed. "Was that acceptable?" Seven asked, knowing the answer, but wanting to hear Kathryn's most amazing voice.

"Se..Seven," Janeway stuttered, breathless, then gaining more control, she answered with a question, "where did you learn to kiss like that?"

"I have imagined this moment for quite sometime now. I assume that I gained the experience necessary to perform the function adequately through my 'dreams.'"

"You're such a sweet talker," Janeway said, hugging her again. Then as her body began to quake with desire, she pulled away and offered, "I think we'd better have lunch now."

"Agreed," Seven said, letting her go reluctantly, breathing deeply. Then retreating to the table, she questioned as Janeway headed toward the replicator. "What is on the 'menu' today?"

"Well, how hungry are you?" Janeway asked, thinking that if her appetite was a ravenous as her kisses, then Janeway might have to use captain's privileges to gain extra rations to satiate the Borg's hunger.

"I have not ingested a nutritional supplement in eight hours and twelve minutes. Suffice to say, I am quite 'hungry,'" answered Seven, doing the math with computer like speed.

"Hmm," the captain said, mulling over the choices, then deciding, she asked, "how does a turkey, bacon and avocado sandwich sound?" Realizing there was much about Seven that she didn't know, despite the kiss they just shared, she thought to ask, "Or are you a vegetarian?"

Seven smiled and Janeway's thoughtful expression and replied, "I am not. However, I do not know what a 'turkey, bacon and avocado sandwich' tastes like, but if that is what you wish to consume, I will comply."

Programming the replicator with her selections, adding extra turkey to Seven's, she said as the plates materialized within the energy grid, "Darling, trust me?they're delicious." As she placed the plates on the table, sliding the vase of flowers to the side so she could see Seven's face when she sat, she asked, "and to drink?"

"Is it required that I consume liquid with this meal?" the unknowing woman asked since the last meal they had shared, Kathryn had informed her that she had to have wine with apples.

"Well, no?but the bacon is a little salty, so you'll probably be thirsty. Why don't we just stick with water, huh?"

"Acceptable," Seven said, waiting for Janeway to retrieve two glasses of ice water and sit before she began to eat. However, noticing that there were only napkins on the table, and no utensils, she asked, "Kathryn, I required your assistance. How does one go about eating this 'sandwich?'"

"Like this," Kathryn demonstrated, picking up a half of the sandwich with her hands and taking a hefty bite out of the corner.

Seven repeated the captain's movements, and after several bites, she was thankful for the water. Downing the liquid to half in one shot, she set the cup down only to find Kathryn giving her a look she new meant that she was finding joy out of watching Seven consume her first sandwich.

Kathryn was indeed watching Seven attack her meal with reckless abandon. There would be so many first's for her to witness, that the thought almost brought tears to her eyes as she realized what a rare and amazing road she had started down. Not only did she have the pleasure of being this unique individual's captain, but she was also her mentor, her friend, and now it looked very possible that she would also become her lover.

Only an individual like Kathryn Janeway could stand up to the task, and that is just what she planned on doing, and as every one on this ship could attest, once the captain put her mind to something, there really was no looking back. It was that which made her the valiant and formidable leader she was, and she hoped it was that which would allow her to be everything that Seven deserved and required.

The rest of the meal was consumed in relative quiet; Kathryn happy just to watch Seven and Seven happy just to eat voraciously, yet still with the grace that she brought to every task she accomplished. When they had both cleaned their plates, Kathryn got up to clear the table, but Seven stopped her and completed the task herself, relying yet again on her research saying "I will 'do the dishes,' since you prepared the meal. It is only 'fair.'"

"Well, thank you...that's very thoughtful," Janeway standing up, feeling very full and relaxed now, and as she turned around to go get herself a cup of coffee, she was completely surprised to see Seven pulling just that out of the replicator. Utterly endeared now, she informed, "You read my mind?thank you...again."

"There was no mind reading involved. Some of your actions are predicatable," explained Seven, who was wiping the crumbs off the table with a napkin. Then not knowing what to do with them, she wrapped them in the napkin and stuck that into the replicator to be recycled as well. The device didn't seem to mind.

Janeway laughed once and then took a seat on the couch, and said, "Is that so? Well, maybe I'll just have to change things up a bit?just to keep you on your toes."

"That is 'so,' and please do not change too much. I have grown accustomed to your behavior, and find it reassuring," Seven said, turning toward her, but not sitting, then cocking her eyebrow, she added, "and 'charming.'"

"Well, then I won't change a thing," the captain whispered, gazing up at Seven. When the tall blonde continued to look down upon her but didn't do anything else, Kathryn quirked her lips and asked, "Darling, aren't you going to sit down?" bringing her knees to her chest to make room for the lengthy Borg.

"I will sit with you, but I require the use of your computer for a few moments if that is acceptable to you, Captain?" Seven asked, purposefully using her title to show that she would not presume to access the captain's personal computer without receiving clearance.

"Certainly," the captain came back, switching gears as well, although not as smoothly. "This is definitely going to take some getting used to," she thought.

Seven walked over to the small desk and accessed the computer while Janeway looked on, not out of fear that Seven was going to access any classified information, but rather curiosity. Of course, anything on the terminal that Seven could access that was of level ten clearance, or 'Captain's Eyes Only,' required a separate command code that only Janeway knew, so she wasn't concerned that she was violating any Starfleet protocol in the least by letting her girlfriend utilize the device. The word girlfriend felt unjust to the captain, but she couldn't really come up with a better one. Seven was indeed now her girlfriend, she supposed, and since they hadn't done anything more than kiss, she couldn't call Seven her lover, but something about that word just didn't quite express the bond that they shared. Janeway settled on girlfriend for the moment, but bound and determined to find a better term soon.

Seven quickly accessed the information she needed, then took a quick glance around the cabin, looking for a PADD in which to download it to. Not finding one, she asked, "Are there no portable data devices in your quarters at the moment?"

"There's about fifty of them in the drawer to your left," Janeway answered, still watching Seven as she worked. It truly was a joy for Kathryn just to watch Seven just be Seven. Something about her, that had nothing to do with her outward beauty, had always fascinated the captain, even from the first moment she saw her aboard that Borg Vessel close to three years ago. Kathryn was not sure she would ever be able to pinpoint what it was, and honestly, why would she want to? It was the unknowing that snared her hook, line and sinker.

Seven opened the drawer to her left and her mouth fell open, astonished. Looking up, she questioned, abashed, "Kathryn, how can you find anything amongst this disorder?"

Janeway laughed and shook her index finger as she talked, "It's a highly evolved system I use, darling. Throw everything in one drawer, and you'll never forget where you put it."

Rolling her eyes, a trick she had learned from the Doctor and Kathryn, she replied with apparent disapproval "Indeed," and snatched a PADD from the remaining debris. Then she programmed the captain's computer to transmit the data she wished to view to the hand held device. Seven, next, logged off of the captain's computer and made her way to the couch and sat. Sitting was always a fairly awkward position for the ex-Borg. She had never sat once during the eighteen years with the Collective, and even after all this time on Voyager, it still didn't feel quiet right. However, knowing that Kathryn preferred her to sit so she didn't have to look up at her, and the fact that the positioned allowed her a certain amount of intimacy with the older woman, just by the closeness of their proximity to each other, Seven was willing to learn to embrace this behavior as well as anything else that Kathryn liked to do.

"What are you working on so intently?" Janeway asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

Seven turned her eyes away from the small screen of the device and stated, "It is nothing that I wish to share with you just yet, but do not fear, it is of a personal matter and does not affect the functioning of this ship."

Nodding her head in acceptance, realizing that Seven was entitled to her privacy just as much as Kathryn was, she smirked, reaching down for her book, "Okay, I'll stop putting my nose where it doesn't belong."

"Thank you. I apologize if I sounded unduly harsh. That was not my intention."

"You said it fine, sweetheart, and you don't owe my any apologies?I realize there are parts to your life that I'm not involved in?just as there are parts to my life you cannot be involved in. That's part of being your own person," then putting out a foot to make contact with Seven's leg, she finished, "and that's what makes the parts we can share that much more special."

Seven took a hold of the captain's foot and eased it across her lap, resting her free hand on it, saying, "I find this compromise acceptable. Thank you for explaining it to me."

"You're welcome," Janeway answered smiling and settling down into the comfort of her sofa and Seven's contact, putting her book away, deciding to just lounge in the sudden domesticated bliss she had found herself in. Part of her wondered if this almost instant comfort with Seven was due to the fact that they were both women. She acknowledged that it probably played a role?"What's the saying? Oh yes, 'birds of a feather flock together.'"?but she also was becoming increasingly aware that she and Seven just shared a type of bond she had never had with any of her past involvements. They simply complimented each other perfectly. Kathryn was the fire that warmed the cool Borg, and Seven was the ice that tempered the sometimes indomitable will of the captain. "Fire and ice?yes, I like that very much," Janeway decided, reminding herself to write that in her log as soon as she was alone.

After a little more than an hour of just sitting in silence, Seven turned to Kathryn and said, regretfully, "Kathryn, unfortunately I must depart. There are things I must tend to now."

Sighing, knowing this moment was coming, but part of her wishing somehow time could have just stopped for them, if only for a few hours, she retracted her feet from the younger woman's lap and said, "Alright?I think I'll go for a walk and work off lunch then. Just let me grab my shoes and I'll walk you to the turbolift."

Janeway returned from her bedroom, now wearing a simple pair of blue deck shoes and met Seven at the door, and before she could even ask for a goodbye kiss, Seven pulled her into a deep embrace to which the captain submitted willingly. Just as their desire threatened to overtake them again, Seven pulled away and said, "Thank you for lunch, Kathryn. I look forward to our next one."

Breathless again, she said, "Yes...so do I...Seven."

The female dynamic duo left the captain's quarters smiling happily on the inside, but their expressions not any different from their day to day habit. Both women knew without having to discuss it that until they had actually figured out what was going on between them, although it was becoming plainly clear rather quickly what was happening, that they weren't ready for anyone else to know yet?or at least, that is what Kathryn thought as she left Seven at the turbolift and started down the other hall on her unofficial inspection of the ship.

Little did the compact woman know that on her very ship there was a first-class mutiny of epic proportions being planned with Chakotay, B'Elanna, and Seven leading the way as she strolled along feeling like the passionate woman she was for the first time in what seemed like centuries.

"Kahless, woman, what took you so long?" B'Elanna Torres said to Seven as she entered the holodeck.

"B'Elanna Torres, if you are going to curse at me, I insist that you use my designation when doing so," Seven stated coming to a stop and towering over the smaller, but feisty brunette, lifting her chin in defiance. "As to why I am tardy?that is none of your business."

"One of these days, SEVEN OF NINE, I'm gonna knock that smug grin right off your pretty little face," Torres threatened, producing the well-documented proof of her balled fist.

"I have no doubts that you will one day attempt to do this; however, I must inform you out of respect for your position on this ship, and as my acquaintance that on that day you will cease to exist," Seven came back in her matter-of-fact fashion.

Duly impressed by the threat, B'Elanna opened her fist and slapped Seven on the shoulder, hard, "You know, Seven?I think we just might become pretty good friends if you keep that up," Torres laughed, then changed subjects. "Well, as much as I'd love to stand here and trade insults with you?I guess we better get started."

"Agreed," Seven replied, nodding her head. Then walking over to the holodeck console, she continued while accessing the program she and Chakotay had thrown together quickly just before she met Kathryn for lunch, "The commander and I constructed this program earlier with the data we were able to access about the captain's entertainment preferences. The setting will not be accurate; however the commander had assured me that the musicians will be adequate."

"Where's the old man, anyway?" asked Torres.

"If by 'old man' you are referring to Commander Chakotay, he is 'busy' acquiring the garments we shall wear for tomorrow's 'surprise,'" Seven answered activating the holodeck. Almost immediately the plain silver room turned into a rather dark, smoky bar. There were no patrons in this training program, although there were several musicians located toward the back, sitting toward the front of a stage. All were male, and dressed in tuxedos, except one, caramel skinned woman, dressed in a long, flowing evening gown standing near one of the three backup microphones.

"Not bad," Torres allowed, suddenly feeling much better about what she was asked, more like pleaded, to do by Chakotay. Torres had finally agreed, but only after she had made him promise that if the captain didn't approve of their little 'surprise' that he had to take full responsibility. Plus, she managed to wrangle all of his holodeck time from the rest of the month. She wasn't sure what she was going to do with all the spare time to spend on the holodeck, but she was certain that she was not going to waste it on her quickly failing romance with Tom Paris. He would undoubtedly just want to use the holodeck to play one of his adolescent holonovels or go cruising on a road called the Pacific Coast Highway. B'Elanna actually didn't mind that program, but she and Tom always managed to get into a fight over how much he was starring at the surplus of blonde bombshells. Torres herself enjoyed watching the beautiful woman tan themselves and walk along the street, but at least she knew how to be discreet in her ogling. Then pulling herself out of her head and getting back to the task at hand, indeed they had a lot of work to do, she asked, "Who is the third backup singer?"

"The commander had informed me that Samantha Wildman is an accomplished musician. She should be joining us after she retrieves Naomi from her afternoon lessons," Seven answered, walking over to the bar where B'Elanna had found a seat on an empty stool, but she did not sit.

"I think I remember her telling me that she used to sing from time to time on Deep Space Nine," B'Elanna said, wishing there was a bartender so she could order a drink. Of course, she could just ask the computer to produce one, but that seemed somehow uncouth, so she just reached over and poured herself a glass of water from the pitcher that had been programmed to appear. Wetting her vocal cords, she asked, hoping to get some dirt on the situation before Chakotay showed up and started ordering them around like a dictator. which she knew from experience he would do, "So, you and the captain, huh? I must say, I had my suspicions, but I don't know?I guess I just never thought it would happen," Torres said, not really saying that what she felt. Then again, she wasn't sure what she felt anymore. Just a few weeks ago she had thought for sure that there was definitely something going on with Kathryn and Seven, but then after her last conversation with Seven before the captain's rescue, she had been sure she was wrong?and now, well now Chakotay had not only informed her that Seven was attempting to woo the captain, but that he wanted her to help Seven out. Of course, she wanted to strangle her old friend for even thinking to ask her, but she couldn't have done that because that would have just made things worse. She didn't even know how she felt about Kathryn, other than she thought she was a delicious looking woman and respected her completely, and she certainly wasn't ready to make that announcement to anyone but herself and her personal logs, especially now that it looked like Seven had beaten her to the punch.

"B'Elanna Torres," Seven began, about to tell the Klingon where to go, so to speak, but then feeling like she really had to talk to somebody other than Kathryn, she changed her mind and said seriously, "since you are involved in this matter, I will speak with you about this, but you must 'promise' me that you will not divulge the information to other unworthy members of the crew as you are known to do."

Sighing, Torres responded, "Seven, on my honor, I will not gossip about you and captain. I've never gossiped about her before, and I certainly don't plan to start now. Besides, don't you think it's going to be obvious to everyone once you unveil your little surprise?"

"This event is to honor her as our captain. I realize that there is the possibility that certain members of the crew will speculate as to my motives. That is why I am not alone in this endeavor. If we are efficient, the captain will be honored and the crew will be 'none the wiser' as to my feelings for her."

"Maybe," Torres came back, letting the water roll to the back of her throat. Then moving the subject back to Seven's feeling for the captain, part of her hoping that Seven wasn't really in love with Janeway, just infatuated with her due to the Borg's inexperience in matters of the heart, she asked, "So, how do you feel about her?"

"It is difficult to describe the emotions that she stirs inside of me," Seven started, flushing somewhat. "When she is in my presence, I find it hard to breath properly without modifying my nanoprobes to compensate for my quicken pulse. When she turns to leave, I have the impulse to rush up to her and force her to stay. Since her duty demands that she remain on the Bridge the majority of the time, I am preoccupied with finding reasons to visit her. I think of her constantly, despite the task I am performing. This is inefficient, but I cannot help myself. Yet, I find that when I am in her presence, even though I experience all of these unsettling sensations, I function better. When I do not see her for several days in a row, I begin to lose focus and have to utilize my regeneration unit more often to maintain my efficiency. When we are alone and she looks at me, I cannot take my eyes off of her even though I understand that I should not stare at her out of respect, and I consistently make not of irrelevant things about her physical appearance, behavior and speech patterns that I do not of any other individual. I do not trust anyone more than her, even though we have disagreed on several occasions. I would willingly terminate anyone who threatened or disparaged her, although, I realize that she would not approve of this behavior. However, my desire to protect her would override any disapproval from her that my actions would cause."

And with that, B'Elanna knew that she didn't stand a chance in hell where Kathryn was concerned. Resigning herself to the fact immediately, knowing it was better to just face facts and move along, since it was a well known fact that Klingon's don't procrastinate, she reached deep down inside of herself and vowed to not only not stand in Seven's way, but to help her clear the path. She would do this now out of honor, our of respect for Seven's clearly sensitive and fragile emotions, and for Kathryn who, if anyone on this ship ever did, deserved to find some kind of personal happiness after so many years of anguish. "Kahless, Seven," B'Elanna said, realizing that there was so much more to the Ice Queen than she ever knew, "I?I had no idea you felt that way. That's the most analytically romantic thing think I've ever heard anyone say. Does that captain know you feel this way?" Torres asked, suddenly feeling mildly protective of Seven?although, she didn't know where this new facet of herself was coming from, but starting to realize why Janeway reacted the way she did to the Borg.

"Kathryn and I have not had the opportunity to discuss our feelings for each other in depth as of yet," Seven answered.

"Well, don't wait?don't wait for anything, Seven?you tell her how you feel as soon you can," Torres informed with the utmost sincerity, pointing at her, "and don't let her tell you she's too busy, either?she tends to do that, a lot."

"I will take this under advisement, B'Elanna Tores," then faltering some, she admitted, "but I?I am anxious that she will not be able to accept that what I feel is accurate because I am not experienced with these emotions as she is."

"If she doesn't, Seven, she's a damned fool?take my word for it," Torres rallied, knowing that no one, not even a woman as willful as Janeway could not be moved by Seven's candor.

"Ladies," Chakotay said stepping into the holodeck with Samantha Wildman and her daughter Naomi, "sorry I'm late, but it took me a little while to cash in all the favors that were owed to me. But, I'm happy to say that I've got the goods," he smiled, producing a small, orange datachip.

"Commander, I do not know how to thank you properly for donating your personal time and resources to this endeavor," Seven said, honestly.

"Seven," the commander came back walking over a replicator hidden inside a cupboard on the far wall of the bar, "I should be thanking you?you have no idea what you've done for my social life."

"Think you'll finally get a real date now, Chakotay?" B'Elanna asked, teasing her oldest friend on the ship.

"Laugh all you want, B'Elanna, but you've already got a date."

Rolling her eyes, Torres snarled, "Don't remind me."

Chakotay raised his eyebrow a little in surprise, "Trouble in paradise?"

"Let's not ruin the mood by mentioning Paris," Torres announced. Then changing the subject as she helped Naomi sit up on the bar, she questioned, "So, what are we going to wear? You're not going to make me wear a dress...are you?"

"Yes, do tell," Samantha said, taking a glass of water for herself.

"Girls, you are going to be the most beautiful, the most radiant women to ever step aboard this ship," the lone male said, sweetly.

"Well, that was already the case...so but your money where your mouth is," Torres said, flippantly.

Chakotay programmed the replicator and within seconds, one red and two black silky red dresses appeared, folded neatly. Then retrieving them, he handed the red one to Seven, and the black ones to Torres and Wildman.

B'Elanna smacked him on the shoulder, admiring the gown, having already resigned herself earlier to the fact that she was going to have to wear one, and and since this one was simple, and pretty nice, she had to admit, she allowed, "Not bad, old man." Then looking at Seven's dress, she informed, "Seven?you know what we were talking about before?it won't be a problem once the captain sees you in that."

"Indeed," Seven said, examining that garment, furrowing her brow. "How does one wear this garment?I see no where to put my arms?"

"I'll help you, Seven," Naomi said, excitedly. Of course, in most situations childern were notorious for not being able to keep a secret, but Seven knew she could be trusted with the captain's command codes if need be, plus, she was a integral part to the plan.

"Thank you, Naomi Wildman. I will appreciate your assistance," Seven answered.

"Come on, girls?it's time to play dress up," Samantha said, as Seven picked up her daughter and set her down. Hand in hand, Seven and Naomi followed Wildman and Torres into the dressing room as Chakotay looked on, feeling very proud of himself. He could barely wait to see the look on Kathryn's face tomorrow night.

He knew that once she found out he was behind most of this, there would probably be hell to pay later, but he was certain if it all went well, it would definitely be worth it. Not only would he finally be able to put to bed the long standing rumor that he was the captain's boy-toy, but he would really be able to pull one over on Kathryn, something that wasn't easy to do with a woman who had eyes in the back of her head and a keen nose for trouble.

"Girls, that was great?let's do it one more time," Chakotay said, clapping his hands.

Throwing her head back, Torres complained, "If it was so great, how come we have to do it again? And these shoes are killing my feet...you just 'had' to make me wear a dres...didn't you!"

"Because I want tomorrow night to go over without a hitch," answered the tall, well built man.

"And since when did this become your gig?" the brunette asked, putting her hands on her hips. "I thought this was Seven's show?"

"Seven's just the main attraction?and this became my show when I paid for it," laughed Chakotay. Torres could be so darned cute when her feathers were ruffled.

"Oh, and I suppose Sam and I are just chopped liver," Torres responded, glaring. Then sighing, she said, "Okay?I'll do it one more time, but I'm taking these darned shoes off."

"Yes, one more time?pleeeeaase, Mommy," Naomi said, spinning around on the barstool.

"Fine with me," Samantha replied, perfectly happy to sing all night long. "Seven, how's your voice holding up?"

"I am," sighing, "functioning," Seven stated, which meant she was starting to tire.

"Okay, Seven?just one more time from the top, and I promise that will be the end," Chakotay said, walking up closer to the stage as the woman settled themselves into their places, cleared their tiring throats as the musicians behind them began playing. "And Seven?try to relax a little?you're supposed to be enjoying yourself."

Taking a deep breath, she said, "I will comply," although that wasn't something that was easy for her to do. The song was fraught with emotions that were difficult for the Borg to express at any moment. She, and the rest of them, were counting on the fact that when she was actually singing for the captain, the song would flow from her lips without as much contemplation, but none of them were certain. For all they knew, Seven would develop a paralyzing case of stage freight in front of Janeway, but in that case, Chakotay was prepared, and he really didn't think stage freight was something that Borg suffered from. However, in the event that happened, he had already informed B'Elanna that she was to take Seven's place for this one song that Seven was performing. The other two woman were scheduled to sing various songs throughout the night to keep the party going, but Seven's song would undoubtedly be the highlight of the evening, if everything went as planned. With Seven of Nine, one never knew how to play the odds.

The song went along and all the women played their parts wonderfully, moving their arms together at certain times, and at others developing their own rhythm?all of them except Seven. Since she was the lead singer, it wasn't necessary, but Chakotay wished that she would do something with her hands except fold them behind her back or leave them at her sides, unmoving, but, her lovely, and perfectly in tune voice, as well as her beauty more than made up for her lack of expression.

When the song climaxed and ended quickly, as was the point because it left the listener feeling like they had just been flung off a precipice, Seven stepped down from the stage and walked into the dressing room. She emerged within minutes, handing her dress to Naomi who had promised to take good care of it until she needed it later, and stated, "Commander, thank you for your assistance. You can now include me as one of the crewmembers indebted to you; however, I must regenerate at this time. If I do not see you tomorrow while on duty, I shall see you tomorrow at 1800 hours." Then turning to the rest of the group, she nodded and said, "Thank you all as well. I will not forget your assistance. Good day."

Once she was gone, Chakotay walked up to B'Elanna who was now sitting in an unladylike fashion, not caring, on the stage, and whispered, "I think you better practice that song tonight?just in case."

1700 Hours

Captain Kathryn Janeway rose from her desk chair and leaned into a much needed stretch. It had been another log day of reports, logs, and all the tedious demands that came with running a starship. Of course, she was glad that it had been a relatively quiet day compared to so many of the white-knuckled, show-stoppers she had experienced in the Delta Quadrant. It gave her time to see that the last of the repairs were made to bring the ship back to Starfleet regulations after their last encounter with the Culaaket and it gave her plenty of time to think about her new relationship with her Astrometrics officer, Seven of Nine. However, any trepidation she thought she might experience after their lunch yesterday, simply never came to fruition. Janeway was honestly and truly pleased with the events in the recent weeks that led up to yesterday�s heart-pounding kiss. The memory of Seven�s soft, full lips on hers brought chills to the captain not for the first time today. Before she logged off for the day, she took the time to straighten her office, a habit since it was a fairly well visited area of Kathryn�s, unlike her quarters. As she placed the last of her dishes into the replicator, she tapped her communicator and hailed, her voice warm and light, "Janeway to Seven of Nine."

"I am here, Captain," Seven�s voice responded after a moment.

"Seven, can I speak with you?" Janeway asked, hoping that Seven would catch her implied question of privacy.

"If you are wondering if I am alone, Captain...that is correct," Seven stated evenly.

"Darling," Janeway began, letting Seven know this was a personal communiqué and she could stop addressing her by her rank, "I was wondering if I could steal a few moments of your time before tonight�s festivities."

"There is no need for theft, Kathryn?I give my time to you willingly. Shall I join you in your Ready Room?" asked Seven.

Delighting in the Borg�s wonderful charm, she replied, "Why don�t you come by my quarters around 1800 Hours, and then we can go to the party together after we catch up. I haven�t seen you all day," Kathryn complained, sitting down and her desk.

"Unfortunately, I will not be able to escort you to Mister Neelix�s social gathering."

"Oh," Janeway allowed, clearly disappointed. Then shrugging it off, she asked, "You will be going, won�t you?" hoping that she wasn�t going to have to pull rank. She had specifically instructed Chakotay to inform all the department heads and senior staff that they were to make an appearance. She didn�t think she was quite ready to deal with having to put ship�s business ahead of Seven�s unease with social situations.

"That is correct, Kathryn, the captain would not be pleased if I did not attend," Seven said, making a point to keep Kathryn in her place?even if she was the captain.

"I suppose she would, darling," Janeway chuckled, Seven's hint not getting past her and taking it to heart, as she asked, "well can you at least stop by my office then?" Softer, she added looking down and her hands, feeling silly, "I�ve missed you."

"I have missed you as well. I will join you shortly, but I can only stay for a few moments as I have many things to attend to before I am required at the 'party.'"

"Well, I guess I'll just have to make the best use of my time with you then," the captain responded, clearly flirting. "I'll see you in a few minutes. Janeway out." Once she closed the communication, she sighed, still mildly disappointed. She had so wanted to escort Seven to the party, to not only to have the chance to spend time with her, but also help Seven's ever-present discomfort with large gatherings of people in non-professinal settings. Then as she thought about it longer, she realized that now she couldn't just ask Chakotay to escort her?or really anyone else, for that matter. That would not only leave her feeling like the worst kind of person, but she was also worried that Seven would see that as unacceptable as well. Still, it was customary for the captain to be escorted by a member of her crew to parties that were partly in her honor, but knowing what she did, she would just have to suck it up and go alone. Just as she resolved herself to going stag, the door call sounded. Perking up instantly, she said, standing, "Come in."

Seven appeared with her hands clasped behind her back as the doors parted evenly. Once there was enough space for her to step through, she did so. As soon as they closed, she let her hands fall to her sides as she approached the captain who was quickly closing the distance, but she did not attempt to embrace her. This was the captain's office, a place of business, and Seven was aware that it was important that she not make Janeway feel as though she did not have respect for position just because she was now allowed to do such wonderful things as kiss her.

Janeway, on the other hand, was fully allowed to break all the rules, since they were her own, and even though she knew Starfleet frowned upon it, there were no specific guidelines that said a captain could not kiss the woman she adored in her office, or anywhere else for that matter. It was her ship after all. With that in mind, she wrapped her arms around Seven's neck and planted a strong and definite kiss on her lips.

If Seven was surprised, she did her best not to show it and quickly responded pulling Janeway tightly into the swells of her bosom. Then knowing that she must release Janeway before her emotions overwhelmed her, she did so, and said, "I have missed you. Thank you for asking me to come here."

"Mmm?thank you for coming, darling?I've missed you too." Then grabbing Seven by the hand and pulling her toward the couch, she said, "I rarely don't get the opportunity to at least visit with you once during a shift?what have you been up to all day?"

Seven sat with Kathryn, putting her arm around her and bringing her to her chest, resting her head on top of the captain's while Janeway traced the veins in Seven's human hand with her long, intelligent fingers, "I will give you the 'short version' since my time is limited. Suffice to say, 'deassimilation' is a lengthier process than B'Elanna Torres and I had first thought."

Chuckling, Janeway responded quietly, deciding not to question why Seven was suddenly calling the chief B'Elanna Torres instead of Lieutenant Torres since she didn't feel in the mood to discuss their antagonistic relationship, "Well, I'm sure the captain appreciates your hard work."

"It is a high probability," Seven stated, kissing the captain's temple.

Janeway's only response was a sigh of bliss. She knew these moments with Seven were an amazing gift, and she intended not to ruin them with small talk. When she felt Seven's body tense some, she asked, "Darling, are you alright?"

"Why do you ask?" Seven wondered.

"Your body just tensed like you were thinking about something unpleasant."

Forcing herself to relax the muscles that had indeed tensed without her knowledge, she answered, "I am 'fine,' but I do have some apprehension about tonight's festivities."

"I know, sweetheart," cooed Kathryn, taking Seven's large, but delicate hand in hers, "but I'll be there, and you only need to stay for a little while?and then you can go whenever you start to feel overwhelmed, okay?"

Seven knew that Kathryn had no idea why she was so nervous, and that it was the captain's very presence that was causing her anxiety, but playing along and accepting Janeway's never-ending understanding for Seven's feelings, she answered, "Thank you."

"I know," Janeway added, sitting up some so she could look Seven in the face, "why don't we develop a secret code for you to use whenever you feel uncomfortable and don't know how to act? I'm sure we'll be putting it to good use, considering both our circumstances."

"A 'secret code'?" repeated the blonde, clearly amused by the captain's choice of words which sounded much like something Naomi Wildman would say.

"Yes," Kathryn smiled, poking Seven in her stomach, "and don't make fun of me, you."

"Very well?what shall our 'secret code' consist of?"

"Well, you'd have to get my attention?which can be difficult when I'm talking?I know," Janeway said, snuggling back into Seven's warm body, "so you'd have to probably touch me, but in a way that wouldn't really drawn attention to us."

"I assume that means that I cannot simply kiss you to get your attention," Seven said, plainly.

Laughing, Janeway squeezed Seven's thigh muscle, amazed at how strong it felt and said, "No I suppose that wouldn't work?but I like the way you think," then putting her mind back to the task, she said, "I know, why don't you just come up to me and stand directly to my right, making sure that your shoulder touches mine. I'm sure no one would notice except me. Then that would give me the opportunity to access the situation and make time to respond to you."

"Efficient," Seven complimented. Then pulling Janeway up into her lap, she said, "Now, my Kathryn, it is time for my 'good-bye' kiss."

"You're leaving so?mmm..mmm," the captain started to say as Seven covered her mouth with hers and promptly shut the older woman up. When Seven finally released the captain, all Janeway could say as Seven easily stood while holding the small woman, then easing her to her feet, "My god, Seven?you really are very good at that."

Seven smiled, but did not show teeth, and replied, "Thank you. I must depart, but I will see you later this evening."

"If you must go, then I won't keep you?although, I'll be counting the minutes until I see you again," Janeway whispered, allowing her voice to drop a register.

"As will I," Seven said, cupping Kathryn's face and then making a quick retreat before she informed the commander that the captain and her would not be attending tonight's festivities because they were otherwise 'engaged.'

1900 Hours

The captain stepped from her bedroom looking very more like a woman ready to paint the town than a woman who commanded a ship that flew amongst the stars. Her pants-suit was simple, as was her preferred style, but tailored to perfectly adhere to her lithe body. Kathryn was a woman whose body boasted straight, even lines for the most part, but what little curves she had, she knew how to accentuate. During her youth, she hadn't much appreciated her boyish figure until she entered the Academy. Once she had stepped into her first cadet uniform, she suddenly realized that there was something to be said for thin, narrow hips and an modest, but firm chest. Now, in her early forties, she was duly grateful for the figure she was born with. She knew that the uniform still looked as good, if not better on her now and she was able to wear practically any style of clothing without drawing too much attention to herself, which she preferred. Not that she didn't like attention, but Janeway was a dignified and modest woman, and a captain, so there was some need to be able to dress down, and still look stunning. Plus, no matter how evolved mankind was in the Federation, there were still many species across the galaxy that objectified woman, and Janeway enjoyed that fact that she could still be very much a woman, while still maintain her authority just by putting on a pair of slacks and a simple blouse.

Tonight, though, she had decided to dress it up just a little, hoping to sense, if not see Seven's approval. So, she had selected her favorite pair of navy slacks. They were rode just below the natural indent of her waist, buttoned in front, and were not pleated. Her uniform slacks were pleated slightly at the waist, so whenever she got to wear civilian clothing, she stayed away from them. Her blouse was a light cream, and almost completely sheer. She wore a simple silk, spaghetti strapped tank top underneath to keep herself hidden?although, sometimes she wondered what people would say if she just wore nothing at all underneath, but that was entirely too brazen of a thought, and she quickly brushed it aside. She wore no jewelry, not because she didn't have any or didn't like to wear it, but she just wasn't in the mood. Just as she slipped on a pair of simple, perfectly matched navy two-inch pumps over her stockinged feet, her door call sounded. Hoping it wasn't Chakotay trying to escort her to the party as he used to always do, but hadn't for a while, she was surprised again to see the smaller Wildman at her door, dressed in an adorable blue jumper, with a white undershirt.

"Good evening, Miss Wildman. Can I help you with something?"

"Good evening, Captain," Naomi said extending her hand, "I would be honored if you would let me to take you to the party."

Smiling softly, truly touched, she asked, "Aren't you going with your mother, dear?"

Naomi was prepared for the captain's questions, and she responded again just as Seven told her to. "Mommy is already at the party helping Neelix. She already said it was okay that I come and get you, Ma'am."

"Well, then?I would be 'honored' if you would escort me to the party, Miss Wildman," Janeway said taking the girl's hand and smiling grandly. As they walked hand in hand, Janeway said, "You look very pretty?is that new?"

"Yes, Captain," Naomi said, starting to swing the captain's arm, who gladly followed the movement, "Mommy says that if I don't stop growing so fast, she going to have to ask you for extra replicator rations."

"Well, you just tell your mommy that whatever she needs, all she has to do is ask, alright?"

"Yes, Captain," the girl said stepping into the turbolift. "Computer, Deck Seven."

"Computer, halt turbolift," Janeway said quickly, but there was none of the authoritative crack to her voice as she usually had when she spat an order quickly. Then looking down, she said smiling, "I could be wrong, but the last time I checked the Mess Hall was on Deck Two."

"We're not going to the Mess Hall, Captain," Naomi came back, again just as she and Seven had practiced.

"We're not?" Janeway asked, surprised. "Then where are we going?"

"To the holodeck," the young girl answered and then said, "Computer, resume."

"The party's in the holodeck?" Janeway asked, more thinking out loud than asking the youngster. "I wonder why?"

"Because of the band," Naomi informed, knowing that wouldn't give anything away?at least she hoped it wouldn't.

"There's going to be a band?" asked the now very curious captain.

Before the girl started to answer the question, the lift's pneumatic doors parted evenly depositing them on Deck Seven. Quickly before the captain started asking her questions that she had promised on her 'honor' not to answer, she grabbed the captain's hand again and started skipping and changed the subject. Janeway let her inquiries go knowing that she would just find out for herself soon enough, so she let Naomi lead her as they talked about Flotter, Naomi's studies, and the like. By the time they reached the holodeck, Janeway had forgotten about unusual party venue and was definitely feeling in the mood to let her hair down a little.

When they entered the main holodeck, the party was already in full swing and Janeway stopped just inside the door and little taken back by the scene in front of her. It was clearly some kind of reception area, a rather large one, but it still had the feel of a Starfleet vessel. The carpet was a soft, hard blue-grey, and the walls looked similar to the walls of the Officer's Mess. The large windows were definitely Starfleet issue and had been programmed to display a still starfield, which gave the captain the feel that they were at a dead stop. There were no constellations that she recognized, which she was thankful for, since she figured that if she did recognize them, she would just become homesick. As she stepped inside the room so the large doors could close, she had the distinct feeling that suddenly Ship's Maintenance had gutted part of her ship and built this room in its place. There were no tables in the middle of the crowded room, which allowed for more mingling, but there were several booths and small tables lining the perimeter of the room. The lights were dimmed and giving off several colors which reminded Janeway of some kind of high school dance party. In the back, it was hard to see because the room was rather dark, there looked to be a dance floor and what she assumed was the stage for the band. There was a long, thick black curtain that covered the entire far wall, so she couldn't tell what was going on behind there. There was also a jukebox on the left wall where several crewmembers were gathered and she had to listen intently to hear Naomi thank her for allowing her to escort the guest of honor above the pulsing beat. The young carrot top gave the captain a quick wave and scurried off for the back saying something about having to go help her mother. Janeway waved back and scanned the large room for Seven immediately. To her dismay, she wasn't there yet, so she picked up the nearest unclaimed champagne glass off the long bar, put on her diplomatic mask, and began to mingle with the various groups of people.

After fifteen minutes of conversations that always became centered around her as soon as she appeared, she decided to take a peek into what she thought was the kitchen and see what her Talaxian cook was up to, assuming he was back there since he wasn't out in the main area. Nosing through the swinging doors, she sidestepped a young, well-built, incredibly dark-skinned waiter carrying a tray of champagne glasses, flushing a bit when he pardoned himself, smiling warmly and saying, "Excuse me, Madam." Then laughing at herself for feeling so wistful by the charming holocharacter's demeanor, she moved farther in to the small kitchen and yelled over the music that was much louder than it normally was, "Neelix! Neelix, are you in here?"

"Captain!" Neelix yelled back coming around the corner, fidgeting with his loud apron and chef's hat, "I didn't realize you were here yet?uh, uh?can I get you something?"

"No, thank you, I'm fine. Why are you back here?" she asked, obviously meaning why he was working when he could just have allowed the holodeck characters to prepare the food.

"Oh you know me, Captain?I'm much happier in the kitchen?but once everything is done, I'll join the party." Then after yelling a few orders at the cooks on the other side of the room out of view, she said, "Besides, I couldn't possibly leave such an important event in the hands of holograms."

Chuckling, she asked, "Where is everyone?" knowing Neelix would understand that she meant the senior staff.

"Well, Mister Tuvok elected to remain on the Bridge until later?surprise, surprise," Neelix smiled, "and I haven't seen the commander for sometime now. Tom and B'Elanna haven't shown up yet, and I think Harry went to go get his clarinet to help out with the band."

"Harry's going to be in the band?" Janeway asked, surprised, yet again, suddenly wondering what else had been happening without her knowledge. For a woman who prided herself on knowing every nuance of the ship and her crew, this feeling was beginning to bother her.

"Oh yes!" Neelix yelled. "We're going all out for this one. It's not everyday that Captain Janeway is abducted and returned with such efficiency."

"No, I guess it's not," Janeway shrugged, modestly, "Have you seen, Seven?" she asked, poking her head out the kitchen doors and scanning the room, hoping that she had just missed her, but knowing that missing Seven was about as easy missing the side of a barn with a BB gun.

"No, haven't seen her, but I'm sure she'll be along," Neelix answered, "Well, Captain, I don't mean to rude, but I've got get back to the kitchen before they ruin everything."

"Of course, Neelix?thank you," Janeway said pushing her way back through the silver door. Curious, and not wanting to become the topic of conversation as was the normal occurrence when she mingled with others than the senior staff who weren't as accustomed to her company, she started toward the back of the room to find out what Naomi and her mother were doing. This would be just as good time as any to talk with Samantha about her replicator rations needs, but before she could make it three meters in any direction, she was practically accosted by one, two, and sometimes more crewmembers wanting to tell her a joke, or a story, and even pose for a few holoimages.

When the Doctor walked in, donning his holoemitter even though he could have just materialized, Kathryn almost hugged him, she was so happy to be in the company of someone that didn't treat her like she was some kind of celebrity. If she hadn't thought it possible, she would have almost believed that her entire crew had been ordered to keep her busy and her nose out of what was happening behind the curtained off area.

"Doctor!" Janeway said, rushing over to him, "so glad you could make it."

Of course, the Doctor was part of the plan as well, so he pretended not to notice the captain's enthusiastic welcome and merely said, "Captain, it's good to see you as well. How are your wounds healing?"

"Oh they're fine?you did a fine job patching me up?thank you," she answered, then realizing that maybe she didn't want to be in the holodoc's company as much as she thought, at least not alone, she asked, "Have you seen, Seven?" She knew that she was probably being overly obvious in her wish to see the tall blonde now, but at this point she didn't care.

"I passed her in the hall a few minutes ago," he lied to keep the captain from catching on, something she was very good at doing. He continued, "She seemed busy, so I only bothered her for a minute."

"Did she say when she was coming?" asked the redhead, hoping it was soon?very soon.

"Yes, she said that she would be here shortly," the Doctor answered, then changing subjects purposefully, he said, "So, what's on the menu tonight? Of course, my interest is only in what kind of stomach problems I can expect tomorrow morning thanks to Mister Neelix's flare for the culinary arts."

"I'm not sure, Doctor?why don't you go ask him, he's in the kitchen. If you'll excuse me, there's something I need to do," Janeway said, jumping at the opportunity to get away from still more boring conversation?"Really, where are Chakotay and B'Elanna when I need them?" she wondered crankily as she started for the black curtain toward the back of the room, bound and determined to see what was behind there before anyone else rushed her.

Two meters away, Harry appeared from behind the curtain dressed in a tuxedo and holding his clarinet, wetting a reed in his mouth. He spotted the captain instantly, her auburn locks shining like a super nova in the colorful overhead lights and said, "Captain, hey?I was wondering when you were going to show up."

"Don't you look handsome, Harry," Janeway said straighting his lapel in a very motherly fashion. "I hear you're going to grace us with your musical talents tonight."

After several years of severing under Kathryn Janeway, he had finally become used to her doting, so he paid her codling, at times like this, little attention and answered, "Yes, Ma'am?should be quite a show. I haven't played for an audience in a long time, so don't tell anyone, but hands are so sweaty I'm not sure I'll be able to play a single note."

Chuckling, she patted him on the arm and said, "I'm sure you'll do fine?and don't worry, you're secret's safe with me."

"Thanks?I hope so?the holographic musicians and others that will be performing tonight are really outstanding. It's been really good for me to play with them."

"Well, I'm sure you're mother would be pleased," Janeway added, remembering the delightful conversation she had with the woman just before leaving Deep Space Nine. Then realizing what he had said, she looked at him and queried, "Others?"

"Sorry, Captain," he sighed, "that was supposed to be a surprise," feeling like a total idiot, he explained, quickly, "There are a few other crewmembers that will also be performing?but I can't tell you who, so please don't ask. If B'Elanna finds out that I let that slip she'll never let me live it down."

Now laughing fully, Kathryn returned quietly, "Well, I won't ask and don't worry about that secret either, Mister Kim. I would no sooner tell the ship's bigges rumor monger your secrets than I would tell her mine."

"Kathryn!" Chakotay yelled across the room, signaling her over. He was wearing a black pair of dress slacks and a deep blue long sleeved shirt, looking a lot more formal than he normally did at this type of event.

Turning back to Harry, Janeway winked and told him to 'break a leg.' Then leaving her nervous ensign, the captain made her way over toward the kitchen again. Once she had successfully navigated through the small groups of people scattered all over the room, she slid up next to her first, elbowing him and said, "You know, this had your name written all over it."

"Guilty as charged," he admitted raising his glass as Neelix brought out the first round of finger foods, stopping first to offer some to the commanders before the rest of the crew rushed him, saying, "As the lady requested?absolutely no mushy bread."

"Much obliged, Neelix," she thanked, picking up a cracker with some kind of meaty sauce on it. After popping in her mouth and chewing a few times, she said, "So who's running the ship anyway?"

"Tuvok and Tom are on the Bridge right now. Tuvok should be here pretty soon, though," he answered, sipping more of the bubbly. "I've also given the twenty or so people that elected to stay on duty extra replicator privileges for the next week."

"We're leaving Paris in command?" Janeway said bringing her hand to her forehead, rubbing it slightly.

"Should I go to red alert now?" he joked, then patting her on the shoulder telling her to stop worrying, and explained, "I wouldn't worry, Captain?I'm sure Tuvok will stay long enough to have some tea, and then go right back to work. I think he's more worried about leaving Paris in charge than you are."

That knowledge had sufficiently lightened her quickly darkening mood, and she laughed shaking her head and vowing to leave the captaincy in her back pocket for the rest of the night. Just as she was about to ask where B'Elanna and Seven were, the lights came up to full and the music stopped. Chakotay handed his glass her, wiped his mouth and said, "Show time."

"Everyone, if I could have your attention," Chakotay said into microphone. "Thank you all for coming tonight. We have a lot of special things in store, so be sure to stick around as long as you can. Before we start with the night's entertainment, I'd like to take the opportunity to remind you all why we're here, even though I'm sure I don't have to. Six years ago, for some more and for some less, we were all introduced to the lady we now know as our captain. This journey with her hasn't always been easy?or fun," he smiled warmly at her, "but I know I speak for each and everyone of you when I say that there isn't a more capable or worthy person to lead this crew than Kathryn Janeway. Three days ago we came very close to having to make this journey without her, something I know we could, but wouldn't want to do. So tonight we are here to celebrate her return and to remember just how important she is to us?and to celebrate the courageous crew that brought her back. So, to Kathryn and all of you, you have my thanks." Then clearing his voice from any emotion that was threatening to seep up as Janeway's eyes started to mist over, she finished, "Now, with that said, please put your hands together for Ensigns Samantha Wildman and Harry Kim, and their companions."

As Samantha and Harry took their places and the crew of Voyager clapped politely, Chakotay left the stage and made his way back to Kathryn, whom he knew he wasn't going to be able to avoid after his speech. To his relief, she was smiling warmly, wiping a rebel tear from her eye that just wouldn't follow her orders to stay put. He immediately went over to her and said as the band started playing, "Kathryn, I'm sorry if I embarrassed you, but I just wanted you to know how I felt."

"Thank you, Chakotay, that was lovely," sniffling, and then smirking she said, "but you know?I'll get you back."

"Oh I'm sure I'll pay a heavy price, but it was worth it." Then as Samantha started singling a sexy, jazz song, he said, "But no payback tonight, okay?I've go a show to run here."

"Deal," Janway came right back, poking him in the ribs, "Now dance with me before I make a complete fool out of myself."

"My pleasure," he smiled, taking her hand and leading her over to the small area that had been cordoned off as the dance floor. Most of the crew was still hovered around the food, so they were alone on the dance floor which was for the best since he and Kathryn were known to cut a fine rug from time to time.

Chakotay pulled her in close, knowing that she was comfortable with it from previous celebrations, and started leading her in big, circles all the way around the floor. He would admit that Kathryn was a better dancer than he was, and because of that, she knew how to follow very well, which made his job that much easier. Soon he let her go into a small twirl, then brought her back in close. They rarely talked when they danced, just happy to be doing something other than fire phasers and raise shields, but on this occasion when he pulled her in, she whispered, "I had no idea Samantha had such a lovely voice."

"I just recently discovered that myself," he said, whispering back. "It seems there are still a lot of things we don't know even after all these years?keeps it interesting, I guess?"

"That is does," she said, twirling again.

The rest of the dance was completed in silence. Once the music was finished, Chakotay said he had to go see to something back stage, so Janeway thanked him for yet another delightful dance and made her way over to the food when Tuvok walked in. The look on the stoic Vulcan's face said volumes to Janeway, even though she knew she was probably the only one who could tell anything was amiss. She figured it was leaving Paris in charge that was causing his unease, but she didn't bring it up, keeping her promise to herself, as he made his way to her.

"Good evening, Captain. Are you enjoying the festivities?" he asked, ordering a cup of spiced tea from the replicator. Tuvok was still technically on duty, so he didn't have any champagne, not that he minded in the least.

"Very much, thank you," Janeway nodded, eating a few cubes of cheese. "Have you seen Seven?"

"Not since she left your Ready Room several hours ago, Captain," the lieutenant-commander answered.

"Hmm," Janeway said, half tempted her use her comm-badge to track down the missing Borg, but knowing that she shouldn't, she explained herself, "I guess she's still busy?although, I wish she would hurry. She's missing all the fun."

"Fun, Captain, isn't something that Seven is typically interested in," the dark Vulcan reminded.

"Well, at least she could at least just stop working?I swear, sometimes she makes me look the biggest slacker on the ship," said Janeway.

"Although, that is hyperbole," the Vulcan informed, raising his eyebrow at the captain's exaggeration, "I do believe that sometimes Seven does 'over do it,' so to speak. " Sipping his tea, he continued, "However, I believe that your influence is starting to remedy that. I've noticed a decided change in her demeanor as of late."

"I hope so," Janeway replied, distracted and trying not to frown, but really, where was Seven?

"Seven, you look so pretty!" Niaomi said in a raspy whisper, grabbing the tall blonde's hand and squeezing it tightly.

"Thank you, Naomi Wildman, you look 'pretty' as well," Seven stated, standing ramrod straight behind the stage as B'Elanna and Samantha began the song that told Seven she was on next.

"Don't be nervous, Seven?nervous is irrelevant, remember?" the small child tried to reassure the Borg using terms she knew Seven would understand.

"That is correct. I shall try to remember that," Seven said, clearly not in her element. No only was she about to sing for the crew and more importantly the captain, she was dressed in a garment that was completely inefficient. However, since Chakotay and B'Elanna had told her she would understand when she saw the captain's reaction, she had complied. Her hair was still back in her normal austere bun, but Samantha has insisted in applying a bright red, waxy substance to the Borg's lips to 'bring out the color of the dress,' as Samantha had said. Seven did not care for this 'lipstick,' but again, she acquiesced hoping the captain would find the changes acceptable.

"I'm going to go and make sure the captain comes up front so she can see how pretty you are, okay?" Naomi said.

"Very well, but please do not disturb her if she is occupied," Seven requested.

"I will comply," Naomi said walking away.

Sneaking around the stage, as to not disturb her mother or B'Elanna, she was happy to see that the captain was standing toward the back of the door, near the kitchen keeping one eye on the singers, and one eye on the door, still waiting for Seven to make her appearance. "Captain," Naomi said, taking her by the hand, "are you having a good time?"

"Yes, dear?your mother is a wonderful singer. You must be very proud of her," Janeway said, squeezing the little girl's hand.

"Oh I am, Captain! Will you come over here with me in front and watch Mommy sing, pleeeeaaase?" Naomi asked, hoping she wasn't being too obvious.

Janeway wanted to hesitate and remain by the door until Seven showed up, an event she was starting to think wouldn't happen, but she really couldn't say no to the angel faced child, so she grabbed her drink and let herself be lead by the youngster. Naomi stopped a the edge of the small dance floor that was empty for this song, not being really good to dance to, but she continued to hold the captain's hand, until the song ended, and then she jumped up and down and cheered enthusiastically for her mother. Janeway was just about to take this opportunity to go back over to the door, but Naomi grabbed her hand and said, "No, Captain?I mean, just one more song, pretty please?"

"Okay," Janeway smiled as Chakotay stepped up to the microphone again. At once the lights went down and a spot light was turned on.

"If I could get everyone's attention please," he said authoritatively, effectively silencing the idle chitchat in the crowded room. Once he had everyone was listenning, he smiled and said, "Thank you. Tonight is a very special night indeed, and to mark the occasion, I am immensely pleased to introduce Voyager's Astrometrics officer, and the individual who came up with the creative and efficient means in which to rescue our captain. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the heavenly tones of everyone's favorite ex-Borg drone, Seven of Nine."

Quickly, Chakotay hopped off the stage and saddled up next to Kathryn who looked quite a bit more pale than she had a few seconds ago. He positioned himself right next to her and slightly behind, so he could steady her if need be, and by her reaction before Seven had even been seen, he was pretty sure he was going to do just that.

Janeway attempted to ask him what the hell he thought he was doing putting Seven on display like this, but before she could say anything, the entire room went dark. Chakotay quickly grabbed the drink out the captain's hand, worried she would drop it once the lights lifted. She handed it over easily, eyes now fixed on the tall, thin, and curvy silhouette of the figure that could only be that of Seven of Nine. When the spotlight came up to finally reveal the woman she had been waiting to see all night, Janeway felt decidely faint.

Seven was absolutely the most beautiful thing she had ever seen in all of her life. Now thankful for Chakotay's arm that was firmly grasping her elbow, all Janeway could do was stare into the big blue eyes that were fixed on hers and think, "Ohgod?"

Seven's analytical mind reminded her that before the music was to begin she was supposed to say something, so blinking her eyes, she said, softly, "This is for you, Kathryn Janeway." Then almost immediately the music began softly behind her, and Seven brought her hands to the pole of the microphone holding on for dear life, hoping that she would not squeeze too tightly at snap the metal pole in half. Counting off the measures in her head, she closed her eyes for a few moments. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to not hide the emotions that this song and this woman brought about in her. When she opened her eyes and gazed at the captain, she felt like Kathryn was now the only person in the room, and she began to sing Then You Look At Me, made popular by a Twentieth Century icon named Celine Dion.

"Laugh and cry, live and die?life is a dream we are dreaming?
Day by day, I find my way?look for the soul and the meaning?"

Allowing her hands to release the death grip she had on the pole and move freely with the tidal wave of emotion running amuck in her body, she lifted her hand to Kathryn and began the chorus.

"Then you look at me?and I always see?
What I have been searching for?
I'm lost as can be, then you looked at me?
And I am not lost anymore?"

Feeling her way now, instead of trying to understand, she allowed her arms to flow from side to side as she knew Samantha's and B'Elanna's were now doing as she began the second verse.

"People run, sun to sun?caught in their lives ever flowing?
Once begun, life goes 'til it's gone?we have to go where were it's going?"

As the music increased in volume, Seven's let her hands find their own way and soon she was clasping the head the microphone as if it were Kathryn's beautiful face.

"Then you look at me?and I always see?
What I have been searching for?
I'm lost as can be?then, you looked at me?
And I am not lost anymore?"

The music was now steadily building to a climax with each stanza, and so was Seven's voice that had started out almost as a whisper. When she saw the tears, despite the bright light shining in Janeay face, starting to roll down the captain's pale cheeks, unbidden, she knew that she could not fail now, so she put everything she had into the final verse.

"And you say you see?when you look at me?
The reason you love life so?
Though lost I have been?I find love again?"

Seven was now closing her eyes to keep herself in the moment knowing that if she looked at Kathryn now, she would break down. Since that was unacceptable at this time for Seven, she threw one arm out to the redhead, while she held the other to her chest, letting her know that she was speaking with her heart, and finished the song with an astonishing amount of power and emotion.

"And life just keeps on running?
And life just keeps running?
You look at me and life comes from?you?"

When she heard the music slow, she didn't bother with the final two words, knowing she'd never get them out. Seven dropped her trembling hands to her sides and forced open her eyes.

The lights had now come back up to approximately fifty percent and everyone who had been sitting was now on their feet clapping their hands, whistling and hollering so loud, Seven had to adjust her hearing to keep from being damaged by the intensity of the noise. She let her eyes fall on Kathryn who wasn't bothering to wipe the tears staining her face she was so busy clapping, and she had to smile as Chakotay picked up Naomi, put her on his shoulders so the small child wouldn't get lost in the surge of people that had quickly moved toward the stage, although, no one went past the captain, knowing that she should be the first person to speak with Seven. Still not knowing what to do, she didn't move until she felt B'Elanna's hand on her elbow and telling her, "Go on, Seven?go get her."

That was all Seven needed to hear, and she quickly exited the stage and started toward Janeway. The walk to greet the captain was only a few meters, but suddenly it felt like a several kilometers as the background music faded away and all that was left was the sound of her own heartbeat thundering in her ears. Of course, Seven wanted to rush up to Kathryn, pick her up, twirl her around and tell her right then how much she loved her, but she knew that that probably was not appropriate at this time, so she simply walked up to Janeway at let her initiate any contact.

Kathryn wiped the tears from her face and then threw her arms around Seven, saying something the blonde couldn't understand. All she heard was her name and the word 'wonderful'?the rest was nonsense to Seven since the captain had buried her face in Seven's neck. She allowed herself to wrap her arms around Kathryn tightly, but not making the contact anymore than she would hug Naomi. When Janeway pulled away, she cupped Seven's face and kissed her on the cheek and then whispered, "There are no words to tell you how precious you are to me, darling?thank you. I'll never forget this?ever."

"You are welcome, Kathryn," Seven said, pulling away just as B'Elanna, Samantha, Chakotay still with Naomi in tow, and Harry gathered around, all of them saying how amazing Seven was. Seven was gracious as she could manage, but she never once took her eyes off of Kathryn's face for more than a second. It wasn't until Chakotay announced that the live entertainment part of the night was over, but that there was still plenty of time for food, drinks, and dancing left, and that if anyone had any requests to make them now, that Seven recovered completely and was able to slow her pounding heart. "Kathryn, can I get you something to 'drink?'" Seven asked, hoping the movement would continue to steady her.

"I think I need some water," Janeway chuckled and swallowed the massive lump in her throat.

Quietly, as the music started to pound out a steady bass, Seven ushered Janeway over to a quite section of the reception hall, which had thinned out quite a bit, and said, "Kathryn, I would not say this in front of the crew, but you look exceptionally beautiful tonight. It pleases me to see you like this."

"Darling," Janeway leaned in and whispered, "if you get anymore lovely, I'm afraid the Doctor will need to rush me to Sickbay, because I'm nearly having a heart attack as it is. Where did get that dress?"

"It was a gift from the commander?I assume that means that you find it acceptable?" Seven asked, knowing that the captain most definitely did, but wanting to hear Janeway's voice say it over and over again.

"Acceptable would be the biggest understatement imaginable. You're absolutely devine."

"Thank you. It pleases me that it pleases you," then switching subjects, feeling like if she didn't she wouldn't be able to keep herself from kissing her captain in front of everyone, she asked, "Are you enjoying yourself tonight?"

"I am now," she answered, not able to keep the seductive tone form her words.

"Were you not before my performance?" the younger woman asked curious.

"Yes, I was?but I was worried as to where you were, but now that I know what wonderful, yet devious, things you were up to, I'm enjoying myself a good deal more."

"I am 'sorry' if I caused you grief, but it was necessary to remain unseen."

"Shhh," Janeway said, allowing herself to touch her index finger to Seven's crimson lips as she stepped up close enough to touch her body to Seven's, despite the fact that she knew several people were probably hanging on every move she made, "no apologies, please. That was the most amazing?I can't even explain what an amazing gift you are to me. Never apologize for that...alright?"

"As you wish," Seven said, grabbing a few cubes of cheese to keep her hands and her mouth busy. Seven was certain that if the captain kept behaving this way for the remainder of the night, she was going to have to inform her that such actions were going to cause her to do something she could not be held responsible for. Part of her wondered as they continued to talk and started to 'mingle' if that was what the captain was hoping for.

2100 Hours

During the next hour Janeway, Seven, Harry, Samantha and B�Elanna sat around a large corner booth talking, laughing, drinking and eating?and every now and then, someone would get up and dance, usually with Naomi. Chakotay was in full bachelor mode, asking practically every available woman in the room to dance?few of them declined, and even fewer declined a second dance. The captain had taken up a seat near Seven, but she was on the outside, so just in case anything happened, she could get out right away. That habit was now second nature to her, just as was her habit of always sitting with her back to the wall, and preferably facing the entrance. It was just something she did now without even thinking about it. Although, on Voyager she never felt any threat that someone would finally get tired of taking orders from her and attempt to harm her, but it was just an instinct that she trusted.

Seven had remained attentive to the captain, although that was not out of the ordinary, but kept the appropriate amount of distance between them the entire evening. Certainly, the captain in Janeway was thankful that Seven understood that she had to remain somewhat distant from her crew in social gatherings, but the woman in her wished that she could say to hell with her rank and wrap her arms around Seven as they sat with their friends that just happened to work underneath her, every day of her life. It was a tight rope to walk, but Janeway was happy with how things were progressing. Of course, she knew that there would be some speculation due to the moving and utterly loving song Seven sang to the captain, but she also knew that there was speculation regarding her 'interests' in probably half a dozen crewmembers. It was just part of the job, she assumed, and sometimes she even found it quite humorous. And Janeway was well aware that the commander was taking this opportunity to prove to the crew that Janeway didn't have him wrapped around her little finger, and even though she wasn't certain she approved of how blatantly he was flaunting it, she couldn't really hold it against him.

Janeway was fairly caught up in her own mind when she felt Seven press against her side and whisper, mercilessly teasing her senses, "Excuse me, Kathryn. It is time for Naomi Wildman to regenerate and she wishes me to accompany her to her quarters."

Suddenly very aware of the beautiful blonde's bosom practically being thrust into her face, Janeway said after taking a split second to admire the ample view, "Yes, of course," and scooted out so Seven and Naomi could stand up.

After saying goodbye to Naomi and Samantha, and watching the three fair-haired females exit the large doors of the holodeck, Janeway started to sit down, but was stopped by her Chief Engineer's insistent hand on her elbow.

Torres grabbed the captain, and stated, "Now that the kid's gone, it's time to really get this party started." Then yelling over to Chakotay who was over by the jukebox, to turn the music back up and play a certain selection, she asked, holding her hand out to Kathryn, "Captain, come on?let's show'em how it's really supposed to be done."

Kathryn and B'Elanna had danced on several occasions, so she knew that the Klingon could back up her words without a problem, although the tone in her voice was definitely different. There was almost a hint of flirtation, but then Janeway shrugged it off, assuming it was just the sexy black dress the woman was wearing tonight, that the captain couldn't help herself from admiring, especially since it was such an anomaly. She held up her finger to signal just a moment as she downed the rest of her champagne, then taking Torres' hand she let the brunette lead her to the empty dance floor as a song she didn't know began to play. Normally Janeway and Torres took turns leading; the captain leading on the slower more graceful Waltz and other ballroom types of dances, and the strong, and quite saucy at times engineer leading to faster Swing and Latin songs. This song was neither. Janeway could tell immediately that it was technically classified as rock and she also noted that there was a definite sexiness that came with the pulsing beat. A little nonplussed, Janeway asked, quickly, "Whose turn is this time? I don't remember?it's been a while..."

"It's yours, but this one's much more my style," B'Elanna said, taking the captain's hand in hers and urging her toward her firm body. Then not feeling quite right she yelled out to Chakotay who was taking to a young geologist, covering the captain's ear with her hand, "Start it again, Chakotay! We missed the beginning."

The commander did just that, and before the song, Brave and Crazy, by Melissa Etheridge began, B'Elanna pulled the captain in again, putting her hand on Janeway's narrow right hip instead of the small of her back so she could help the captain find the rhythm she knew they would. Thankfully, the captain didn't flinch, much, at the touch and allowed her engineer to push her hips back and forth into an almost salsa-like movement, that had more than a few erotic undertones as the first verse began. When Kathryn took her eyes off of B'Elanna's feet and hips once she picked up the step, and moved them to her face, then forced herself to not become rigid. Suddenly Janeway felt very much like her engineer was coming on to her. Ordinarily an anxious moment under normal circumstances for a woman of Kathryn's position, although not completely unwelcome, but with her new budding relationship with Seven, she felt very much like she should fake a cramp in her leg, or something. However, before she could do anything, B'Elanna spun her around quickly, the song not leaving much time for anything, then pulled her right up into her chest, put her hand on the small of her back and whispered, "Relax, I won't do anything to embarrass you."

"Are you sure about that?" Kathryn asked, seriously but softly. There were several things concerning the captain at this moment. One, of course, she was worried of what Seven of Nine would think if she came in and saw this display. Would she understand that it was just a dance, at least to Kathryn? There was also the fact that Janeway was aware that her engineer and her pilot hadn't been getting along too well these last few months. Thirdly, and most importantly, she had sensed in the recent past that B'Elanna had been building up the gumption to ask her to dinner or something of that nature, although in the last month, she hadn't seen much of her at all. In fact, Janeway had been surprised B'Elanna hadn't done so, up until the last month when the B'Elanna practically fell of the ship, so to speak. Janeway knew that Torres wasn't the type of woman to back down from a challenge, but Janeway also knew that even though sometimes they had their differences in the beginning, Torres had a great respect for the captain, more than most, she believed. If it weren't for Seven, Janeway wasn't all that certain that she could resist the exotic woman who was holding her close and leading her around the dance floor with a good deal of skill. But now that Seven was in the picture, she couldn't even begin to entertain the notion. Seven held a large place in the captain's heart for many different reasons and she knew she couldn't let herself be the woman she was inside completely with anyone but her Astrometrics officer.

"Permission to speak freely, Captain," B'Elanna asked quietly, moving them quickly in small sensual circles around the floor as the music picked up.

The captain readied herself and allowed the frankness to proceed, knowing that if there was going to be something to discuss, it was better to do it now before things got more complicated. "Say what's on your mind, Lanna," Janeway said, using her own person nickname for the engineer, hoping that would allow her to speak honestly.

"You're an extraordinary woman, Kathryn Janeway," B'Elanna said, pulling the captain in very close and slowing their dance so she could speak easier, "I just want one more dance with you before Seven comes in here and sweeps you off your feet for the rest of your life. Can you just accept that I have no other intentions?I swear it on my honor."

Kathryn couldn't bring herself to look at the brunette, but she did allow herself to relax into B'Elanna's arms, silently telling her friend that she could understand and accept that, wholeheartedly. And Kathryn knew that she really couldn't hold it against B'Elanna. How many times had she, a little selfishly herself, danced closely, sometimes longingly with her Chief of Engineering just to feel close to someone again, if only for a few moments? Honestly, more times than she cared to admit to herself. When she felt B'Elanna chuckle against her chest, she smiled and allowed herself to dance freely and let her body be practically put on display by B'Elanna's strong, but gentle arms and hands the last few minutes of the song, knowing that several of the crew, most of them male, were definitely enjoying this event. When Torres pulled away a little and started to sing to the song, smiling grandly, Janeway threw her head back in laughter, fully enjoying herself again. The captain really adored the woman's brazen ways sometimes, most because she could never be as bold as B'Elanna in this type of setting.

Cool as a rule...
I wouldn't play nobody's fool but I keep on talking...
I'm made in the shade...I have a perfect cue to fade
But I keep on walking, baby, baby
I keep on walking...

If I could have my way I'd check out right now
I said out to lunch, honey thanks a bunch
It wouldn't work out anyhow...

During the rest of the song they danced apart and mostly laughed at B'Elanna's rockstar antics, but just before the song ended, B'Elanna pulled Janeway in close and whispered, "Thank you?and I know I'm probably overstepping my bounds here, but I want you to hear this from me as a friend and as an unhappy woman. Don't let what you have with Seven go, ever?you have no idea what you mean to her. I don't even think she understands it totally, but it's special."

Janeway pulled away a little shocked by her engineer. Suddenly, she wanted to hug her and tell her how wonderful a person she was and how much better she deserved than Tom Paris, but she knew that was inappropriate on many levels. Instead, she squeezed her muscular arms and said, "Thank you, Lanna?I don't think I could even if I tried."

"Good," B'Elanna replied, smiling widely, "'cause I'd hate to have to kick your butt, Kathryn." As Janeway laughed and rolled her eyes, she excused herself, "Well, thanks for the dance, Captain?now I've got something I've got to do that can't wait."

Janeway nodded her head and thanked her as well, hoping that she wasn't going to have to call security to Tom Paris' quarters. The party wasn't over yet, but it was definitely winding down, and Tom had still yet to show up. Not to mention that he had completely missed Torres' singing?something she did very well, making up for her less than perfect, but still lovely voice with her heart and passion. That made the captain more angry than the fact that he had ignored her request that all senior officers at least stop by. She was certain that the damage B'Elanna was about to do to his ego was much harsher than any lecture even she could give. As the captain made her way back to the table, she didn't feel the least bit sad for Tom either. It wasn't that Janeway wasn't fond of him, even if he was a little bit of a loose cannon at times, but that fact that he constantly put B'Elanna Torres, the only other person on Voyager Janeway more than once fantasied about other than Seven, on the back burner really pissed her off.

2200 Hours

The only people left in the holodeck were the rest of the senior staff and one or two small groups of stragglers who were huddled in a few of the bar's several dark corners. Seven had returned a few minutes after B'Elanna had made her quick departure and immediately found an open seat next to the captain. and Janeway had to force herself not to put her arm around the bare shoulders of the blonde to her left. Reaching the bottom of her glass, and wanting one more before she headed home since she had switched to whiskey and soda and consistently programmed or ordered the drinks light on the alcohol, or synthehol in this case, she stood up and made her way over to the bar, which a holographic bartender was happily tending. When she felt Seven slide up to her right and touch her shoulder to hers, it took her a second to realize that Seven was utilizing their 'secret code.'

"What is it, darling?" Janeway said softly, so only Seven could hear her.

"Kathryn," Seven whispered back, leaning down a little since she was quite a bit taller than the redhead, "I am becoming restless, and wish to change out of this garment soon."

"That's a same since you look so wonderful in it," Kathryn smirked, "but I understand. If you want to leave, I won't try to stop you?but I was hoping to spend some quiet time with you before I turned in."

"As was I, Kathryn," Seven smiled softly, then continued, "would it be acceptable for me to retire to your quarters and utilize the hydro-setting on your shower while you finish your beverage? There is no shower in my alcove, and I feel the need to remove this 'make-up' from my face immediately."

Janeway had the urge to slam her drink back, grab Seven by the hand and escort her to her quarters to introduce the young woman to the art of showering with a friend, but she thought that was probably moving too fast, so she said, instead, "That's fine. I'll be along in a few minutes, alright?"

"Acceptable," Seven said, then immediately pivoted and made her way back to the table to say her farewells and give her thanks to Chakotay. Then straightening, looking very much like the Seven that Janeway was accustomed to despite the cosmetic changes, she spun again and left without another word, determination in her long, commanding stride.

The captain took her drink back over to the smaller group and leaned against the wall, hoping that would help her from getting wrapped up in a lengthy conversation that would keep her from Seven too long. Just knowing that Seven would soon be shedding her new skin and using her shower in a matter of minutes made Janeway's pulse quicken steadily until she was sipping her drink just trying to calm her raging hormones. After something that seemed like half of an eternity, Janeway set her half-full glass down and said good-bye to each of her remaining staff personally. Just before she was about to exit the holodeck, Chakotay called out to her.

"Oh, Kathryn?wait," he said, getting up and jogging over to her. "I forgot to tell you that due to the celebration, I've had to change the duty roster up a little bit. Unless you have any objections, I was wondering if you wouldn't mind taking tomorrow as an off day instead of the day after. It would make it easier form me to get us all back on the same rotation quicker."

"I don't see a problem, Commander," Janeway replied, shrugging her shoulders. "I'll guess I'll see you when I see you, then?good night."

"You too," he said, waving farewell as he turned and headed back toward the table.

Janeway nodded her head politely and continued on her way as well. She tried to slow her pace knowing that there was a possibility that she might interrupt Seven's shower. Disrobing and jumping into the shower with her wasn't a temptation she was certain she'd be able to resist if faced with the possibility. So, she forced herself to stroll a little aimlessly from the holodeck to the turbolift. Once she stepped off the lift, however, she couldn't keep down her anticipation to just be with Seven alone for the first time in many long hours, so her stride returned to its normal quick and authoritative strut, and within less than a minute she was entering her quarters.

The only lights that were on were coming from the bathroom, and Janeway swallowed the lump in her throat. The shower was not activated, and from the small amount of steam dissipating into the air from the fairly small room, she knew Seven had finished bathing, but that didn't mean she was dressed. The captain locked her legs, demanding that they not make their way to the source of the light, and called out, clearing her throat to announce herself, "Seven?"

"I am here, Kathryn," Seven's clear voice came from beyond the wall, "I will be with you momentarily."

Taking a deep breath, she went over to her couch, and asked, kicking off her shoes with an audible sigh of relief, "Do you feel better now?" Just as Janeway was about to sit, she caught the sight of Seven emerging from the ensuite and she froze, her mouth falling open slightly.

Seven was clothed, but barely. She had donned one of the captain's old, thin cotton robes, and since Seven was quite a bit taller and fuller in the curves department, more of the young woman's body was on display than the captain's would be if she were wearing it. "I am more comfortable now," Seven answered, using a towel to dry her just past her shoulder length hair. Then seeing the captain's reaction, she faltered a little and said, "I neglected to retrieve my biosuit before coming here. Was it inappropriate for me to utilize this garment without your permission?"

Suddenly feeling ridiculously selfish for gawking at Seven's figure, Kathryn blinked and said, quickly, "No, darling?you borrow any old thing of mine you need, besides," she said, sitting down and bringing her palm to her cheek, resting her head, "it looks much better on you."

Flushing some, Seven smiled and sat next to the captain, pulling her into the crook of her arm. "I am glad that you came back without much delay," she said, resting her head on Kathryn's, a position she was beginning to appreciate more and more each time she had the opportunity to do it.

"As much as I love our friends," she said, purposefully using 'our' to show Seven that she was part of the small circle, she continued, "their company isn't half as inviting as yours."

"Agreed," responded Seven. Then taking a deep breath, remembering what B'Elanna had said to her the day before, she asked, "Kathryn, will you turn around so I can see your face?"

Sensing that Seven had something she wanted to say, instantly, she turned, pulling one leg parallel to Seven's while the other dangled off the couch and asked, "What is it, darling?"

Seven took Janeway's had, holding it firmly between both of hers and said, trying to make the older woman understand completely, "Kathryn, I cannot describe the sensations that you cause in me adequately, and I realize that I do not totally understand them, but I wish you to know how I feel. When I am with you, I function better. When I am not with you, my thoughts are of you constantly, and I find myself searching for a reason to contact you. When I please you my chest fills with such?warmth that I feel disoriented. When we disagree, it is most unpleasant. I constantly make note of irrelevant aspects of your individuality, because I find that I like them, even when I do not care about similiar traits I observe in others. I find you intelligent, compassionate, obstinate, humorous, irritating, admirable, strong, charming, stubborn, honorable, desirable?and more than beautiful. I realize that my thoughts are contradictory?however, I believe that is why I love you?because you are unique. You could never be replaced by another."

Janeway's bottom lip was visibly quivering as tears began to form in her eyes. There was so much she wanted to say, to ask to make sure that this was really happening and that it wasn't the worst kind of cruel joke that the universe was throwing her way, yet again, but all she could manage was a scratchy, "You love me, Seven?"

Seven let go of Kathryn's hands and brought hers up to the captain's face, and said with great intensity, "I love you, Kathryn Janeway?with all that I know love is." Then she pulled Kathryn's trembling lips to hers, meeting her half way. The kiss was sweet and loving, nothing more, nothing less. As Seven felt Kathryn's tears reach her lips, tasting their saltiness, she pulled Kathryn across her lap so that the small woman was straddling her. Seven held her close and intensified her kisses, holding nothing back this time. When she felt Kathryn respond, tangling her long fingers into Seven's hair and moaning slightly, Seven gently eased open Janeway's yielding mouth and tasted the remnants of the whiskey on the captain's tongue. Catching more of Janeway's increasing whimpers and humming sounds, she finally broke the kiss, but only for a moment and then returned her lips to Kathryn, but this time she began kissing her neck and whispered, "I love you, Kathryn?I love you."

The attack on the captain's neck, her favorite spot to be kissed, flung open the flood gate's of the woman's long stifled passion, and arching her back into Seven, she hissed, wantonly, "Show me."

Seven returned her lips to Kathryn's that were parted as she gasped for air, and speaking into them she said, matter-of-factly, leaving no question as to what she wanted, "I desire you, Kathryn. I want to know your body as I know your face. I want to see you...and touch you. I want to hear and taste you." When Janeway whimpered again, Seven finished, speaking directly into her ear, and continuing to modify her voice since it seemed that Kathryn enjoyed her whispering, "I want to see you experience my desire tonight."

The not-so-hidden meaning in that set Kathryn's body aflame, and she rose up some, pressing Seven's head back against the cushion of the couch and practically made love to Seven's lips. Then just as she felt herself losing all control, a strange moment of reality hit her and she pulled away, flushed and heaving. "Computer, put a privacy seal on my door and my communicator, signaling that I am only to be disturbed in an emergency, authorization Janeway red, five, alpha, three."

"Computer," Seven stated, cocking her eyebrow, understanding that this was a necessity, but never having utilized this method of privacy before, "engage a privacy seal on my communicator, signaling that I am only to be disturbed in an emergency, authorization Seven of Nine, omega, epsilon, red, seven."

Janeway was too intent on asking Seven the question she had to ask to realize that Seven's authorization equated to Perfection, is the sum of Kathryn, or red, the Borg's favorite color as well as the color of Janeway's hair, and Seven. "Seven," she said, holding the young woman's face in her hands, "you do realize what we are about to do?"

Seven took Janeway's hands from her face, pressed them to her lips, and said, "Although I have no practical experience, I have done significant research on the practice of 'making love,' and I have the knowledge of thousands of species due to my time in the Collective. There is nothing more for me to learn, except what I wish only you to teach me."

"Are you sure, darling? We don't have to do this yet," Kathryn said, completely serious, even though she thought she might not live through the experience of not making love to Seven right now.

Seven eased the captain off of her, then in one quick motion, she stood, picked her up in one swift motion without so much as an explusion of air, and carried her to the bedroom, deeming that the most efficient way to explain to Kathryn just how much she was ready to be taught.

Kathryn yelped, then actually laughed as she was carried to her bedroom, now very pleased that she had made certain that Seven was sure. This was all playing out very similar to the way Kathryn had imagined the night before just prior to falling asleep. Although, she knew that the one big difference was that she was going to have guide Seven along this journey, and not simply be taken as she had fantasized. However, now standing in with her back to her bed facing Seven, she concluded that the reality of getting to express her love and desire for Seven first was just as good?if not better.

The small break in their passion allowed Kathryn to settle herself a little, and as she approached Seven, she didn't have to remind herself to take it slow. Now knowing where they would end up, she had all the time in the world to love Seven like she deserved. Slowly, Kathryn wrapped her arms around Seven's small waist and kissed her starting with just a delicate amount of pressure. She was happy when Seven didn't rush anything, obviously taking direction from the older woman.

After several long moments of only kissing, Kathryn let her hands start to wonder up and down Seven's long, elegant back, caressing both flesh and implant alike. She knew that Seven still maintained several implants, some she had briefly viewed while the Doctor was working on her immediately after Janeway had severed her from the Collective, and she wanted to express to Seven that she loved every part of her?even the harsh reminders of her time with the Borg. They were a part of her, and that meant that they were to be embraced, not ignored. Before she let her hands come to the front of Seven's body in a more intimate embrace, she stepped back, breaking the connection and began unbuttoning her blouse which proved to be more difficult than it normally was because her hands were trembling quite steadily. If Janeway would have allowed herself to think about it, she would have laughed at herself, for suddenly she felt like she was about to make love for the first time all over again. In essence, she was since she had never been with a woman before, or felt this strongly for anyone before, but Janeway firmly believed that man or woman, attraction was attraction and love was love?thus, so was the art of making it. The gender of her partner only meant that there were different logistics involved, nothing more.

Finally freeing herself from the blouse, now only wearing a very thin chemise, she swallowed loudly as she saw Seven reach out for her. The cool mesh from Seven's implant felt like the sweetest music on her scorching skin, as the blonde ran her fingers lightly over the captain's collar bone. Janeway's bosom was aching to be touched, but she did not hurry Seven, content, for now, to let her take as long as she needed every step of the way.

When she saw Seven's eyes fall upon her erect nipples, she held her breath for a moment as Seven dropped her hand to them and lightly ran her fingers over the modest swell of her breasts. When Seven brought her fully human hand up to the other one, and palmed them both, the captain bit her bottom lip, letting her head roll back some. Seven's touch was so soft and tender, Janeway felt as though she was being caressed by a gentle current of water rather than a hand. Then sensing that Seven was starting to feel uncertain, she brought her hands up to Seven's chest and slowly ran her palms over the much larger swell of the blonde's bosom. Feeling the nipples respond immediately throught the thin garment, she leaned forward to kiss Seven on the mouth as she increased the intensity of her fondling. Seven's mouth immediately responded back, turning the kiss into a deep, sensual oral dance.

The passion now increasing exponentially, Janeway reached down, still kissing Seven and started to pull the slip from her pants. Seven's hands were still on her breasts, kneading them with consistent pressure, so when she felt Kathryn trying to disrobe, she moved her hands away to assist her. In a quick, yanking move, the chemise was off the Kathryn's head and flying somewhere to the other side of the room.

Seven's hands immediately went back to Kathryn's now burdened free skin, and continued her exploration, careful to not damage the sensitive tissue with the mesh of the left hand. The older woman wanted desperately to remove Seven's robe and repeat the favor she was being paid, but she knew that Seven didn't have anything else underneath it, and she was determined to allow herself to be undressed fully before the tall blonde. So, she pulled her mouth away again, and demanded in a low, husky voice, "Undress me."

Seven dropped her hands to Kathryn's waist, letting the tips of her human hand tuck between the captain's trousers and her skin, pulling Kathryn forward again into a hot kiss. As she kissed Kathryn until Janeway was seeing stars, she skillfully unbuttoned the pants and pulled them down onto Janeway's slender hips who took it from there and kicked them off. Then the Borg's hands were on her waist again, but before she touched the captain's delicate stockings, she said, "I cannot remove this garment without damaging it. You will have to 'do the honors.'"

"Gladly," the captain replied, smirking, pulling down her panty hose and the thin, lacy pair of underwear she wore underneath them. Not too worried about the material, she stomped them off, and then turning to face Seven again, she suddenly felt extremely self-conscious?not something she had felt in quite a long time. She knew she had kept her body in good shape over the years, but there was no stopping the affects of aging and gravity, and she certainly knew she was no Seven of Nine. In a voice that was much smaller than anything she had heard come from her lips in well over ten years, she asked, "Do you...like what you see?"

"Kathryn," Seven said, sizing up the slight and compact form of the woman before her that suddenly looked a lot smaller without her clothing, "you are beautiful?I cannot describe?you are perfection."

Now feeling really too awkward for a woman of her age and status, she smiled and stepped closer to Seven, saying, "I think you're learning how to exaggerate, darling." Then bringing her hands back to Seven's form, she slowly pushed open the sides of the robe until Seven's heavy but firm chest was finally exposed to the electric air of the captain's bedroom. She reveled in the feel of Seven's baby soft, amazingly pale skin, and how the large nipple pebbled at her lightest touch. She was like the finest silk, the softest cotton...liquid poetry. Kathryn had never been so acutely aware of every single nerve ending in her long fingers that felt like sandpaper next so Seven's body. Just grazing her flesh was enough to set her own body aflame with the most intense, wonderfully unmerciful passion she could remember experiencing. Then feeling like it was time to escalate this encounter to the next level, before she either climaxed just from anticipation and want, or collapsed to her knees, she leaned in and began kissing the base of Seven's throat. Working her way down, liberally lapping at Seven's almost perfect skin all the way down her chest, Janeway couldn't contain her need to taste Seven. When she finally reached her round, rosy nipples, the captain smiled at the stiff bud before she took it in her salivating mouth, letting her tongue roll it around slowly.

Seven was now pinned against the wall, leaning on Kathryn's shoulders heavily as the captain began to suck and then softly bite one nipple while she massaged the other between her thumb and first fingers. When she moved her head to the other breast to lavish it with her tongue and teeth as well, she brought her hands down to the knot that was holding Seven's robe together and easily untied it. Then pushing the robe away from the younger woman's body and letting it fall to the floor, she opened her eyes, that she hadn't realized she'd closed, and took a step back.

Seven's hands immediately went to her torso to try and hide what her abdominal implant that looked somewhat similar to a metal corset, but Janeway quickly took her hands in hers and opened her arms, smiling brightly and saying, "Seven of Nine, Annika Hansen, you are the most beautiful being I think I will ever lay my eyes on?even if I live a hundred lifetimes."

"But I have many imperfections?" Seven said, looking down at the metal bars that framed her ribs and the impossibly white scar tissue that surrounded them.

"Shhh," Janeway hushed, putting her finger to Seven's lips, "you're just going to have to trust me on this one."

"There is no one I trust more, Kathryn," Seven said with absolute sincerity.

"Good, Seven, because there is no one I trust more than you," the captain said, finally letting those words fall from her lips. Then with that, she returned to Seven's arms and kissed her passionately, needing to show Seven just how much she meant everything she just said. As she kissed her she pressed her own body wantonly against the Borg's soft chest, moaning at the contact of flesh to flesh. The feeling quaked the other woman with the force of a hundred stars colliding. It was softer than anything she'd ever know, hotter than anything she ever imaginined and so completely addicting she was certain she could sustain herself forever just on this feeling of their bodies molded together. Overcome with sensations she'd never felt before, Kathryn let her hands roam freely, needing to embrace every inch of Seven's form, while she moved her kisses back to the Borg's neck. When she let her crackling hands move to Seven's thighs, she felt them tremble beneath her burning skin, so she pulled her lover away from the wall and guided her to lie down. Kathryn never broke the contact as they reclined and when she settled on top of Seven, she felt like she had just come home from the most incredibly long journey.

Now that they were reclined, Seven's muscles had relaxed some, so she continued her caresses, pushing herself into Seven's body. When her lover's legs parted of their own accord, Janeway pressed her thigh softly to the juncture, preparing herself for anything: questions, discussions, crying, screaming, she really didn't know what to expect?that was one reason Kathryn cherished Seven so. She never knew what to expect and she was rarely not surprised. When Seven didn't protest and urged her to continue, which pleased her immensely, she increased the tentative pressure of her leg to find a very damp center waiting for her.

Seven whimpered a little, and Janeway eased up, asking, softly, "Is this too fast? Do you want me to stop?"

"Do not stop," Seven replied, her eyes flying open.

"Alright, love, but you must promise to tell me if you feel uncomfortable and want me to stop," Kathryn said, slowly easing back into Seven's wetness with her thigh.

Shaking her head affirmatively, Seven mumbled, "I will?com...ply," before her head lulled back again and her eyes closed.

That reaction was all Kathryn needed to let herself go and she did not disappoint. With renewed confidence, she kissed Seven's neck and ear lobes, delighting in the sound of Seven's soft gasps of air. She was so wonderful, perfect, strong, delicate...amazing. And Kathryn's desire flowed and ebbed with each cosmic collision of her lips to Seven. Riding on the tail of a comet, she moved down again to the beautiful full breasts, devouring their tips hungrily. Just when she worried she was being too aggressive, she felt Seven's hands come to her head, urging her on again. And on she went and on...she would, could never stop now. On to the next breast, giving it equal measures of pleasure and torture...this was right, this was so good...why did she ever doubt; why did she ever fight?

Once she felt Seven's hips begin to press harder and rhythmically into her thigh, she let her kisses trail to the pale blonde's rib cage, taking a moment to kiss the scar tissue softly, trying to somehow make up for all that the Borg had taken from this wonderful creature. She wanted it all gone...all the hurt, the pain...everything...she would never stop until it was no more... and then she would go on loving her...there would be no stopping her.

And again Kathryn's soul ignited. This passion, this desire was cataclysmic but not uncontrollable. Her need to make love to Seven was a placid, patient fury that consumed her essence. She would go on and on, never stopping...there was life and death, truth and peace, everlasting sanctity in this balance of carnal need and devine desire. And she went on...moved down further and kissed the upper edge of Seven's golden thatch of hair that rested just above the juncture of her long, muscled legs, sensing the presence of her salvation, and Seven's apotheosis so near...she could feel and see it through lidded eyes...she would experience it through her body.

When Seven let out a quiet, "Please, Kathryn." Janeway went on...this was so right... so perfect... this was what it was like to live...to be...to pray and believe...what it was like to love. And Kathryn would love her...she would never stop, could never stop...and she went on and eased her whole body down between Seven's legs that parted for her willingly, achingly, longingly...this was so good, so right...it was the purest magic in the universe, and with no trepidation, she reached out and softly caressed the center of her universe with her hand. Seven's hips bucked slightly, put Kathryn held her steady and firm...she was a captain, she was a scientist, she was a woman in love...she was so small in the universe, but yet, she held it in her hand. And Kathryn went on...applied more pressure, allowed her finger to ease past the silky folds of and dipped in to the well...there was so much moisture there...there was no end to love.

Seven moaned her name...her name was the lifeblood of this goddess...and the woman's name she said over and over again...like a phantom watching in the window, beckoning to be cherished without fear...and Seven urged her lover on. And Kathryn went on...there would be no stopping her...this was so good. With her mouth, she loved her firmly, sweetly...blissfully she found reason in pain, for what she had gained.

Seven responded instantly to Kathryn's mouth embracing her, thrashing her arms about, desperate in need of an anchor...but there was none except Kathryn yearning tongue that lavished her ...so she centered on the pleasure and eased into the warmth and comfort...the frenzied sparks... it was witchcraft...heavenly voodoo...and it made her crazy...and she had to have more.

And Kathryn went on...there would be no stopping her...she would touch and taste every inch of Seven's body...it was so good...it was perfection. Seven's essence was mild, hot...tasteless...devine. And Janeway continued...she feasted on Seven's body, and knew she was a narcotic. She was pristine...she was sweetly toxic like some kind of benign heroin. The effects were immediate and she could feel the high coursing through her viens...there would be no stopping her. And Kathryn went on... though connected were their souls, she needed to be one with her...and she brought her hand up to Seven's torso and the young woman immediately grabbed a hold of it with her human hand. It was electric and they were grounded but still on fire.

And Kathryn went on against Seven's driving hips and small pleas...this was so good...it was nothing like she imagined and everything she dreamed. And Seven's body began to build and center on Kathryn's mouth...there would be no stopping her. Love and joy were pleaded and begot...there was no stopping her...and Seven arched...she flushed and heaved...she spoke the name of her life giver...and she was there...and Kathryn believed in everything.

Immediately, Janeway was near Seven, kissing her cheeks softly but insistently...telling her that she was here with her and that she loved her and to just let it all flow through her like a wave and the body beneath her shuddered, trembled and then in perfect love and trust came back to herself.

With Kathryn's words, Seven's mind was whisked from the farthest reaches of the universe back to the little speck in this galaxy she knew as home. Quickly, she opened her eyes and smiled. "You love me, Kathryn?"

"Yes, darling?I love you?I love you with all that I know love is," Kathryn answered honestly, smiling.

Seven kissed Kathryn on the lips fiercely...then pulled back and stated, "I must make a request, Captain."

A little shocked, but not turned off by the use of her rank, she said, "Yes, Seven?" trying to imagine what in god's name Seven needed from the captain at this minute.

"This ship's databases do not adequately prepare one for the actual experience of 'making love.' I request that more information be added to further enlighten any other Borg drones you choose to sever from the Collective," Seven stated, clearly joking but informing her lover that the experience was pleasurable in only a way Seven of Nine could do.

Kissing Seven, laughing, she said, "They never do?but the captain will take your request under advisement."

"Acceptable," Seven said, turning her attention back to Janeway's lips. As she kissed her captain, friend, mentor, and now lover, again, she brought her thigh up to Janeway's body, realizing that the woman on top of her was beginning to breath quite heavily. Seven noted all the usual signs of heightened arousal, and when she felt the slick moisture spread across her thigh, she knew that the captain needed to be tended to soon. Although, as she had stated, her previous experience left her with less confidence in the research she had done, thus, she said, "Kathryn, I wish to 'make love' to you now, but I feel as though I will require your guidance."

"Mmm," Janeway said, her need now urgent and demanding...there would be no stopping it... pressing her body into Seven's firm thigh, her hips immediately beginning to contact and release on their own, "I'll teach you everything you need to know, darling?just please, do it now," Janeway said, rocking steadily against Seven, and kissing her neck where her face fell naturally.

"Acceptable," Seven said, rolling over and pinning the compact woman beneath her, but keeping a significant amount of her weight off of her, for fear that she would crush the small woman.

Since Janeway had already once bore the full weight of the Borg, and knew she could take it, at least for a little while, so she urged her down on top of her purring, "I'll let you know if it becomes too much." Then kissed her fiercely, taking Seven's tongue into her mouth and then sucking on her bottom lip, devouring its softness with desperation. Kathryn's body was her vessel...the gateway to her mind and soul...it had been so neglected...tossed aside out of fear and determination...not to feel, not to need, and there would be no stopping her now...

Seven pulled her face away from the captain's and began kissing and softly nibbling and licking her neck. The responses this brought about in the woman beneath her recharged Seven's confidence some, so she began to move down to the captain's breasts, but keeping her left leg firmly pressed against the captain's slowly gyrating hips. Kathryn's breasts were much smaller than hers, which told Seven that they were more sensitive, and as she began to repeat what Janeway had done to her, the captain grasped her head tightly and began moaning audibly.

When Seven moved to her other breast and took the taught nipple between her teeth, tugging on it firmly, but not enough to cause pain, Kathryn arched into the kiss, and moaned, "Yes, darling?mmm?that's so good." It was so good...so right...and her passion did not ebb this time... there was heat like the sun that scortched her skin...cool, powerful steel pressed into her firmly, holding her in this place...driving her on...and she would go on...she wouldn't stop it...she wouldn't fight it. She believed in faith.

Seven smiled but didn't stop loving her as Janeway continued to guide her with her words and her small, dynamic body...and her soul seeped through her pours. The sound of Kathryn's smoky voice during normal conversation was enough to cause the hairs on the nape of Seven's neck to stand up, but the sounds she was making now were igniting the arousal in her own body again...it was difficult to describe...she felt order admist choas...she felt like the most blessed of creatures to be near this extraordinary human female. There was strength in emotions, she knew now...there was no weakness...only power and peace. Perfection.

Within minutes, Janeway was grinding her hips into Seven's leg harder, and increasing the volume of her cries, until finally, she cupped Seven's head, looked her straight in the eye and said, "Seven, I can't wait any longer?it's been so long?please, please put your hand where your leg is." There would be no stopping her...no looking back. She was captain.

Seven moved up back to Janeway's head, now resting somewhat on her side, and began kissing her neck as she dipped her fully flesh hand into Janeway's parted legs, that were bent at the knee. With curious instinct, she spread the warm, silky moisture around the sensitive area, amazed at how much moisture Kathryn was producing. When she pressed her entire hand to Kathryn's body, allowing her middle finger to slip past the soft folds of skin, Kathryn's hips surge up off the bed and she called out as she skidded over her inflamed pressure point. Seven was spinning...spinning now out of control, but utterly frozen at the sight before her. There was so much to remember...so much to forget...so much to learn. This was not assimilation...this was humanity...the Borg knew so little about greatness.

Grabbing onto Seven's back, trying not to claw her with her medium length but potentially lethal nails, she pleaded, "Ohgod?yes, Seven?please, don't stop?that's so good, darling."

"I will never stop loving you, my Kathryn," Seven vowed kissing her firmly on the lips and stifling the older woman's cries for a moment, then letting her go so she could continue to gasp for air and make all those wonderful sounds Seven loved to hear, she asked, "Tell me what you want?tell me how to love you like you need to be loved." She would learn...she would gain knowledge through experience and love...through the life this woman had returned to her. There would be no stopping her...she would not, could not let go now. No fear, no pain would stop her from this destiny, from loving this woman. She would learn everything she needed to know to love and support Kathryn and everything else was irrelevant.

"Darling," Janeway cried, clutching on tight, "I need you inside of me now?please put your fingers inside."

The tall blonde, eager to learn to know...to be what her lover needed...exactly how she wanted her to be, asked as she began circling the wellspring of all the older woman's copious moisture, feeling the tightness before she had ever entered, "How many do you require?"

"Two," Kathryn answered,"just two," pressing her hips into Seven's hand. Her body was burning now...burning and needed to be cooled, but it was so right. This agony was good...it was so amazing.

Easily, Seven was able to slip two fingers into the intense heat of Kathryn's body. Immediately, she felt the inner muscles clamp down on her fingers, pulling her in deeper...and she was amazed at the power of love. Slowly, so slowly she pressed her long fingers into Kathryn as far as she could, and she felt lightning and passion zip through her own body, colliding at her groin, as Kathryn moaned and latched one arm onto the bedding before she began thrashing about. And she saw the power of love...her steel felt meek next to the flesh in her palm, but it didn't pain her...because now she understood. Finally, she realized why this woman had stayed by her, gone after her, and comforted her again and again...because she had known Seven would one day understand the difference between life and living.

"Ohgod?yes?yes, darling?mmm?right there," Kathryn gasped, eyes closed and head pressed back as far as it would go into the pillow. It was so good...god, it was right...why did she ever fight this? Why did she want to? There would be no stopping her now...she would go on and not look back...it was too good.

When Seven began rotating her fingers to see what kind of response that would get, Kathryn's hips surged off the bed again and then pressed against her hand. This was good, she knew...she felt, so she continued to twist her flexing fingers until she heard Kathryn's cries become an abyss of need... there was such an urgent need to be loved...to be set free...to be alive again. And Seven went on as well... loving Kathryn with the devotion Kathryn had loved her. There would be no stopping them now.

"Ohgodyes, Seven?right there?mmmmthatssogood," Kathryn trembled, her voice losing it's usual pure tones. There...she felt it, just then as Seven caressed her sensitive skin deeper and flicked her thumb across her snapping nerve-center...the walls, all those walls she had built...the sound was thunderous as they swayed, fractured, and then fell away. "Ohgod?mmm?don't stop?don't stop, Seven?ohSeven, pleasegod...Seven, Seven, ohSeven!"

In her final plea, Kathryn's entire body tightened and shook with a silent godlike fury for several seconds as she dangled at the edge, and with a heartpounding sigh, she was realeased from her cacoon, and she soared...flew like an eagle off the edge of the cliff she hadn't been to in almost six years with another person. And she floated, and glided, skidding across currents of cool air... felt the wind in her hair, saw the sun her eyes, and knew everything about nothing. When she finally came in for a landing, her body, flesh and bone...heart, mind and soul, could only collapse under the blissful weight of Seven of Nine.

For several seconds nothing was said, and it wasn't until Seven saw tears starting to form underneath Kathryn's closed eyes that she finally spoke. "My Kathryn, I am with you." When the captain threw her hand over her eyes trying futilely to stop the tears that needed to fall, Seven moved fully off to the side of her emotionally overwrought lover, slid her arm under Kathryn's shoulders and pulled her into her chest.

Kathryn instantly buried her head in Seven's chest and began to sob uncontrollably. Kathryn cried for every reason there had ever been for her to cry, and for no reason at all. She was so overcome that she couldn't even figure out why she was weeping, but she couldn't stop. And she continued to cry...there would be no stopping her...until her body was spent and there were no more tears left to be shed. After that, she just shuddered every few seconds until that died off too, all the while Seven held her close, rubbed her back, kissed her head, but did not say a word, knowing that there was nothing she could say.

Seven understood, but did not truly know what an immense burden Janeway had on her shoulders every single second of every minute of every hour of every day that she remained aboard this ship stranded in the Delta Quadrant. There was also the fact that Kathryn Janeway too was human, even if she had to be larger than life, and missed her family and friends just as much as everyone else?and through all that time, she had suffered utterly alone. Seven knew what it was like to be alone, but she did not know what it was like to be alone in a place where she knew and understood everything that was happening around her and had to be emotionally connected, yet inhumanly distant at the same time. At that moment, Seven vowed that she would never, ever let Janeway feel alone again, and because of that, she knew she never again would feel it either.

After close to a half an hour later, Janeway had finally grown still, and just when Seven thought she was asleep, the captain surged up and kissed her fiercely on the mouth telling her how much she loved her, how much she trusted her, how much she needed her, and how precious she was. Seven kissed her back, but merely accepted the kisses knowing the captain wished to be the giver not the receiver. Then after a few more moments of 'how much's' Janeway pulled away and said, "You are the most extraordinary thing, Seven of Nine, Annika Hansen. Thank you for loving me."

"And you are perfection, my beautiful Kathryn. You need not thank me for loving you, but you are welcome nonetheless. I do this because I wish to and because even if I wanted to, I do not believe I could stop," answered Seven.

"And you're such a sweet talker," Janeway purred, reaching over her shoulder, grabbing the edge of her comforter and throwing it over their cooling bodies. Then settling down into Seven's arms, she finally felt her first moment of true peace in more years than she cared to admit. Just knowing that she didn't have to face each day alone was enough to take at least a kiloton or two of the weight from her shoulders. Of course, there was still plenty more bolted firmly to them, but she was thankful for what had just crumbled away thanks to the very capable hands of a solitary ex-Borg drone.

1000 Hours

Captain's Log: Personal
Stardate: 50326.8
Subject: Salvation

[Begin recording?]

"I'm very tempted to delete my last log entry entitled "Crazy", but being as that life is a learning experience, I've decided to keep it as proof that there are some things that even a starship captain doesn't know a damn thing about.

Listening to it just prior to this recording honestly makes me cringe. I had no idea I could be that self-delusional?I guess, that's just something I'll have to work through on my own since we don't have an official ship's counselor, and it's definitely something I don't want to share with Chakotay, although I'm sure he'd probably agree with me. Mmmhmm, yes...I'm sure...

But I suppose that all doesn't really matter anymore now that I've finally come to my senses and allowed love to just happen. And its something now I feel like I've been fighting for many months?and now with that battle over, I can't honestly understand why I didn't surrender much sooner? It just seems so right to me?I don't know how I ever felt that it was wrong? I don't know...maybe the timing was just wrong before?

Seven and I had dinner last night in the Mess Hall and despite my fears, and there were several, of the crew finding my choice of a mate or the fact that I even have one, deplorable, we had a lovely time. Of course we were watched every now and again, but not any more than any other new couple aboard such a small ship, and by the end of the meal, we were talking, smiling, and laughing?okay, mostly I was laughing, openly without trepidation. I've actually received three personal communiqués from members of my crew congratulating me for 'finally seeing what the rest of us saw,' as they put it, and wishing Seven and me the best of luck and happiness. You know, six years ago this type of letter would have left me quite uneasy, but now, after all we've been through, I cherish each one of them for they are all I may ever know again of family.

Then afterward, I'm slightly embarrassed to say that we made love again, something that I, personally, have never done as often, with anyone, as often as Seven and I have in the last forty-eight hours?and most of it has been of my instigation. Of course, she's a willing participant, but I can't seem to get enough of her. Maybe I'm just making up for six years without any intimate contact? Although, I don't really think that is it. I?I just love her so much?I feel as though if I don't touch her as often as I can, I'll never have enough time in my life to express my feelings. And, I admit?there's the fact that she really is the most incredible lover?and her kisses?well, let me just say that when she kisses me, by god, I know I've been kissed.

On a different note, I'm pleased to say that Seven and B'Elanna seem to have gotten over their initial irritation of each other and have bonded on some level that I'm not quiet sure I understand yet, but it really is none of my business. I'm not sure how long it will last, but I hope it does. I truly enjoy Lanna's company and now that she has finally ended her relationship with Tom Paris, I think she's going to need some support?and frankly, some people to tell her how wonderful and important she is. Since I'm not able to see her as often, I hope that she and Seven will continue to find their niche and become friends?not to mention it will make my job a lot easier knowing that my two finest female officer's aren't trying to rip each other apart. Plus, I think Lanna might just be the right person to teach Seven how to really let her hair down and have some fun?because goodness knows I still have to maintain some seriousness as the captain of this vessel.

The only wish I have out of all of this is that one day soon I'll be able to take the woman I love home to my family, so that they can come to know and cherish the miraculous and extraordinary being who is my salvation."

[End recording?]

fin