A Day in the Life
 

The sleepy and distant bluish grey eyes of Captain Kathryn Janeway flew open the instant she felt her body falling.

However, it was too late for her to do much of anything about stopping her descent except hold one arm out in front of her as the floor to her bedroom came rushing into view, and with a rather loud umph, for the first time in her life, the forty-one year old commanding officer of the Federation starship Voyager was kicked out of bed by a lover.

Greeting the floor kinder than it welcomed her elbow and hipbone, the redhead held back a scathing curse for the abrupt and unfriendly wake-up call as she rolled onto her back, as naked as the day she was born. She did, however, allow a slight groan after the impact as her petite and narrow frame registered the pain inflicted since there wasn't much in the way of padding anywhere on her body. "Quite unfortunately so," she thought acidly at this moment in time, knowing full and well she was going to develop one hell of an ugly bruise on her hip from that little maneuver. She'd never been kicked out of bed before, but she'd been tossed to the floor during a space fracas enough times during her tenure in the Delta Quadrant to predict such an event.

As the distant light of the sun, that warmed the planet they were currently orbiting, softly illuminated the otherwise darken depths of her quarters, Janeway pushed herself up into a sitting position. Then frowning, which was clear, even in the dim light, her vision turned to her disheveled bed; it seemed that not only had she been ejected, but that neither of her lovers had awoken for the event to apologize, or at least make note of it?not to mention rearrange their positions so she could return to sleep as they were so comfortably doing.

Since Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct to Unimatrix 01, the ship's partially cybernetic Astrometrics officer, never slept in the middle, Kathryn didn't have to spy the bed, or try to recall who'd ended up in the center after the threesome's love making to know that Chief Engineer, Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres, Klingon warrior?even in sleep?was the kicking culprit. When the soft, but steady sound of Torres' snoring was detected from where the tanned brunette slept balled fairly tightly, but lengthwise across the bed with her head down by Seven's waist, where the former drone slept peacefully, "and still," on her back with her hands folded on her stomach, Kathryn sighed, then shook her head and couldn't help but chuckle soundlessly at the sight before her. The fact that she was sitting on her floor, "butt ass naked," with her almost shoulder length hair tossed haphazardly about and various bodily fluids gelled to her body from the evening's previous activities was also helping to lighten her mood a bit, since for some reason, she believed she was the only Starfleet captain in the galaxy that had or would ever end up in such a position.

That just seemed like the Janeway?way?well, the Kathryn Janeway way. She was certain her late father, Admiral Edward Janeway, had never been tossed to the floor in his birthday suit by his wife while aboard his starship. Maybe that was because Gretchen Janeway never accompanied him during his various tours of duty, but Kathryn had a feeling that even if she had, he still wouldn't have ever presented himself in such a manner. It just wasn't at all captain-like, and in this captain's eyes, her father was the epitome of protocol?and dignity.

Pushing herself to her feet and quickly glancing out the window at their sister vessel, the Alaxiat, out of habit as she circled the same planet, able to see the ship on the other side since they were in orbit around the upper edge of the sphere so that they could easily beam personnel to and from the vessels, Janeway placed her hands on her hips as she looked down at the bed. Trying to decided whether or not to even attempt to get B'Elanna to wake up and move, but knowing that that was no guarantee she wouldn't just get launched out of the apparatus again when Torres returned to her sometimes fitful sleep, Kathryn waved her hand at her lovers and shook her head, deciding to not try it and to just leave them be. Then carefully, she pulled the rumbled sheet at the base of the bed over as much of their bodies as she could without covering B'Elanna's head. Next, the captain migrated to the lounger that sat parallel to the wall at the foot of the bed and snatched up the silk robe that matched her nightgown. Walking silently about the general area, Janeway picked up the various sleepwear that had been shed last night when after they'd all gone to bed, their kisses goodnight turned into nearly three hours of various ways to say 'I love you.'

Tooling off to her closet, she neatly folded Seven's things and set them on the blonde's side of the shelf, which resided on the back half, before she did the same with Torres', but sat them on top of her cedar trunk since the engineer didn't reside in the captain's quarters as Seven of Nine did. Then taking her nightgown back to the bathroom and hanging it on the hook where she kept it, Janeway took the opportunity to use the facilities before she decided whether or not she was too awake now to attempt to go back to sleep, since often times, it was better for her to get less sleep than try to go back to sleep considering that often left her groggy and cranky the next morning. And as most people knew, including herself, it was never a good day aboard Voyager when the captain was cranky.

After querying the computer as to the time to find out that it was close to 0500 hours, the captain decided that was far too late to even attempt to return to bed, even though that meant she would be operating on less than four hours of sleep on what looked to be a rather busy day already, and as Kathryn Janeway well knew, she could never tell in the Delta Quadrant when the universe would decide to throw a curve ball her way and test her mettle. However, Janeway was a woman over forty years old, and she'd been a captain for well over a decade, thus she knew what her body could and could not handle typically, and even though she preferred to get five hours of sleep, she was aware that four would suffice since she'd operated before on much, much less.

Sleeplessness was a very familiar pastime to the intrepid female, and considering some of the things happening currently and in the near future of her existence, she didn't see that being remedied any time soon. "Quite unfortunately so," she thought again while she strolled from the ensuite to the living room as she felt the dull, almost constant ache of her neck and shoulder region fire to life and begin its day as well.

Opening the door that separated the living room and the bedroom, Janeway stepped through it, but didn't bothering to reseal it; both of her lovers were heavy sleepers, so she wasn't concerned her moving about would wake them. Immediately moving from there to the replicator, deciding to start her day in her home office, figuring she could find more than enough things to keep her occupied until Torres and Seven awoke, hoping to share a shower with them since they so rarely had time to all be together, Janeway requested in a scratchy, grave voice as she stopped in front of the device mounted to the wall, "Coffee?black."

When the replicator beeped and informed her that it either didn't understand the request, or was malfunctioning?again, the sound like nails on a chalkboard to the woman since every time she heard the unmistakable series of beeps she always had to bite her tongue to keep a handful of vulgarities from flying off her articulate tongue, Kathryn cleared her throat and commanded crisply, although quiet, "B'Elanna's asleep and all I've got is a phaser in the other room?so I'm only going to say this one more time?coffee?black?now."

Apparently, the replicator was feeling gracious this morning, or sympathetic to the woman who would talk and threaten an inanimate object, because there were no further delays.

"If only the rest was so easy," Kathryn mumbled as she snatched up the tall, stainless steel mug and brought its rich and steaming contents to her lips immediately. The captain took a small series of sips as she used her other hand to rub the stiffness in her neck while she pivoted smoothly and made the short trip back to her desk, stopping just for a moment to admire the contents of Seven of Nine's desk as she was in the habit of doing?when time allowed for the indulgence. First smirking at the picture of she and B'Elanna that sat in one corner, Janeway easily recalled the day it had been taken and how cute Torres had been as she tried to keep herself from cursing in the presence of a child since Kathryn had caught her in the middle of getting messy and wouldn't allow her to wash up before the photo was taken. Unbidden, her mouth took a more downward?not unhappy, more introspective?turn as her line of sight migrated and she gazed into the crystalline Tomorrow Sphere from behind the protective stasis field that kept its perfection safe from harm?and the antics of fire devil captains.

As her mind was pulled into recollection again, the captain slid into Seven's chair instead of hers as she continued to look into the translucent crystal deeply, then finally shook her head in confusion and uncertainty as she whispered to no one in particular while she rose and migrated to her own seat, "Telepaths and riddles?that's all I need right now." While she sat back down and logged onto her workstation as she sipped her coffee, Kathryn's gaze was once again summoned toward the Tomorrow Sphere as the merchant's words to her continued to dance across her mind, and truth be known, this wasn't the first time since they'd returned from Burnhouse that the captain had come to a rest next to the sphere and pondered the grungy man and his prophecies.

The first time had been just recently when she'd made the call, and taken Seven's advice, to not stop to investigate a possible wormhole and continue on out of enemy territory. When she'd first been informed that scans had detected the anomaly, the captain hadn't honestly been surprised after she took a moment to think about it because she figured it fit the bill for one of her 'tests' just as well as anything ever had, including the moment in the elevator shaft of Burnhouse, when she'd decided to go right, away from the Delta Flyer, instead of left, toward it. Of course, the captain could never know for certain, but she'd bet her eye-teeth that if they went back to investigate that so-called wormhole, or 'hole in the sky,' as the merchant would call it, she'd find out that it led to the Alpha Quadrant, or some place much closer to it than they currently were. But the merchant's warning to her honestly hadn't been the reason she hadn't stopped. She'd decided to not stop since one, Seven of Nine had been adamant that it was an unacceptable risk and was certain they could not pilot any vessel through the rift, and two, they had still been too far into enemy territory to attempt such a lengthy stop considering the Alaxiat wasn't up for a heavy battle of any kind currently?although, she knew she'd be lying to herself if the telepath's words to her hadn't shaded her judgment somewhat.

Now that the Slipstream project had been unveiled, Janeway understood why Seven had been so determined to convince the captain to ignore the wormhole since the Borg had known at the time she had a 'better' solution?at least that what's they were all banking on?and thus she also understood the riddle of the fallen water, or slip stream, getting them home, but that wasn't what was bothering Janeway at this time. She knew now that the blonde had been working on the project since just before the beginning of their relationship, so she completely understood how the man had come about that information and informed Kathryn that it would get them home because Seven absolutely believed, without a shadow of a doubt, that it would indeed be successful. What she didn't understand, and what was causing her to look back and second?guess herself was the wormhole. There was absolutely no way the merchant could have known about that. There was absolutely no way he could have known that they'd come across that before Seven was able to make her announcement, and even though it hadn't occurred, there was no way he could have known Voyager would have been destroyed, or 'burned like the sun,' if Janeway had decided to investigate and enter it. But somehow, someway, Kathryn honestly believed in the center of her being that he just knew?somehow he knew, which left the scientist in her more unsettled than she cared to admit; although, she also had to admit that the older she got, the easier it became for her to just take some things on faith.

And before she could stop it, she had a fleeting, sardonic thought about how her mother and sister were never going to recognize her when they returned. For many reasons she believed that, but right now, the mere fact that she was willing to just believe that the merchant knew about some specific aspects of the future, her future, was a testament to just how much the scientist turned captain had changed since her trip across the galaxy began seven and a half years ago. And although she wasn't certain when that type of change had occurred, she had a pretty good notion it had started five years ago when she sought out 'spiritual' assistance to save her young Ocampan friend, Kes, from certain death. Even though the Doctor had been able to deconstruct the event and explain it in scientific terms, there had always been a part of her that wondered if there had been more at work than just theoretical science.

The latest situation also left the contemplative captain in her uneasy as well since not only were the words of a distant stranger influencing her judgment, but part of her was turning the tables on herself and wondering if maybe he'd just been slightly off, and the wormhole had been their ticket home and it was the Slipstream drive that would send her beloved craft streaking across the heavens in a fiery blaze of glory. As her terminal beeped and informed her that she had a priority memo waiting, Kathryn blinked her eyes and reminded herself that they would take every precaution with the experimental drive, that Seven and B'Elanna were not prone to miscalculations, and that they planned to test and retest before they ever actually used it?and finally, that the first person to test it out in real life would be her, and her alone, so if she was making the wrong decision, she'd be the only one to perish.

Turning back to her laptop, Kathryn allowed under her breath, speaking of the merchant's psychic wisdom, "Kate?it's called luck and talent and you're too old to fall for that trick," while she thought that if there was one thing she could take from the merchant and all of his hocus pocus was that it seemed that Seven of Nine truly was 'learned,' and she did indeed seem to have all the answers. Although, there were some questions that Janeway knew even the hyper-intelligent Borg couldn't answer, but those would have to wait until they returned home?until they all faced the music in one manner or another.

Small creases of strangeness formed on the woman's brow in the dim light of her room, although her face was fairly illuminated by the screen of her workstation, as she saw that the priority memo she had was from Lieutenant-Commander Nicole Fowler. Considering she knew the newly promoted second officer, just yesterday in fact, was technically off-duty until this morning since she'd undergone a small medical procedure yesterday after her duty shift ended, the captain was rather curious as to what Fowler had to report to her at 0215 hours, which was when the message was time stamped. Tapping the sensor, Janeway pulled up the following message, holding her breath since after being launched from bed, then almost having a wrangle with a malfunctioning replicator, she was still expecting her third unfriendly wake-up call on this already tentatively precarious morning:

"Captain on deck," Crewman Terrance Atler called out fairly modestly as Janeway?now dressed in her normal habit, wearing slightly more make-up than normal to hide her tiredness, which along with her elegant, yet simply styled hair, that was almost completely dry from her quick shower, was doing the the trick at keeping her looking like a poster child for Starfleet Academy, despite the hour?appeared between the parting doors of the turbolift that opened directly onto the main deck of Engineering since, although he wasn't the ranking officer currently, Ensigns Dawson and Redding were on the upper level and couldn't spy the captain's arrival from their vantage point.

"Morning, Mister Atler?as you were," Kathryn came back on the next beat as she unwound her hands from behind her back and started forward with a little more of a purposeful, but still easy bounce to her step, always, well usually, conscious of the meter of her amble. She'd developed several different variations of her standard march over the past decade that ranged from a cocky swagger, to a sultry saunter, to a deadly hop, and pretty much everything in between, and now was able to modify her stride and posture immediately, depending on the situation, to give her various qualities that she felt she needed to exude. Those ranged from danger, cunning, impatience, grace, aloofness, confidence and authority, and currently she was moving comfortably, without abruptness or pressure since not only did she not want to give the impression that she was there to make a fuss, but she was honestly rather fond of these three particular crewmembers. Not only were they hardworking members of Torres' staff, but they never caused problems, worked well together, and were enthusiastic about their craft, which Kathryn appreciated her officers showing.

Scanning the lower deck quickly while she started towards Atler, the captain decided to not query the man as to where Dawson was since she didn't want to give herself away yet. Keeping with her plan, she stopped next to him, patted his back then asked if he was managing to keep busy since Janeway was no fool and she knew that while the ship was in orbit, the folks in Engineering, itself, currently had little to do but Maintenance, but that was always critical, especially considering their situation. While Atler informed her that they were taking the time to run an extra series of checks on Deck Seven's sensor relay system's since they'd incurred so many problems just weeks ago and had to almost be completely rebuilt, Janeway paid him a fair amount of attention while she looked around and glanced up onto the top level. Making eye contact with Sydney Dawson as the woman worked from B'Elanna's workstation, and nodding her head to her slightly just as Terrance finished speaking, the captain said softly in her smoky, complex voice, "Thank you?carry on," as she tapped his back one more time before she left his side and started for the ladder to the upper deck.

Utilizing the climbing device rather than the lift, which she knew was a more 'captain-like' thing to do, but considering she and Seven hadn't been engaging in their early morning fitness routine lately thanks to the blonde's work on the Slipstream project, to compensate, Kathryn had found herself doing small things every day to keep her body working and moving where she hadn't before. Many mornings, even though Seven of Nine didn't attend, she still took small jogs around the various decks of her vessel, but mostly, when she was alone, she kept to the Jefferies Tubes seemingly infinite ladder system since she wasn't as likely to run into someone in them at that time. It was true that Kathryn Janeway was starting to feel a great deal closer with her entire crew, not just the senior officers, in recent months, however, there were some things that she just preferred to have her crew not see her do: sweating profusely while she mumbled under her breath to either coax herself to keep going or to work out an issue she was chewing on while she climbed wrung after "god forsaken wrung," was one of them.

Captain Janeway stepped easily onto the upper level of her ship's engine room, then frowned some as she scuffed the top of her index finger across the rubber ladder, which left an unwanted blemish on her somewhat long, but nicely manicured nails. Approaching Dawson as Redding remained with his back to them both and utilized a sensor board on the far wall, the captain rubbed the black mark off with her thumb, then absently flicked her fingers once as she looked up to the taller, much darker-skinned woman. Dawson kept her curly hair cut very short all around, which Kathryn had always thought made her look very young, however it wasn't like the woman was old by any stretch of the imagination. Janeway didn't know for certain, although she could look it up if she wanted, but she figured that the engineer couldn't be over twenty-six since she'd come straight out of the Academy, although if going on looks alone, the redhead would pin her more as not a day over twenty-one, honestly. However, despite her young appearance, she was unquestionably lovely, and Janeway wasn't at all surprised to find out that not only was she involved with someone, but that her second officer had obviously taken an interest in her a while back because other than her beauty, she was also more than pleasant, and from what she knew from things Torres had said, a lot of fun, not to mention multi-talented and intelligent.

Smirking, mostly inwardly, as she noticed Janeway frowning at something on her hand and then attempt to remove it as she started for her, finding it strange that her boss, B'Elanna, would be involved with someone like Kathryn Janeway?someone who would frown at a blemish on her fingernails, the ensign, who was in charge of the engineering during the third shift, waited until the captain looked up before she greeted, "Good morning, Captain."

"Miss Dawson," Kathryn returned, nodding her head and stopping next to her. Then leaning back just a tad and looking past the woman's back to where her other crewmember was as Sydney sighed and whispered cryptically, "Is this about what I think it's about?" Janeway remained even and merely allowed, "Mmmhmm." Next reaching up and patting Dawson's now somewhat hunched back and the small of it, due to the news, the captain offered, "Why don't you give me an update in the chief's office?I could use some coffee."

As the young engineer nodded and started for the lift, Kathryn followed her easily, and without contemplation for the request, even though it wasn't her practice to utilize her senior staff's facilities for her own private conference room, unless they were present. Yes, this was her ship, but that didn't mean she ever felt that just because she could go anywhere at anytime without permission, she necessarily should, and personal privacy as well as respect for her staff's status and authority was always important to Kathryn. It wasn't until they were headed toward the small office tucked away to the side that she realized what she was doing, but instead of stopping and chastising herself, she merely chuckled in her mind while she shook her head at her obvious show of companionship with the chief, and it became clear to her in a trice of not only how comforting that feeling was, but furthermore how much she'd changed. Her changes weren't huge in of themselves, but the captain felt that if she put all the small differences together, she was not only a new incarnation of Captain Janeway, but she was a brand new woman all around?and honestly, that felt rather good to her because she honestly believed she was better for it?a better captain, a better person, and a better partner than she'd ever been in her life thus far.

Once Dawson stepped into the office through the door that almost always remained opened, unless the chief was having a meeting or needed some private time, Kathryn proceeded directly after her and said, "Have a seat." As Dawson made a right and took her place in the chair directly in front of the chief's desk, Janeway continued forward to the replicator, asking, "Something to drink?"

The engineer forced herself not to sigh at that, figuring that meant that the meeting was going to be lengthy, and replied instead, hoping she didn't sound as nervous as she was since she'd never met with the captain one on one before, "I'm okay, Captain?but thank you."

"Coffee?black," Kathryn requested for the second time today. She would have been surprised that the device didn't give her any problems since that just seemed like how her luck was going to go today if this wasn't B'Elanna's replicator that she was using, and the captain knew from experience that nothing Torres worked with consistently didn't work properly, and typically, it worked better than it was originally designed to thanks to the 'tool-pusher's' endless tinkering.

Snatching the silver mug from the energy grid, the ranking officer quietly made her way toward the chief's desk as she sipped the familiar, but always delightful savor of the java, and pondered exactly how she wanted to handle this meeting. Deciding to just start from the middle and her work her way around what Dawson knew slowly, Kathryn remarked as she started to sit down, "The chief tells me that you're doing an wonderful job, Ensign...and from the looks of things, I'd have to agree...and I want you to know that nothing we are going to discuss this morning will in any way negatively affect your position aboard this vessel." Sitting back easily and crossing her legs while she held her coffee in her lap, the captain went on softer, and serious, "You did the right thing by reporting Mister Carey to?Commander," she had to pause just for a moment to name Nicole appropriately, "Fowler, and for reasons I don't want to get into right now, Miss Fowler brought this issue to me." When Sydney nodded at that statement in understanding, Janeway took a sip of her coffee, then requested, "Why don't you start from the top and tell me what happened."

"Yes, Ma'am," Dawson came back out of habit, sitting erect and proper and looking very much ill-at-ease. "Well, I'm not sure of the exact time, but it wasn't that far into my shift, maybe an hour, when Carey came into Engineering. He was by himself. Terrance was here, but Marcus was in the distribution center on Deck Seven running some tests on the monitoring systems we have in place." As the captain continued to remain even and sip her coffee, Sydney relaxed her shoulders some as she went on, "When I looked over at him and said hello, I noticed immediately that he looked like maybe he wasn't feeling well or that something was wrong because his uniform was slightly wrinkled and he just looked?basically unsettled, which struck me as kind of funny. I mean," she shrugged, "I don't work with him very often?so I don't really know, but it just seemed like something was wrong. Then he started to kind of make the rounds, look over everything, so I didn't pay him any more attention until he came over to my station. He stayed there for a few minutes, just looking over my shoulder and watching me work. At first," the ensign reported, "it didn't bother me at all?and I figured he was just curious or checking up, but then he didn't move and he was standing almost right behind me?but just off to the side slightly."

"How were you able to tell he'd been drinking?" questioned Janeway.

"When he spoke?I smelled it on his breath?it was clearly synthehol."

"What did he say?"

"Well, when he kept standing there," Dawson explained, "I finally turned to him and asked him if there was something I could help him with. I wasn't trying to be disrespectful, but," shrugging, "and I know it's subjective," she qualified, "but he'd been there too long without saying anything. It just struck me as?well?rude." When Kathryn nodded and requested with her chin that she continue, the engineer said, "He said something like, 'You're doing fine, Syd?I'm not here for anything official?I just thought I'd drop by to see how you were doing.'"

"And your response?" Janeway questioned completely even and keeping all of her personal distaste for her lieutenant out of anything that was visible to the young woman.

Easily, Sydney answered the captain, "I said something like, 'Well, I'm fine, Lieutenant,' and then I quickly informed him that we were using this downtime to check up on Deck Seven's systems. When he nodded at that, then touched my back and didn't move away?that's when I became uncomfortable. It just didn't seem like something the lieutenant would do. He's not the back patting type?as far as I know, plus, like I said, there was no reason for him to be there?that close to me."

The captain continued to remain attentive and plain as the details were given and while she asked, "Did he say anything else that made you believe he was there to see you specifically?" When the younger woman frowned while she sighed, then shook her head negatively slightly as she looked away, Kathryn requested, suddenly softer, "Sydney, if there's more to this?then I really need you to tell me."

Sighing again, Sydney looked up, then asked as she quirked one side of her mouth, "Permission to speak freely, Captain?"

"Go ahead."

"Captain," Dawson started as she sat forward, "that's honestly all that happened, and I know telling it like this makes it seem like I'm being over-sensitive, but," she smiled just a little as she looked the captain directly in her face, "I know you've gotta know what I'm talking about." As Janeway pursed her lips some and blinked in somewhat confusion, Sydney explained, "Don't you just know sometimes?just know when someone is hitting on you? You know that feeling you get?it's like a vibe or something, but it's there and it tells you that they're coming onto you." Shrugging again quickly, she added when Janeway smiled back some and nodded her head in understanding, Dawson relaxed and informed, "I only get it when I'm not interested, but I know I'm not wrong, Captain?he was only interested in being my shadow, and because he'd been drinking and because that was just?weird for him, I was uncomfortable. I also didn't like that he touched my back, but that probably only bothered me because of the other stuff." Finishing as she sat back, she remarked, "I don't dislike Joe?although, like I said, I don't know him real well, but I've never had a problem with him, but he was acting weird?weird enough that Terrance watched the whole thing, then came up to me afterward and asked what all that was about."

Nodding, the captain sat forward easily and ordered as she leaned on her forearms, "Thank you, Ensign?and I want you to know that not only did you do the right thing, but you're not being over-sensitive in the least. I'll speak with Mister Atler to corroborate, so if we do have any further problems we have everything on record, but for the time being, I want you to come to me directly if you see or overhear anything of this nature regarding Mister Carey again, understood?" Janeway continued on the next beat as the ensign sounded her affirmation, "And I don't care what time of the day it is either?just hail me directly and ask to speak with me privately, and I'll understand."

As she affirmed the captain's wishes again, Ensign Dawson asked afterward, "You know, Captain, I don't plan on making a big deal out of this, but," tentatively, she went on, "is this something that I should leave the chief out of?" Before Janeway could take that the wrong way, she included, "I just ask because she usually comes by my station before I log off and asks me how everything went."

Understanding the silent concern and grateful for the respectful consideration, Janeway gave her a lop-sided grin and informed, "She already knows," ignoring the slight uneasiness such a statement produced since she figured considering the time of day, she was giving away the fact that she'd slept with Torres, "and she won't get involved at this point, but of course," Kathryn sat back and spoke with her hands, "if I'm not available for whatever reason, you can always go to the chief, or Commanders Fowler and Tuvok about anything, but I want you to speak with me first about this when it's possible." When the engineer bobbed her head twice, Janeway did the same and finished, "Thank you again, Sydney?would you send Mister Atler in please?"

A little past 0800 hours, after meeting with Atler and listening to him recount the same events and pretty much tell her nothing she hadn't already heard from Sydney, except the crewman seemed to be slightly more concerned about the incident and Janeway definitely got the feeling he wasn't a fan of Mister Carey, and after using the chief's office to look over her own schedule for the day and make room to have a meeting with Fowler and Tuvok, Janeway looked up from the workstation at the sound of Torres' voice off in the distance. Logging off the workstation as she heard B'Elanna say something to someone about needing to drop off her tools first, Kathryn started to rise when the chief came into her office. Snatching up her empty coffee mug as Torres paused for a moment at the door in surprise, then wished her a good morning as she continued toward her desk to deposit her toolkit, Kathryn skirted the edge of the desk, closing the door while she remarked, "Not so good, Lanna," then stifled a yawn.

As she sat down her tools and then perched on the top of her desk while Kathryn recycled her coffee mug, Torres questioned, purposefully keeping her voice calm and without the edge to it that she inwardly felt, "That bad, huh?"

Grinning ruefully over her shoulder, Kathryn remarked in a light tone as she turned back to the device, "Well, I guess I shouldn't be surprised its turning out to be one of those days, since," pivoting toward B'Elanna and walking slowly to her, smirking, "someone kicked me right out of bed this morning."

Torres sighed heavily as she looked down at her hands, having a feeling something like that had occurred when she was awoken by the captain, fully dressed and primped, telling her she'd woken up early and now needed to go see to the Carey situation, having given the chief merely a quick rundown and telling her she'd handle it. Shaking her head, B'Elanna looked up and admitted, "I'm sorry?I'm just all wound up right now."

Perching on the desk next to B'Elanna, Kathryn rubbed her lover's back near her neck with her left hand, and whispered, "I know?you don't have to apologize." Snickering, she tried to joke while she kept her voice light and whimsical, "At least you were asleep when you kicked me out?I'm not sure my ego could handle it any other way."

As B'Elanna looked down at her hands and kept her eyes closed, she allowed her half grin, shook her head and queried, "How do you do that?"

"Do what?" Kathryn came back grinning softly as well and still gently massaging Torres' neck, knowing very well what the chief was speaking of, but keeping up their small game.

Now smiling, Torres looked over at Kathryn and informed, feeling impulsive due to recent stresses and the knowledge that soon she'd be building the device that would very possibly take Janeway and Seven away from her forever, "One of these days, cowgirl...I'm gonna ask you a question?and all you'll have to say to make me smile forever is?"

"Yes, Lieutenant?" Kathryn said crisply and curt, dropping her hand from B'Elanna back, as the door to the chief's office opened just as Torres was finishing her sentence, interrupting their private moment, not to mention irritating both women instantly.

As Carey stopped in the doorway and mumbled apologies that sounded about as believable as palm trees at the top of Mount Everest, B'Elanna tensed as she snapped her head around and stood with her fists clenched, barking, "Carey, what the hell is your problem, huh?"

"I'm sorry, B'Elanna," Carey offered again, quickly, holding up his hands slightly, "I didn't know you weren't alone?I just came to see if you still wanted to check out deflector control with me."

"You ever heard of knocking?" Torres came back as she approached him, while Kathryn remained perched on the table, willing to let B'Elanna handle this since he was under her direct supervision and this was her office, but always prepared to jump in if she felt it was necessary since she couldn't be certain Carey did know she'd been in the office. She also didn't want to approach him yet until she'd spoken with Fowler and Tuvok because she was definitely concerned she was too emotionally involved in this situation already to make unbiased decisions.

"I guess I forgot," the male engineer came back fairly flippant.

"Oh, you forgot," Torres rallied, throwing his attitude right back at him as she placed her hands on her hips. Then turning her head to where Janeway was sitting quietly with her arms folded over her chest, she requested, "I'm terribly sorry, Captain, but will you excuse us please?"

Nodding, Janeway replied as she slid off the desk, "Of course, Chief?we'll talk later." As she slipped by both of them and heard Torres say, "Shut the door," just before the partition closed behind her, Kathryn hid her slight smirk as a part of her wished to hear the impending conversation since she'd never heard B'Elanna reprimand anyone before and figured it would probably be rather interesting to watch. Then sighing and shaking her head some at the continued dismay of her lieutenant's behavior, the captain decided before she reported back to the Bridge, she'd make a quick stop by her quarters, certain that what she'd find there would help lighten her mood.

"Hello, Sleeping Beauty," Janeway greeted quiet and warm as Seven's eyes fluttered open, from where she perched next to the tall blonde who was almost in the exact same position she had been when the captain had left her. Answering the question so her youngest lover didn't have to crane her neck and look, Kathryn reported, "It's half past eight."

Seven looked anyway so she could synchronize with the clock that displayed the time down to second as her features narrowed some in confusion. Turning back front, Seven questioned, her voice deeper than normal due to lack of use, "It is still 'early.' Why have you returned?"

The captain turned up one corner of her cheek as she brushed the hair off of Seven's bare shoulder before she placed her palm on her officer's upper chest where the sheet wasn't obscuring her pale flesh, and reported, "I just wanted to come see you before I went to the Bridge." Leaning down some, Kathryn smiled, then asked, flirting, "Is that okay with you?or should I go?"

"I believe you should stay," Seven smirked back, and said in a way she knew Janeway found 'charming,' "because I believe I love you."

Chuckling soundlessly as her smiled beamed, Janeway leaned down and kissed Seven softly, then whispered against her lips,"Oh, I believe I love you too, darling." When Seven took a hold of her palm, slipped it under the sheet and brought it to a rest at the apex of her left breast, Janeway hummed softly, then kissed Seven again while she dragged her thumb across the firming nipple before she squeezed the whole mass gently. Lifting her head somewhat, but not removing her hand and continuing to treat the soft flesh with delicate kindness, Kathryn asked seriously, but sweetly, "How are you feeling?"

Seven smiled a small amount when she reported, "I am functioning, but I am enjoying my rest, although, not as much," she smirked, "as I am enjoying the actions of your hand."

Janeway smiled again at that, now very glad she'd decided to make a quick stop before she went to work since her mood was indeed definitely improving by the second, while she said, flirting again, "You like that, do you?"

"That's correct," Seven smirked again as she closed her eyes and finished pleasantly, "Please continue, Kathryn?I will not protest."

Quickly, Janeway reached down and unzipped her boots with her free hand. After kicking them off, she came to a rest on the bed next to Seven after the blonde moved over a few centimeters to make more room for the compact captain, all the while never removing her hand from Seven's bosom. Slipping her left arm underneath the blonde's neck, and planting delicate non-kisses on her cheek and neck, Janeway whispered into the Borg's ear, asking, "So, any big plans today?or are you just going to stay in bed and look irresistible?"

Still with her eyes closed, Seven titled her head toward Janeway's until part of their faces were touching before she answered, speaking softly as well while Kathryn continued to fondle her chest lovingly, "Sam Wildman will be by to share her afternoon meal with me, but that is the only activity I have scheduled." As Janeway remained quiet and continued to show her affection, Seven sighed peacefully and continued, "Perhaps when you depart I will migrate to the living room and observe Lucy before I am required to prepare for her arrival?" When Janeway chuckled soundlessly into her neck, Seven smiled and reported reaching up with her mesh detailed hand and lightly rubbing the captain's fully clothed arm that was draped across her chest, "I know that I have no 'right' to complain considering it was my actions that kept us apart, but I have missed being with you in this manner."

Running the palm of her hand slowly between Seven's breasts, Janeway sighed and whispered, "I know?I've missed you too." As she turned her head more toward Seven's neck and kissed it gently, Kathryn added, "I've missed both of you?mmm?I think last night was the first time we all were together since the night of your birthday party." When the blonde nodded to affirm that, understanding that by 'together' Janeway meant intimately together and not just sleeping, the captain nuzzled Seven's neck as she smiled, then said while she once again rested her head on Seven's shoulder and her palm moved to the other breast, "Although, I have to admit, that other than the obvious good that's come out of all your hard work, I can't help but notice that you and B'Elanna seem to be growing practically inseparable."

Since Seven was unable to see the smile on Janeway's face, she asked, speaking soft and tentative, but uncertain since it seemed so much of their life had been chaos and hit an miss lately, "Have you felt 'left out?'"

Kissing Seven's shoulder for her sweetness, Kathryn replied, "No, sweetheart?I don't at all." Pushing herself up and propping her head up with her freehand after moving it out from underneath Seven's neck, the captain explained, smirking some as Seven looked over at her, "Don't get me wrong?there are plenty of times where I wish I could be with the two of you instead of doing whatever it is that I'm doing, but?no, I don't feel left out. It makes it much easier for me to know that you and she have each other when I can't be there?it's a very nice feeling actually." Smiling and leaning forward, Janeway said after she kissed Seven's lips softly, "It's nice for a captain to know her only Borg and her only Klingon look out for each?not to mention love each other." When Seven expelled the air from her chest, which was her most often utilized form of laughter, Janeway chuckled as well, then returned her head to Seven's shoulder and questioned, "So, am I allowed to ask about what trouble you two get up to when I'm not around?or is that a secret?"

Seven smiled honestly as she reported, "B'Elanna Torres and I converse most often when we are alone. We regularly speak about the future?particularly about our aspirations, but that is not always the case. Sometimes we discuss the past?which is usually limited to hers since mine as a drone was uneventful. Often times when I regenerate in her quarters, she will read her 'comic' books before we retire." Allowing a soft chuckle, Seven turned her head to Kathryn, who was laying with her eyes closed listening and just taking a moment to be happy, informing, "It is obvious that she is accustomed to residing alone because she reads aloud to herself, although her voice is faint, and if I were not Borg I doubt I could decipher her words. However, it is pleasing to me, so it has become a tradition for her to read her literary preference to me in her quarters." As Janeway laughed softly at that, then curled up with her more, Seven went on, understanding now that this information was highly pleasing to the captain, "To assist her in her progress as a warrior, many evenings we will speak only in Klingon?although," Seven sighed somewhat, "that typically only lasts for three point five hours before she becomes frustrated and does not wish to continue?however, she is making significant progress and our conversations as of late have been more fluid and intelligent?whereas before they were fundamental, which was required for her to progress in her studies."

Propping her head up again as she brought her hand to Seven's upper chest and trailed her fingertips across the Borg's collarbone, Kathryn remarked, "I didn't know that," but there was no jealousy to her tone.

Nodding, Seven smiled and said, "It's something that we enjoying doing alone. We both are learning various aspects of the culture together and I believe she also enjoys it because she feels as though she is doing her 'part' to share the virtues of the Empire and to assist in its expansion. I have learned a great deal in the recent weeks about the Klingon culture that is not," sighing quickly, "that isn't documented."

Kathryn smirked some, then had to ask, "Seven?what's wrong?" having a feeling she knew the answer, but wanting to make certain.

"It is?it's 'nothing,' Kathryn," Seven replied quickly, only frustrating herself more. "And I do not wish to discuss it."

Understanding completely, or at least she thought she knew what was going on in Seven's mind, Janeway said, softly, "Darling, can I tell you something without you taking it the wrong way?" When Seven looked away, but nodded, the captain curled up to her more and whispered, "I love you just the way you are, Seven of Nine?in fact," she added, smirking, "I'd be lying if I said that sometimes I miss hearing you saying everything perfectly." When Seven raised her eyebrows then turned her head back to Janeway, Kathryn smiled and informed, "I always found it charming, and although I hope you don't think I don't appreciate what you're trying to do, I'd rather you be you. If that means you want to speak differently because you honestly do?then that's fine, but I'm rather fond of 'that is correct' and "I prefer to stand.'" Smiling even grander, she finished, "They remind me of the past?and they remind me of us?from where we've come, and all that we've been through together."

Furrowing her brow some in confusion, Seven questioned to clarify, "Then it does not please you for me to adapt in this manner?"

"It doesn't please me when it clearly causes you frustration," Kathryn explained. "Just because you don't naturally want to use contractions doesn't make you any less human. Actually," she smirked, "the fact that you've developed a subtle style of your own is very human. Besides," she flirted some again, "I like my Borg?she's very unique?not to mention beautiful?and as long as she's happy, then I'm happy."

Smiling, Seven sighed and said, "Very well?however, I am not certain I wish to 'give up,' but I will no longer 'push myself.'" When Janeway smiled and nodded her head, the Borg used her hand to ease the captain's head back to her shoulder, as she said, "Please assume the listening position at this time." As Kathryn snickered, but did as requested, and asked, "Where were we?" Seven reminded, "I was informing you about B'Elanna Torres and myself."

"Oh, right," Kathryn nodded. Then slipping her head back underneath sheet and once again delighting her hand to the soft flesh of Seven's full torso, she said, "Proceed."

As she kept her right hand on Janeway's head and absently combed her fingers through the redhead's fine mane, Seven continued to explain, "We also discuss our Elite Force training, especially when we have engaged in a simulation in the holodeck because several of the scenarios could be considered 'no-win' situations." When Janeway nodded at that, not at all surprised Tuvok employed such training tactics since he'd been in Starfleet for a very long time, back to the days where the Kobiyashi-Miru scenario was standard practice for command training, Seven went on, "We also practice our self-defense tactics?which has been particularly beneficial to us since neither of us were previously accustomed to fighting to preserve life, and," Seven smiled, "twice since our away mission we have utilized the holodeck to practice utilizing the bat'leth." Then sighing rather heavily, she added, "B'Elanna Torres recently informed me that assisted her a great deal during her Day of Honor rituals." Shaking her head, Seven said softly, "I am pleased B'Elanna Torres was able to attain her honor and defend it, but I do not 'like' knowing she was in such distress and danger. However, she seems to have recovered from the incident and I know that she feels as though any dishonor her mother may have received for her previous actions was lifted on that day due to her victory. Considering she defeated sixteen warriors after completely the Rite of Ascension?I concur."

Turning her head and kissing Seven's neck softly, knowing that responsibly as a captain she should be getting to work, but doubly knowing that responsibly as a lover, she should stay right where she was for as long as possible, Kathryn chose the latter easily, part of her choice being driven by the silent fear that soon, for various reasons, both Seven and B'Elanna could be taken from her, possibly forever, she asked, "So, what else do you do when I'm not around?"

"When we are in this dwelling," Seven reported easily, finding this discussion pleasing on many levels, especially since by speaking of B'Elanna, she somehow felt closer to Kathryn, which was more regenerating to her soul than anything else in the universe, "we often 'watch' the television, and on five occasions, B'Elanna Torres has given me 'dancing' lessons." When Janeway hummed into her neck as she smiled and chortled, the Borg grinned as well and informed, "Although I am not as efficient of a dancer as are the two of you?I am improving and find that I enjoy the activity. My preference is 'slow' dancing, which is not B'Elanna Torres', but she is efficient in all forms of dancing that we have engaged in." Rubbing Janeway's back, Seven informed, "Today when Sam Wildman comes over, I am going to invite her to attend the ritual of a 'double-date' during the day after tomorrow's date night since B'Elanna Torres has informed me that Nick Fowler is not disagreeable to this. Do you wish to attend?I am certain B'Elanna Torres would enjoy that?as would I?"

Sighing and rubbing her nose against Seven neck, Janeway replied, quiet, "Mmm?that sounds nice and it's very thoughtful of you, but I can't."

"Explain," Seven requested, but it wasn't the abrupt demand like it normally was.

"Darling, that wouldn't be very fair to Samantha," Kathryn answered. "I'm worried she'll be too uneasy with me there?which is perfectly natural, and then no one would have a good time?especially Nick." Chuckling ruefully, Janeway added, "I'm afraid unless Chakotay and Devin decide that there's more than just cultural intrigue between them, I won't be going on any double dates in the Delta Quadrant."

Nodding, Seven sighed and said, "I understand, my Kathryn?and although I will miss your presence, I will not be dismayed because I am fond of the knowledge that I am allowed to kiss the captain of this Collective when most others are not considered worthy."

Kathryn chuckled into Seven's neck, then kissed it as she said, "Oh, you are?are you?"

"You are being facetious?it is typical behavior."

Laughing, Janeway decided to move on before she let her ego be pumped up anymore, and asked as she propped her head up again and traced small circled across Seven's entire torso, "So, since we're talking about you and are darling Klingon?have you two ever taken a bath together?in the tub?"

"On one occasion," Seven smirked at the subtle, quick change in the captain's voice, "although it was brief. Apparently," she cocked her eyebrow, "you are not the only individual of this group that becomes aroused by sitting in water."

Barking in laughter and poking Seven's stomach for teasing her, Kathryn came back, "It just depends on the company, darling." Then resuming her delicate appreciation of the blonde's bosom, almost absent in her movements, the captain said, "You know, I've been thinking?besides from getting a bigger bed," she decided not to elaborate on this morning's incident since they had all remarked at one time or another that such a thing was becoming a necessity, especially when they were all together intimately, "I think it's time we expanded the tub." When Seven raised her eyebrows at that, Kathryn went on, "If we make it longer and just a tad wider it will make the rest of the bathroom only a little smaller, but not terribly?what'da ya think?" Smirking, she said before the blonde could answer, "I think we've earned it."

"I believe you are correct," Seven replied, smirking.

"Bridge to Janeway."

Sighing, the captain shook her head and said absently, recognizing the soft voice of her Operations officer, "Well, at least he knocked," then ignored the inquisitive look on Seven's face as she removed her hand from underneath the sheet and tapped her communicator, "Janeway here."

"Captain?Commander Chakotay just hailed us. He's asking to speak with you privately. He said it wasn't urgent, but that he needed to speak with you as soon as you had a few minutes free."

"Thank you, Mister Kim. Tell him I'll contact him shortly. Janeway out." Bringing up her hand to Seven's face and rubbing her cheek for a few beats, Janeway said before she kissed her sweetly, "I love you?thank you for indulging me."

When Kathryn pulled away, then sat up and started to pull her boots, Seven informed, "You are welcome, my beautiful Kathryn?and I am in love with you, therefore 'feel free' to request such indulgence at any time." Smirking, she added, "I find the task acceptable."

Standing up and straightening her uniform while she smiled, definitely feeling decidedly better than she did before she came here, the captain responded, "More sweet talk?what did I ever do before I got all this sweetness from you, huh?"

"You continued to delude yourself that you did not love and desire me and I loved and desired you," Seven smirked.

Laughing and shaking her finger in the air as she walked away, Kathryn rallied, "Now that's a fact if I ever heard one." Stopping in the doorway and turning around, Janeway started, "Seven?"

"Kathryn?"

"The Borg have no idea that everything they could have ever hoped to be?they already had in you?"

"You rang?" Janeway started wryly in her easy, harmlessly flirting tone as she sat in her Ready Room and spoke to the monitor on her workstation without her normally at the ready cup of coffee since she was feeling plenty awake and stimulated after her fairly short, but utterly sweet visit with her Astrometrics officer just moments before.

Smiling his crinkly, mirth-filled grin from his desk in his temporary quarters aboard the Alaxiat, Commander Chakotay replied, chuckling, shaking his head, "You know?I think it's true what they say?"

"What's that?" the captain asked smiling, expecting half a dozen typical, sarcastic or innuendo filled comments.

"Absence does make the heart grow fonder, Kathryn" Chakotay informed while he shook his head. While Kathryn returned his smile, although hers was more of her classic, misty grin, the commander said, "It's good to see you."

"Chakotay," Kathryn started, leaning forward, speaking softly and openly, her relationship with her first officer having deepened even more so since she became involved with B'Elanna, which suddenly gave the man who'd been her friend before almost a brother-like quality, "I miss you." Shaking her head slightly, she pouted on purpose and whispered, "Voyager's just not the same without you here?when you are coming back for good?do you know?"

"T-minus four days," he replied, holding up the appropriate amount of fingers, "but," he continued, "I was thinking it would be kind of nice?and necessary," he looked at her squarely, hoping she was catching his drift, "if the family," chuckling, "got together for dinner tonight in the captain's quarters."

Sighing heavily and looking down, understanding perfectly what he was hinting at since B'Elanna had informed her that she'd told Chakotay about the Slipstream project because she simply couldn't keep him in the dark, for many reasons, and honestly not certain if she was emotionally ready to have the discussion, but knowing that responsibly she couldn't put it off, Kathryn finally nodded and said, "Alright, but can we make it tomorrow?" before she looked at him. When Chakotay merely bobbed his head in affirmation and in silent understanding for some of what she was going through, Janeway turned up one corner of her cheek and said, "I only have one demand though?well, other than that one?" Once Chakotay stopped chuckling and raised his eyebrows, the captain's smirked turned into a humble grin as she requested softly, "Before we talk about the serious stuff, I'd really like us all to at least...attempt...to have a nice dinner and just be happy to be together." Taking a quick breath, she looked down at her hands and whispered, shaking her head, "After we start?I don't honestly know how many opportunities we'll have left?" looking back up, "...to be a family."

"I know," Chakotay said seriously, sighing heavily himself. Then shaking his head, he forced a smile and said, "Well, you're the boss, boss?so I'll go along with that. Any idea what time you'll make a break for it tomorrow?"

Sitting back, Kathryn smirked and reported, "No overtime today?or tomorrow, my friend?well," she quirked her head to one side, "as long as things go my way there won't be."

"So, I should beam over tomorrow at midnight?" he joked. When the captain narrowed her eyes and stuck out her tongue at him, Chakotay laughed, then shook his head in wonder since the first time Janeway had done that to him, he'd been completely surprised by the gesture, although pleasantly so, then asked, "Do you want me to bring anything?wine?tranquilizers?"

Janeway leaned forward as she shot back, "Chakotay, don't make order you to keep Seven company while she rests again."

After her stopped snickering and held up his hands in mercy since the last time he'd played babysitter with the Borg, he'd efficiently gotten his butt kicked at chess, the commander asked, "How is she, anyway?"

"Oh, she's fine," the captain replied warmly. "She's taking today again off to rest?and tomorrow if I can talk her into it. She pretty much just slept yesterday, but I think she'll be up and about today?at least for a little while." Sitting back again, Janeway folded her hands in her lap and reported, "The Doctor says her body is adapting well to the removal of her implant and she rarely gets sick to her stomach anymore. He thinks maybe in a year's time she'll be able to stretch the time between her regeneration cycles to once every two or three weeks, but right now, she can't go longer than a week without exhausting herself."

"Any hope that one day she won't need her alcove?" Chakotay questioned out of concern and openly, not believing Janeway would mind since long before he'd gone over to the Alaxiat, and long before Janeway had admitted her love, they often spoke of Seven's situation in a planning manner so that they could continue to meet her needs as her physical and emotional body changed and adapted.

Sighing softly, Janeway shook her head while she informed, "No?at least none that after time her body will simply adapt to that level. There's always hope that through Science and technology we'll figure out some other way to get her cybernetics systems to shutdown and recharge themselves without the need of an alcove, but whatever it will be, she'll still be dependant on it?always." Clearing her throat mildly as that stirred several worrisome thoughts, Janeway shook them off for the time being and added, lifting her finger, "But, the Doctor has some ideas that he's been working on to create a portable unit that will work in conjunction with her special forces uniform." When Chakotay raised his eyebrows, Janeway continued to explain, "Her uniform works much like her biosuits, so she'll be able to use the alcove we install in the new shuttle without having to change, but of course," she went on seriously, "there's always the concern that she could get stranded away from it for a long period of time. So, he's working on something of a Borg emergency pack. It's really not that complicated of a concept?the biggest problem is figuring out how to power it independently for long periods of time without making it impractical." Shaking her head, she continued, "I have a meeting with him today, actually, since after he stopped by to check on her yesterday he said that he had some ideas that he wanted to run past me."

"Well, knowing the Doctor," Chakotay tried to reassure his captain, "I'm sure he'll figure it out?and if he can't," he smirked more, "I'm sure B'Elanna can solve the power problem." When Janeway smiled weakly at that and nodded, he asked, merely starting the question, "Speaking of?"

Smiling rather brightly, Kathryn announced, "Oh, you know B'Elanna?she's holding her own." As the commander laughed and nodded, knowing his old friend never seemed to have much problem hanging tough, the captain informed, "But she's doing very well. She was a little quiet the first few days after the Day of Honor, but she's bounced back without a problem. She and Seven are as close as ever, and from what Seven tells me, they've really bonded through their exploration and studies of the Klingon culture." While Chakotay chuckled soundlessly and shook his head at that, Janeway snickered as well while she said happily, "I'm not sure because I haven't talked to B'Elanna about it, but I assume the time they spend immersed in the culture has helped her deal with any lingering doubts or fears she might have had." Smirking, Janeway leaned forward and added softly, "She also seems to have gotten over her fear of the dark since then?I'm not sure how that came about because she doesn't talk about it, but that last time I stayed in her quarters, she told me there wasn't a need to keep the lights on anymore?and left it at that."

Chakotay shook his head as he expelled the air from him chest, and remarked, "You know, I never thought I'd say this about the two of you, but," he smirked, "I'm not surprised. I always thought you two would be good for each other?not to mention good together."

Smiling somewhat shy as she looked down, never taking offense when he spoke only of she and Torres since she knew that he meant no disrespect, but simply didn't feel it was his place to make statements about the Borg's personal life unless he was directly asked, and because he didn't know her nearly as well as he knew Kathryn and B'Elanna, Janeway responded softly, "Thank you, Chakotay?that means a lot to me."

"So, when's the wedding?" he joked again, although there was some truth to his humor.

Rolling her eyes and shaking her head, Kathryn looked up and announced, "I'm tired of talking about me."

Not letting Janeway finish, he added, continuing to needle the captain since it had been quiet sometime since he last had the chance to converse with his friend on a personal level, and Kathryn had always been easy to tease, "I was under the impression we were talking about Seven and B'Elanna."

"You hush," Janeway came right back. As Chakotay laughed, Kathryn chuckled as well, then asked, nodding at him, "So?what about you? How've you been?"

"Busy," Chakotay reported immediately, smiling, "but good?nothing really to report."

Not surprised, the captain asked, "And Devin?"

"As far as I know, she's fine." When Kathryn furrowed her brow in confusion, Chakotay informed, "We've been pretty much on opposite schedules for the last few weeks, so other than here and there, I haven't really seen her. We're supposed to have dinner on my last night here to wrap up any loose ends, though."

Raising her eyebrows and smiling rather impishly, Kathryn said, "Oh?"

Pursing his lips and shaking his head, he said, "Don't get any ideas, lady?I get enough of that from B'Elanna, I don't need it from you too."

Janeway snickered, then nodded and allowed, "Alright, I guess I'll leave the matchmaking to the professionals." When the commander gave his thanks, she turned slightly serious and quieter as she asked, "How's the crew?"

"They're fine. Some are doing better than others, but everyone's pitching in to help Devin's crew deal with the reality of their situation." Smiling, he announced, "You'd be proud of them?they've come a long way."

After nodding and informing him that she was, she inquired, "How's Garen?"

Sighing, Chakotay shook his head as he answered, "I'm not sure he's as certain leaving was the best idea as he was when he first came over here honestly." When Janeway frowned and turned sullen at that, the commander went on, "He does his job, but he hasn't meshed with this crew any better than he did on Voyager, and unless he's on duty, I never see him outside of his quarters." Looking at Kathryn seriously, he announced, "He's bunking with McCormick right now. I had to do some fancy talking to make that switch, but I don't think it's a good idea for him to be live alone." Shaking his head quickly, he added, "I know what you're thinking, but it's for the best, Kathryn?he's too withdrawn, and I can't figure out how to get through to him."

The captain bobbed her head at that as she rubbed her forehead while she leaned forward and rested her elbow on her desk, thinking the situation over. Then dropping her hand and looking back to the screen, she queried, "If he came back, could we replace his shift as one of the weekly rotations?"

"Yes, but I've already asked him if he wanted to come back," the commander informed, "and he said he didn't."

"Did he say why?" she asked, sounding rather desperate.

"Not really," he answered, sighing. "He basically said it didn't matter where he was. I think he feels useless." Shrugging, Chakotay informed, "I've told him that of course he matters, but Garen grew up with the Maquis. Honestly, Kathryn," the male said softly, "and I'm not blaming you, or anyone, but with me, his job was more critical in the sense that he had to be more self-reliant. He worked on intelligence, most of the time alone for hours at a time. He's always been a loner?but then, he was an important loner. He doesn't work well with others because he really doesn't trust anyone. I'm not sure he trusts anyone at this point?least of all me."

Getting an idea, the captain nodded and reported, "Thank you, Commander. I'm not sure it will do any good, but I think I'll drop by today and look in on him." When Chakotay nodded at that, although Janeway could tell that her first officer wasn't at all convinced that would help in the least, Kathryn changed the subject and asked before she cut the communiqué ¡nd saw to her other responsibilities, "And Roxanne?"

Prepared for the question since Kathryn had inquired about both Garen and Baker each time they conversed alone since they'd left Voyager, Chakotay reported, "She's fine. Still pretty quiet, but she's as determined as ever." Chuckling softly, he informed, "She was working so many double shifts that I had to order her to take a day off a few days ago?but I certainly can't complain about that." When Janeway smiled at that, the commander added, "I'm sure she'd enjoy a visit from you too though. I think the only thing she really misses is the feeling of being aboard a Starfleet vessel." Smiling, he finished, "I found her eating her dinner and reading inside the Sri Lanka a few weeks ago, and she told me that she likes to relax in there?so I didn't see a problem with it since other than a little homesickness, she seems perfectly happy."

"Well, good?I'm not sure when I'll be over there today, but I'll definitely make the time," Janeway said, surely. Then sighing, the captain said, chuckling ruefully afterward while she shook her head, "So, I guess that means I better get moving or it might just be midnight before I finish today." As the commander nodded and expressed his commiserating humor with her, Kathryn smiled and ended the communication, "Thank you again, Chakotay?I'll see you soon. Voyager out."

Rising from her desk and making her way to her upper deck to fetch her coffee pot, certain that during her next meeting she'd want a cup, Captain Janeway tapped her communicator as she crossed her office and hailed, "Janeway to Torres," fairly certain that she'd given her chief engineer plenty of time to chat with Lieutenant Carey since it was almost an hour since she'd left the man to the Klingon.

"Go ahead, Captain," responded B'Elanna almost immediately.

Smiling slightly since for once the brunette didn't sound annoyed by the hail, which was the norm, and what Kathryn had expect considering how she'd left B'Elanna, Janeway said, "Chief, would it be possible for you to come to my Ready Room right now?" while she climbed the steps to the upper level.

Torres sighed audibly over the comm., then asked, "Can you give me fifteen minutes, Captain? I'm down in deflector control and I'm right in the middle of something. It's not a good place to stop."

Before she bent forward and picked up her coffee pot, she asked, utilizing the code they'd come up with to ask if the other person was alone because they worried that if they just outright asked the question, too many things would be assumed as to the reasoning behind it, "That's fine?but 'did you get my letter?'" If Torres wasn't alone, she knew B'Elanna would respond by saying, "Not yet," and if the chief was by herself and felt that no one would overhear the conversation, she'd start speaking freely because the code was only used when the other person was already alone. They also purposefully used the word letter because they worried if they used memo or message one of these days they'd really need to ask the question and then things could get confusing.

"Is this about Carey?" came back the engineer openly since she was in the small room that could only be accessed by utilizing the Jefferies Tubes and knew that no one else was anywhere in the vicinity.

"Yes," Janeway answered and as she turned around and started down the steps but stopped at the bottom one as she stated, "I'm a little short on time as well, so why don't I come down to you?or are you expecting company?"

"That'll work," B'Elanna replied. "Hey, would you stop by my office and grab my micrometer? I forgot to bring it with me."

Chuckling soundlessly as she started for her door, Kathryn replied, wryly, "Anything else, Chief?"

"How 'bout a beer?" Torres was unable to resist saying.

"B'Elanna?" the captain warned.

The Klingon smiled as she said, keeping her voice professional even though she was snickering on the inside, "That's all, Captain. Torres out."

Shaking her head, but smiling softly in endearment as she exited her Ready Room, the captain ascended the stairs toward the command deck, but kept going toward the upper level as she announced, "Lieu?" then snapping her fingers and catching herself as Fowler chuckled, Janeway amended, "Commander?you have the Bridge."

As she entered the port turbolift, she snickered to herself as she heard Paris say to Ensign Kim, "Cough'em up, Harry," and Kim reply, "She only said half?so you only get half," certain that meant that Paris had bet either replicator rations or holodeck time on the fact that she'd mistakenly call Nicole Fowler by her former title. Holding out her hand and then stepping into the seam of the lift to keep the doors from closing, Janeway poked her head out, looking toward Operations and said, "Thank you for your confidence, Ensign," before she stepped back into the carriage and requested Engineering, having long since gotten over her worries over the small wagers that occurred on her ship, even though it violated protocol, since no harm ever came of it and it seemed to keep her crew in good spirits because it gave them all something to look forward to. She, of course, never got involved in any of them, but she certainly didn't feel like she should interfere with a pastime that had helped bring both the Starfleet and Maquis aboard this vessel together. Although, truth be known, on the wager that just occurred, she'd have bet against herself since it had taken her almost a week to get used to calling Tuvok by the appropriate title, but she wasn't surprised Kim had bet as he did since she very much doubted that her devoted Operations officer would ever bet against her.

Again being struck with a worrisome thought regarding the possibility of them returning home, this one about Ensign Kim, Kathryn sighed to herself as she wondered how he would cope with a change in commission since he'd been right out of the Academy and pretty much grew up in the Delta Quadrant. She knew it probably would sound a little egotistical if she ever expressed her thoughts to someone else, but she was honestly concerned that he'd have a difficult time being happy with another captain, simply for the fact that they'd all been through so much together, had shared so much together, and she knew she was fooling herself if she didn't admit that they all picked up some 'bad' habits, in Starfleet's eyes, on the other side of the galaxy.

Brushing off the worry as the turbolift doors hissed open, that any other captain wouldn't be compassionate enough for his situation, and then instead of being the dutiful Starfleet officer that he was, he'd suddenly find himself in a position where he was reprimanded and dressed down constantly simply because he was so accustomed to working around his friends, and really his family, Janeway allowed a soft sigh as she stepped out of the carriage. As her heels clicked steadily on the metal floor while she cut a direct path toward the chief's office, Ensign Nicolletti greeted her quietly as she passed by making her way toward the warp core. Nodding to the diminutive brunette, not at all surprised when hardly anyone seemed to make note of her presence since she was practically a regular in Engineering during the Alpha shift these days because half of her engineers where still on the Alaxiat. The captain knew that Torres wasn't at all upset that such a happenstance required her to be away from her engine room more often doing tasks she'd typically give to someone else, so Janeway had taken it upon herself to stop by as often as possible to check up on everything and take some of that strain off of the chief since she honestly appreciated not hearing the complaints about how short staffed they were.

Not having to open the door to the chief's office, which was typical since Torres rarely closed it, Kathryn walked over to B'Elanna's desk to gather up her tool. Opening the single drawer on the right side of the desk when the only thing she spied on top of the Klingon's desk were a few PADD's and a tricorder, Janeway pursed her lips and frowned when nothing that remotely resembled a micrometer appeared in the almost empty drawer. Lifting up the comic book that was inside, not at all surprised, but not seeing anything other than two more PADDs, although these had been partly dissembled, not at all surprised by that either since B'Elanna was rather fond of tinkering with various things in an attempt to create various 'special' features just for the sheer fact of seeing if she could do it, Kathryn sighed then closed the drawer.

Exiting the office again and walking up to Nicoletti, since she was the only engineer on the lower level, Janeway asked quietly, resisting the urge to rub the tension in her neck, "Ensign, would you happen to have a spare micrometer lying around?"

Since she'd seen Janeway go into B'Elanna's office, the ensign asked, tentative, hoping she wasn't sounding nosey since that wasn't what was driving the need to ask the question, "You weren't looking for the chief's?were you, Captain?"

"As a matter of fact," Kathryn came back easily, not taking offense in the least since she hoped that meant Nicoletti knew where the tool was so she could be on her way, "yes. Do you know where she keeps it?"

"It's not on her desk?"

"No," Janeway replied. "I looked in the drawer too?but I didn't see it."

"Uh oh," Nicoletti allowed, then sighed. When the captain raised her eyebrows at that, the ensign said, "Well, I don't know where it is, Captain, but we have another one in here," while she went to the tool cabinet on the wall.

As the ensign opened the door and retrieved the device then handed it over to her, Kathryn said, "Thank you." While the brunette nodded and began to go back to her post, Janeway held out her hand and asked very quietly, "Has anyone been in the chief's office since she left, except me?"

"Just Carey," Nicoletti reported quietly, understanding the need to keep the conversation private since she was well aware of how protective the Klingon was of her possessions, "but he's not working on anything that he would need a micrometer for?so I doubt he borrowed it."

Honestly surprised at herself that she was actually having this discussion, that she was giving any weight to something as trivial as a borrowed micrometer when they probably had twenty of them scattered about the ship, the captain patted the ensign's arm, allowed a small smile and said, "Well, she probably just left it at home, but do me a favor and keep an eye out for it." However, since she knew Torres' tools were as important to her as any other personal possession, and they were in fact hers since she'd brought them with her from the Maquis vessel, Janeway couldn't honestly argue since she figured she'd feel the same way if Chakotay suddenly came into her office one day and took her lucky tea cup to use for himself.

When Nicoletti smiled and nodded her affirmation, Janeway patted her arm again and then headed quickly out of Engineering. Making a left, instead of a right, and deciding to make a quick stop at Torres' quarters to see if possibly B'Elanna had just forgotten the instrument, praying that she had since the alternative did not bode well for the captain's mood, Janeway made her way to the chief's quarters. Having gotten over her concern for being seen entering her lover's dwelling on her own long ago after realizing her concerns were foolish, Janeway overrode the security seal on the door and stepped into the dark cabin. Bringing up the lights to half, she carefully stepped around the various articles of clothing scattered about the floor, hardly making note of the mess, having grown accustomed to it, then sighed when she didn't see any tools on the square glass table to her left since she knew that B'Elanna always left them there. Not bothering to look anywhere else, Janeway allowed a quiet curse before she sighed again, then shook her head and exited as she was hailed.

"Nicoletti to Captain Janeway."

Crossing her fingers and hoping that meant the ensign had found the tool, Kathryn replied as she started back for Engineering, "Janeway here."

"I've got the chief's micrometer, Captain," Nicoletti reported. "Do you want me to bring it to you?"

Sighing in relief, the captain said, "Thank you, Ensign?I'll come get it. Janeway out."

In less than a minute, the captain was breezing back through the large doors of Engineering. As Nicoletti practically met her at the door, holding out the instrument that looked decidedly different than the standard Starfleet issue tool, Janeway accepted it as she gave the one she was holding back to the young officer while she asked, honestly curious, for several reasons, "Where'd you find it?"

"I looked in the other tool cabinet," Nicolletti reported, shrugging since she'd hadn't expected to find it, but felt the need to check anyway, "just to check, and it was in there."

"Good work, Ensign," Janeway smirked as she tapped the engineer's shoulder with the palm of her left hand softly. Then whispering, she added lightly, "Now do me another favor and don't mention that it was ever missing?alright?"

"Aye, Captain," Nicoletti smiled and nodded.

Chuckling along with the young female, Janeway nodded, then gave her thanks again and quickly exited Engineering before she lost anymore time on this detour, knowing she was going to have to be as efficient as a Borg drone today to see to everything she had on her mental checklist if she was going to make it back to her quarters at or around 1700 hours today. The reasoning for that was as important to her as her reasoning would be tomorrow. Tonight it was her duty to look after Seven of Nine for the entire evening, to ensure that the young woman got plenty of rest, and especially attention, and she was bound and determined to make certain that occurred.

While she marched with purpose down the hall, utilizing her all-business stride in an attempt to ward off anyone who might catch a glimpse of her and decide that instead of sending her a memo they'd take the opportunity to speak with her one on one?she wasn't usually adverse to such discussions, but she simply didn't have time for them today since they tended to be lengthy?Kathryn forced herself not to be suspicious of the tool incident, even if she honestly was, which really bothered her. She didn't like, at all, the events that now had her secretly believing the Lieutenant Carey had willfully entered Torres' office, taken her tool, and placed it in another location. She knew it sounded ludicrous, or at least she would have thought so a month ago, but now she wondered if this little mishap was part of a larger plot.

As she went into the turbolift and requested Deck Thirteen, she found herself, despite her previous attempt to not dwell on it, trying to determine Carey's motivation, and after just a moment, she realized that question was fairly simple to answer. If B'Elanna had come into Engineering and found one of her tools missing, she'd more than likely have gotten rather angry. And if Torres had questioned someone and found out that Carey had been in her office, Janeway figured the chief would have approached him, and possibly accused him of taking it, which would have made her look awfully poor when it was found in a tool cabinet.

Sighing again as the lift opened and she stepped out onto the deck, Janeway continued to brood about the situation until she had an idea that would tell her once and for all if Carey had used the tool. She knew it couldn't prove that he'd purposefully put it in another location, but it certainly would give her some absolution to this worsening situation. Stopping where she was and turning back to the turbolift, Janeway tapped her communicator and said, "Janeway to Torres."

"Go ahead, Captain."

"B'Elanna," Kathryn started while she turned the corner and the lift came back into view, "I got a little tied up?how long are you going to be down there?"

"At least an hour," Torres replied. "Don't worry about the micrometer then?I'll just run up there and get it."

Sighing, Janeway said as she started into the lift, "I've already got it. Why don't you just take a break then?I've got a quick stop to make, but I'll be there shortly. Deck Five."

"Are you in the turbolift?"

"How'd you guess?" the captain replied sarcastically, which was perfectly clear in her dry tone.

"Well, I was hoping to take a break when you got here."

Smiling, the captain informed, "Unfortunately, darling, my time is terribly limited today?but thank you for the thought."

"Red, one of these days I'm gonna abduct you?and then all your time will be mine."

As the lift came to a halt, Kathryn chuckled softly, smiling to herself as she replied, her voice warm and sexy, "I look forward to it, Miss Torres. Janeway out."

Entering Sickbay, still walking quick and commandingly, Janeway said to the Doctor, who was standing near a biobed and was speaking to a crewmember who was rolling his wrist around and thanking the hologram for repairing his injury, "Doctor, as soon as you're done, I need to see you in your office please."

Nodding to the crewman as he slid off the biobed, the Emergency Medical Hologram said to the captain as he entered his office where she was now perched on the edge of his desk, "What can I do for you, Captain?"

Janeway pushed away from the desk as she held out the micrometer, answering while he took it, "I need you to run a scan of that and tell me who's DNA is on it." When the hologram raised his eyebrows in curiosity, then narrowed his features as he examined the strange instrument, the captain added, although she attempted to remain as pleasant as she could since she still had a lengthy meeting with him later in the day and she didn't think it would do her any good if they started out on the wrong foot this early in the morning, "Quickly, Doctor?I don't have much time."

"Of course," the hologram came right back, then turned and headed out of the office. Going over to a biobed and laying the device on it, he questioned as he activated the sensor arch, "Am I allowed to ask why?"

"No."

"Hmm," he allowed, "then it's a Security issue?"

"Doctor," Janeway sighed and forced herself to keep her voice in check, purely for her own benefit, however, "just run the scan please."

Doing as he was told, standing to the side of the biobed and manipulating the sensor on the arch, the hologram said to the captain as she came and stood right next to him, while the data came back almost immediately, "Well?yours, obviously." When Janeway seemed to find very little to zilch funny about his attempt at humor, the Doctor cleared his virtual throat and reported, "It seems that Seven of Nine, Lieutenant Torres and Ensign Nicoletti are also suspects." As Janeway sighed, although it had nothing to do with the hologram's sometimes irritating personality, the Doctor grabbed the tool from the bed and finished as he handed it back to her, "That's all there is, Captain?well, those are the only people that have touched it in the last few weeks."

Accepting the device, Janeway nodded and said fairly absently as she turned and started away, "Thank you for your help, Doctor?I'll see you in a few hours."

While she continued down the hall again, headed back the way she came, Janeway slowed her stride just slightly, although she didn't realize she'd done so, as her thoughts once again turned to this situation. Tapping her index finger against the tool while she strolled along, the captain shook her head at herself for having made such a side-trip, absolutely certain she not only would have never done so seven years ago, but that she was obviously demonstrating over-protective behavior that bordered on paranoia. Stepping into the turbolift and mumbling her destination as she leaned on the back wall and rubbed her forehead, Kathryn let her eyes close as she titled it back until it too was resting against the partition while she dropped her hand to the railing.

After taking a fairly deep breath, Janeway murmured to herself, not orating louder so that the computer wouldn't beep at her and inform her that it couldn't compute the request, "This is ridiculous?you're being ridiculous. Stop making the situation worse by making assumptions."

As the lift stopped and the doors parted evenly for her, Janeway once again stepped out onto Deck Thirteen, headed toward the bow of her ship to the more forward access hatch to her vessel's series of service tunnels. Mostly looking toward the floor as she continued her self-castigation, she expelled the air from her lungs lightly as she remembered a book she'd read several years ago, Silence of the Lambs, where one of the characters had stated that when someone makes assumptions, they make "an ass out of u and me," and she realized, just as she had when she first read that line, that it was absolutely accurate.

Doing her best to push off the whole idea and to focus on the issues that she knew were accurate, Kathryn stepped up to the hatch, entered the security code to disengage the seal, and pulled open the fairly small door. Slipping the tool into her tunic, she climbed up into the tunnel, reached back to shut the door, then started forward on her hands and knees carefully, not for the first time wishing Starfleet would consider using a material that was a little more comfortable on the body than metal since the feel of the grating against her bony knees wasn't anywhere close to being welcomed. As she reached an intersection while she wondered how it was that B'Elanna actually enjoyed moving through these passageways all the time, again amazed that the engineer's body rarely showed any signs of her daily grind since Janeway was certain she already had a bruise on her hip from her fall this morning and figured she'd probably have one or two small ones on her knees from this crawl, the captain had a moment of hesitation before she continued.

Closing her eyes and trying to stimulate her memory, certainly not going to query the computer to give her directions since she was certain she could remember if she just put her mind to the task, Janeway mumbled, "Deflector control?deflector control?is?Deck Thirteen, section one?um?gamma," she allowed loudly, then continued forward, "gamma is forward and to the left." As she continued on, she shook her head and added, "I can't believe you forgot that, Kate?you know, sometimes I really worry about you."

Reaching the end of the forward tunnel and turning left, she crawled for twenty more meters until she came to her destination. Hopping down from the ledge and opening the hatch that was on the floor, Janeway said, "Knock, knock," before she sat on the floor, then carefully turned her body so she could start down the ladder.

"There you are," B'Elanna said as she left the sensor board she was working at and came over to the ladder. While the captain closed the hatch then started down the ladder, Torres reached up and clasped onto Janeway's waist, saying, "I thought I was going to have to call Security," as she pulled down the slighter redhead, who let go easily, familiar with the procedure, off the ladder and brought her to a rest in front of her. As she wrapped her arms around Kathryn's waist, she remarked as she felt her tool inside the captain's tunic, "Thanks for being my gopher."

While B'Elanna held her close, unzipped her jacket some and reached inside to get her tool, but made sure to detour for a second to squeeze her left breast softly while she kissed her most favorite spot, Kathryn chuckled and purred, tilting her head to give the chief full access to her neck, "Mmm, well, you're welcome."

Smiling, Torres wrapped Janeway up tighter and whispered into her ear, "Red, be glad you're the captain, because if you were anyone else, I'd have ambushed you already," kissing her once again, then using her just slightly sharper teeth on her pale flesh to give her a love bite.

Janeway resisted the urge to make a comment as to how she didn't think that was a reason why she should be glad she was the captain at all, and instead pulled Torres' hands away just enough so she could turn around while she said, "Well, the captain appreciates your self-control." Then smiling, she placed her hand on B'Elanna's upper arms and asked, flirting as she pulled her forward again, "Do you think Mister Carey will walk in on us if I kiss you?"

Grinning as she pushed them a step back until Kathryn was resting against the ladder, Torres said before she kissed Janeway, "If he does, I'll kill'em." After she kissed the captain properly, and quite passionately, Janeway kissing her right back, and ending up completely wrapped in each other's arms, breathing fairly heavily, B'Elanna asked softly as they rested their forehead's together and she ran her thumb across Kathryn's jaw where her right hand was cradling her neck, "Can you come to my place for lunch?"

The captain bit down on her bottom lip before she said, "Yes," and then kissed B'Elanna again, letting out a soft, abrupt sound from her nasal passage as the request quickened her pulse since she was more than aware that Torres was requesting that they take the hour break to make love rather than consume nutrition since that was what usually occurred on the smattering of times they shared an afternoon 'meal' together. Then sighing heavily, Janeway announced in a raspy whisper, "I can't?I'm already working on borrowed time." When she saw Torres visibly keep herself from sighing and instead nod her head and murmur, "Okay," Kathryn closed her eyes as she slipped her hand behind B'Elanna's neck and rubbed it gently, pulling her head back to her own. Then tilting her head up and kissing B'Elanna's forehead, she whispered, "Mmm, but don't think I don't want to, darling." Pulling back and now rubbing her thumb across her lover's lips, she informed, "But I've got to be efficient today, or I'll never get done in time for our dinner tomorrow."

Raising her eyebrows, Torres asked pleasantly, after she kissed Kathryn's thumb before she moved it away, "We're having dinner tomorrow?"

Janeway sighed then stated, her face suddenly much more serious, "Yes, Chakotay will be over too." When Torres realized what she was saying and hung her head, the captain went back to rubbing B'Elanna's neck as she asked quietly, "Are you ready to talk about this?"

"No," the chief answered, "but that doesn't matter because I'll never be ready, Kathryn." Looking up, she took a deep breath as she gazed into Janeway's crystalline eyes, now silently wondering if this was one of the last time she'd get to be this close to the woman, at least for a while?if not forever, since she had a feeling the good captain wasn't going to be as agreeable to B'Elanna's company after tomorrow night. When tears started to build in her eyes faster than she could stop them, the Klingon fought with all her might to blink them back, and when she knew she was going to lose the battle as Janeway whispered, her voice suddenly full of worry, "Lanna?" the engineer grabbed Kathryn and hugged her fiercely, mumbling into her neck.

Holding Torres equally tight and rubbing her back, Janeway cooed, "Lanna, it's okay?shhh, darling, it's going to be okay. We'll figure it out?just let me worry about it now." Not really wanting to pull away, but feeling the need to look into B'Elanna's face and make the brunette hear her, Janeway said softly, but with commanding authority and completely dry-eyed, "B'Elanna?look at me. We'll talk about this tomorrow night and we'll figure it out?and I promise to listen to everything you have to say. But," she lifted the chief's chin when Torres couldn't manage to look at her on her own, "you have to promise to listen to me and trust me. This is my government?I know how they operate?it's my job."

B'Elanna brought her hand up to Janeway's face as she cried, shaking her head, "Don't say that?don't compare yourself to them." Emotionally overcome and battling to keep herself in check, she pressed her lips to Janeway's and mumbled against them, "You're good?you're so much better than them."

Sighing, but smiling ruefully, Kathryn pulled her head away and whispered as she whipped away Torres' tears, "Darling, I am a Starfleet captain. I know it seems difficult to imagine," she tried to joke, "out here in the Delta Quadrant, but this is what I do. And maybe I'm just full of myself," she dipped her head, trying to get through to the ex-rebel, "but I'm think I'm rather good at it." When Torres sighed, then sniffled, Janeway kissed her lover's forehead and said, "I love you, B'Elanna Torres?I'm a captain and I love you." Back to looking at B'Elanna's tear-stained face, she requested quietly, "Now, I'm ordering you to stop worrying about this and to trust me, Lieutenant. Understood?"

B'Elanna took one more deep breath, then nodded and said, "Aye, Captain," certainly not able to follow that order, but doing her best to pretend to.

"Okay," Kathryn bobbed her head once, remaining upbeat and pleasant, even though she had terrible fears of her own about both of her lover's futures as well as her own, but she wasn't nearly concerned about herself as she was about them. As B'Elanna backed away, reached down to the floor and snatched up her tool jacket to wipe her face, Kathryn closed her eyes quickly as the woman's heavy metal sash that had been lying on top of it fell to the hard floor with a fairly loud clang. Certain now that B'Elanna had given into her softer side, she was going to have an even more difficult time not becoming aggressive and irascible, the captain forced herself not to sigh as she once again reprimanded herself in her mind for bringing up the dinner before discussing the Carey situation. As Torres threw down her coat, then placed her hands on her hips and took a series of deep breaths, Kathryn decided to forgo the discussion altogether, for the time being, and said instead, "Well, I better get going so I can finish on time today. Are you going to be over tonight, or no?"

Turning around, B'Elanna sniffled, and said, nodding, "Yea?yea, it shouldn't be a problem." Then using the back of her hand to wipe her nose, she asked, "Didn't you want to talk about Carey?"

"It's not necessary right now," Janeway shook her head negatively. "I should let you get back to work, and I still need to talk to Nick."

As Janeway started to turn toward the ladder, B'Elanna announced, "I think it is necessary, Captain." Coming up to the captain as the woman stopped and turned around at the abrupt and demanding tone of her chief engineer, Torres held up her hands and said softer, "I'm sorry, but I think we really should talk about it?I mean it."

Nodding, Janeway crossed her arms over her chest and said, "Alright?what happened?"

Torres reached out and took a hold of the captain's arm, and answered as she pulled her away from the opening of the hatch, wanting to keep the conversation as private as possible, just in case, "Well, he basically just said that he forgot, but I still don't buy it because I never close my door unless I'm in a meeting or I need privacy?and everyone knows that. He's never walked in on me before?it just seems too coincidental." As they stopped in the far corner, Torres leaned in close and whispered, "Honestly, I think he was hoping to catch us making out or something like that?something that would give him ammunition for whatever it is he's trying to do."

"If he'd known I was in there," Kathryn came back softly, shaking her head, "I'd be inclined to agree, but I'd been there for over an hour?so I don't see how?"

Jumping in, B'Elanna announced, "He did know. After I sent him to go work on the distribution center checks, Cohen came in and asked me what was going on since Carey had asked him if he knew why you were in my office before I showed up. He must have seen you," she shrugged, "when he came into Engineering since the door was open." When Janeway sighed at that and started rubbing her forehead, the chief queried, "Am I allowed to why you were in my office for an hour?"

Janeway dropped her hand and announced, "I was there investigating the complaint about," shaking her head, "Mister Carey." After giving the chief the full rundown of the situation, and not just that someone had complained, Kathryn questioned, "I know you're protective of your staff and prefer to handle the problems yourself?but I need to know, has anything like this ever happened before with Carey?" When the lead engineer sighed and cursed under her breath as she turned around and started pacing as she placed her hands on her hips, Janeway said with authority, "B'Elanna?"

Turning around, Torres looked up and said, "When you first gave me the job, there were a couple of weeks when he pretty much did everything in his power to either make me look like an idiot or break his nose again."

"What things?" asked the captain crossing her arms over her chest and looking rather stern.

Torres sighed again and admitted, "He did stupid shit like showing up late for duty?he came into Engineering late at night and reconfigured some of our sensor boards?turned in reports full of errors to see if I'd catch them before I passed them along to you?crap like that." When the captain opened her mouth, B'Elanna anticipated what she was going to say and informed as she held up her hands, "Look, I'm sorry I never put him on report, but I just didn't see what good that would have done?for anyone." Sighing, she crossed her arms over her chest and said, "I was just trying to show you that I could take care of things?and I did?we got through it," shaking her head, "at least I thought we did."

"B'Elanna," Janeway came back softer, "I'm not blaming you. I know you were in a tough position. You've done a remarkable job down there, but I think it's time we faced the fact that Carey's ego obviously hasn't gotten over it." Thinking about the missing tool incident, she asked, "Did any of the other Starfleet staff give you problems?or seem overly sympathetic to him?"

"No?not really," Torres shook her head. "Jacobs and Cohen were on the fence for a while, but I think they just got tired of Carey's belly-aching and finally told him to shut the hell up."

"What about Nicoletti?"

Laughing, B'Elanna shook her head and announced, "No." When Janeway seemed curious as to what Torres thought was so funny, the chief walked up to Kathryn and said, "Captain, Carey's kind of a sexist?in case you missed that." Smirking, she said, "Why do you think I decked him in the first place?" When the captain frowned heavily at that, Torres said, "He's not over the top or anything?but it's pretty clear he has some kind of insecurity when it comes to women...well, at least in authority positions." Taking a hold of Janeway's arm and squeezing, she leaned forward and whispered, "Trust me?I've worked side by side with him for over seven years?and I know the type."

The captain shook her head while she responded, "Well, it certainly makes this whole mess seem less strange." Sighing, she rubbed her forehead while she admitted, "I honestly had no idea." Getting rather angry, she spat, mostly to herself, "How the hell does someone like that graduate, let alone get promoted to a lieutenant?" Then shaking her head and taking a deep breath, she went on quickly, "Well, that doesn't matter now." Patting Torres' shoulder, and side-stepping her, Janeway said, "Thank you, Chief?I'll talk to you later?keep an eye on him and let me know if anything else happens."

"What are you going to do?"

Stopping at the ladder, the captain said, "I'm not sure yet," smirking, "but I'll think of something."

"Poor Carey," Torres smirked back as she approached her. And when Janeway nodded then started up the ladder, B'Elanna gave her a firm whack on the fanny, then stated, "I told you I'd get you back," referring to the time the captain had made a similar move several months ago right after Seven's surgery.

Opening the hatch after yelping at the harmless assault, Kathryn said, "You'll pay, Miss Torres."

"Anytime, anywhere, Red," B'Elanna allowed her crazy grin as she watch Kathryn climb the ladder. "You just let me know...and I'll be there."

Pushing herself up to the ledge, Kathryn swiveled around and came back as she leaned over and looked down, "Stop teasing me, I've already had a long day." When Torres laughed, Janeway smiled and said, "I love you?now get back to work."

"Aye, Captain."

Tapping her finger to the senor next to the door to the Security office on Deck Two where she knew Tuvok was working today since while they were in orbit there wasn't a need to keep anyone posted at Tactical all of the time because the commander could be on the Bridge in less than a minute and any of the officers manning Deck One could see to the post before he returned if something came up, Janeway waited for the door to hiss open before she proceeded forward, fully aware that she was well within her rights to just enter, but she'd always found that completely rude and vowed a long time ago to never be such a commanding officer. When the doors opened and she saw Tuvok standing behind his desk with a PADD in one hand while he utilized the large sensor board behind him, Janeway smiled crookedly as she entered, "Mornin'?ready for some fun?"

Raising his eyebrow, Tuvok immediately set down his large data device, and remarked, "Your idea of 'fun' often differs from mine, Captain." When Janeway chuckled at that and came over to the small couch that was set into the window that offset his desk, he asked as she sat, but turned toward the window and admired the candleholder on the ledge that she'd given him, "Has Lieutenant Paris' habits of old returned?"

Smirking and looking over to the tall, dark Security Chief, Janeway remarked, "I never knew you were so cynical?" When the Vulcan merely cocked his eyebrow at her, which she knew meant that he was merely operating on precedent, Kathryn allowed a small laugh before she turned forward, crossed her legs and said, "No?thank goodness?that's the last thing we need." Sighing, she informed, "It's Joe Carey this time. Miss Fowler, as well as the chief, are aware of the situation, but before I bring Nick in here, I wanted to know if you've heard anything about him?"

"Typically," Tuvok started, "not as much as you, but," he picked up his PADD, scanned down through some of the data and went on as he stood and handed it to the captain, then took a seat next to her, "during my random security checks, I discovered that the lieutenant has been logging in and out of duty at intervals that are not characteristic for him." As Janeway began reviewing the data, the commander announced further, "After discovering that, I decided to investigate further as standard procedure and found that he had also been replicating various, non-standard components?all of which lead me to believe he is attempting to construct, or has constructed, some type of eavesdropping device."

"What?" Janeway allowed as she looked away from the data and snapped her head to Tuvok.

Nodding his head, Tuvok admitted, "Of course, I cannot be certain, but that is what the evidence suggests. Lieutenant Torres' expertise would probably be helpful in this matter, however." As Janeway sighed and started rubbing her forehead while she continued scanning through the data, the commander added, "I had my doubts at first, but I've accessed all of the latest Engineering reports and no where does it suggest that this type of device is part of an ongoing or future project, and considering he has utilized the Engineering replicators and during non-standard times at random intervals, I became suspicious." Folding his hands together, he concluded, "Not to further your distress, Captain, but today he filed an official complaint."

Gravely, the captain asked, "About whom?"

"About you." When he saw Janeway clenched her jaw several times, he went on, "In it, he stated that your relationships with Seven of Nine and Lieutenant Torres, and your increased visits to Engineering to see them make for an uncomfortable work environment. There were several complaints actually, but that was the focus."

Pursing her lips, handing the PADD off to Tuvok and standing up, Janeway remained silent as she fumed within, calling Carey every foul term she could think of?and there were several. Pacing around very slowly while she had her hands on her hips, she finally took a deep breath, then tapped her communicator and said, "Janeway to Fowler."

"Fowler here."

"Report to the Security office. Janeway out." Clearing her throat and turning around, Kathryn shook her head and announced, "Commander, you're about to be hit with a rather large bomb?I hope you're prepared."

Raising his eyebrow, Tuvok rose from seat and said, "Indeed." Walking over to the replicator, he ordered himself a cup of tea and coffee for the captain. After setting his tea on his desk, he took the captain her coffee where she continued to pace around the room, while he said, "I assure you, Captain?there is no evidence to suggest that the lieutenant's complaint has validity, but I understand why this incident causes you distress."

"Thank you," Janeway said fairly absently as she accepted the gesture. Holding the coffee with both hands and sighing, she asked as she looked up to him, "Have you responded to him yet?"

"No," Tuvok shook his head, "I was waiting to gather more evidence as to his unusual behavior before I approached him in an effort to persuade him to retract it." When Janeway sighed at that then titled her head and squeezed his arm as she gave him a saddened, but warm look, the Vulcan remarked as he cocked one eyebrow and shook his head slightly from side to side as she spoke, "Whether or not the lieutenant has gone through official channels to promote his agenda is of no consequence. His judgment is clearly flawed, and it is my duty to make certain he doesn't disrupt the functioning of this vessel with his erroneous statements."

"I know it is," Janeway said softly as she stepped up close to the Vulcan, "but I thank you anyway?as my friend, first and foremost." When Tuvok nodded at that and said, equally soft, for the very first time, "You are welcome, Kathryn," Janeway was duly grateful Fowler came walking through the door because the captain was certain she would have dropped her coffee and given her Security Chief a bear hug for that personal allowance. Giving his arm a final squeeze as Fowler stopped just beyond the doorway and pretty much stood at attention since the captain's clipped hail had left her wondering if she was about to get her teeth kicked in by the redhead for something, Janeway glanced over her shoulder, then expelled the air from her chest at Nicole's stance and said, wryly, "At ease before you sprain something."

Relaxing immediately, since she was certain if Janeway was going to chew her out, she wouldn't start by making a joke, Fowler asked, still tentative though, "You wanted to see me, Captain?"

"Have a seat," gesturing toward the window couch, "both of you." When Tuvok took his tea from his desk and sat next to the taller female, Janeway forced herself to sit at the Commander's desk to keep herself from pacing around and possibly ranting, since she was now very personally insulted, on many levels, by Lieutenant Carey, and this went "way beyond" the fact that he'd referred to the physical aspect of her romantic relationships as 'screwing.' After taking a sip of coffee, she set the mug down in her lap, and said to Tuvok, "This morning when I awoke, I received a message from Miss Fowler alerting me of a situation. In the message was an unofficial complaint about Lieutenant Carey. Apparently," she said with a certain amount of distaste, "Mister Carey came into Engineering sometime after 0100 hours this morning, after he'd had at least one drink, and basically paid a little too much attention to Ensign Dawson. Enough that she felt uncomfortable by his subtle," she added with sarcasm, "advances." After taking another sip of her coffee, Janeway said, "To make a long story short since I've logged all the information, I went down to Engineering early this morning and spoke with both Dawson and Crewman Atler, who witnessed the incident. Now, Sydney doesn't want to file any kind of official complaint, and I certainly won't force her, but Mister Atler was a little more concerned about it than she was. Considering all that we know, and the fact that he'd been drinking, I don't think we can responsibly let this go."

"I'm inclined to agree with you, Captain," Tuvok allowed.

Looking over to Fowler, Janeway said, "It seems that Mister Carey has been doing a little more than shooting off his mouth. Besides all that I just said, and generally acting peculiar, he's also been replicating non-standard components, and," she added lightly, although her face gave her irritation away, "he's filed an official complaint against me?as of today."

Expelling the air from her lungs and shaking her head, Nicole said, "Well, he's got some nerve?I'll give him that much."

"Yes?well," Kathryn went on as she sat down her coffee on the desk and crossed her legs, "that's not all." Now speaking to both of them, she announced, "I used the chief's office this morning to question Dawson and Atler and then to complete my log of the events. Just as I finished that, Miss Torres came into her office. At that point I closed the door because I was preparing to fill her in on the situation since I didn't think it was something we should attempt to keep from her." When both Fowler and Tuvok nodded at that, Kathryn cleared her throat and said, "We spoke for a very brief time about a personal matter and then were interrupted during our discussion by Mister Carey barging in on us without announcing himself." As Tuvok cocked his eyebrow and Fowler mumbled under her breath as she shook her head, Janeway said, "B'Elanna obviously became irritated and when she questioned him as to why he didn't utilize the door call, he said he forgot. At that point I left since I didn't feel it necessary at that time to usurp her authority?and I wanted to speak with both of you about the Dawson incident before I approached him." While Tuvok nodded his silent approval for her judgment, the captain concluded, "I just finished speaking with her about the situation and during her conversation it came out that apparently this isn't the first time she's had an issue with him. According to her, he gave her quite a few problems when she was first given the lead position, but she dealt with it herself at that time in an attempt to?prove her worth, if you will. She also said," taking a quick breath and sighing to keep her cool, "that it seems Mister Carey has a small problem with women in authority?which," she added as Fowler laughed sardonically, although quiet while she shook her head and grew visibly tense, "I guess is rather obvious now that I think about it."

"Indeed," Tuvok allowed, dry and with clear disapproval, well as much as the Vulcan would allow. "How do you wish to proceed?"

Looking over at Fowler, then back to the Vulcan, Janeway started, "What I'm about to tell you, Tuvok," she smirked, "is classified." As Fowler got up from her chair and went to the replicator, cursing, mostly under her breath, her dialect reasserting itself as it tended to do when she was upset, "Christ almighty, I can't believe his timing," the captain continued as Tuvok cocked his eyebrow, "The only people that know about this are myself, Chakotay, Nick, B'Elanna, Seven, and you?and we need to keep it that way."

"Of course, Captain," Tuvok responded as Fowler stopped and asked, "The commander knows?"

Over her shoulder, Janeway responded, "Yes?B'Elanna told him, and if she hadn't, I would've." Back to Tuvok, Kathryn went on, not wanting to explain herself anymore than she already felt she was, "Two days ago, Seven informed me that for six months she and B'Elanna have been working on a project to develop a Slipstream drive." When Tuvok proceeded to give her a look of surprise that registered right up there with the one he'd given her when she informed him in a round about way that she was involved with both women, Janeway nodded to him and added, "Again, to make a long story short, they're convinced they can build it and that it will work. I've decided to go forward with the project?one step at a time. First, they have testing to perform in the holodecks which will commence as soon as Seven's had plenty of time to rest."

"I assume this project is the reason for her recent lethargy?"

"Yes," Janeway said softly, sighing. Then shaking her head as Fowler, with juice in hand came back to the couch, Kathryn continued to explain, "If the tests go well, which we believe they will, then we'll fit the new shuttle with the drive for testing purposes. Now," she sat forward, "because of the sensitively of this project and because B'Elanna will be required to work on this, I decided to send Mister Carey over to the Alaxiat in place of her?partly in hopes that that would appease him since before then all he'd done, as far as I knew, was make flippant comments about having a problem with Seven and eluding to the fact that because she's involved with the chief and myself, she gets special privileges."

Sighing, Fowler felt the need to include, knowing it would probably bother the hell out of Janeway, but also knowing now wasn't the time to try to protect the woman, "He's not just focusing on Seven, Captain. I think he basically has it out for anyone you're involved with?or he thinks you're involved with."

Janeway raised her eyebrows, and asked, "He's said something to you?" since she figured that meant Fowler had been targeted.

"No, Ma'am," Nicole shook her head. Then clearing her throat mildly, she sighed and reported, "You remember the morning that Sam kissed me in the Mess Hall?" When Janeway nodded seriously at that, far too ill-at-ease to find the humor in the statement, Fowler glanced over at Tuvok, who was listening closely, "Well, um?she did that because someone saw her and Naomi coming back from the Alaxiat with her overnight bag and they asked her directly if she'd stayed the night in your cabin." When Janeway clenched her jaw again, then looked down, Fowler added quickly, "She didn't tell me who, but considering she lives a hop, skip and a jump from Engineering?I'd bet it was Carey. I'll ask her if you want me to."

Beyond pissed now, finding the whole situation so incredibly adolescent and infuriating, Janeway spun in her chair and stood, saying loudly, unable to help herself, "No, it doesn't matter?and I'm sure it was." Rubbing her forehead and returning to her pacing, she remained silent for a few moments as she thought it over, then turned and barked at Nicole, "I want that man off my ship by this evening, Commander?I don't care what wrangling you have to do?get it done."

"Yes, Ma'am."

Still speaking to Nicole, the captain said, "I'm going over there this afternoon to see to a few things, so I'll speak with Devin and ask her to keep an eye on him for me." Relaxing a bit, she said, "She seems to thrive on dealing with problem people?so I'm certain she'll keep him in line." When Fowler smiled softly at that and nodded her agreement, knowing from her time working with the woman that the captain's assumption was accurate, Janeway pointed to the Vulcan and said, "Commander, as soon as we're done here, I want you to go see him. Tell him you take his complaint seriously and that you plan to hold a full investigation. If he asks you if I know about it, tell him I don't." Shaking her head, now rubbing her neck and continuing with her pacing, the captain allowed herself to cool down, then stopped and said, "Thank you, Miss Fowler?if you'll excuse us please."

"Yes, Captain?Commander," Fowler nodded to the Vulcan then quickly exited, taking her juice with her and deciding to just recycle it in the Mess Hall instead of testing the captain's patience by staying any longer than necessary.

Turning around and looking at Tuvok as Fowler left, Janeway said, "I'm sorry you had to find out like this?but the less people that know about the project, the better." Sighing as she sat down next to him, she said softly, "I just don't want to crash any more hopes than I have to in case this doesn't work."

Not bothering to remind the captain that he didn't have any 'hopes' to crash since he appreciated her compassion, even if it wasn't necessary, Tuvok said, "There is no need to apologize, Captain. This situation regarding the lieutenant is?unfortunate?to say the least." Raising his eyebrow, he said, "Again?I do not envy your position."

Looking up and shaking her head, Kathryn sat back, then pinched the bridge of her nose and said, "Tuvok?you're smart to stay out of command." Then sighing, she dropped her hand, turned her head toward him and said, "Chakotay's coming over to my place for dinner tomorrow night, but afterward, we're all?well, with the exception of Nick, going to discuss the Maquis situation." When Tuvok nodded in understanding since he knew almost as much as Janeway did, Kathryn reached over and asked as she placed her hand on his, "Will you be available later tomorrow evening?I think I might just need you there?"

"All you are required to do is hail me."

"Thank you," Janeway whispered. Then giving his hand a squeeze, she pushed herself off the couch and said, "Well, I'll let you get back. I don't know when we'll get to talking tomorrow, but I'll try not to make it too late."

"Enjoy your time with your companions, Captain?there is no need to rush the discussion on my account." When Janeway sighed and then nodded at him over her shoulder before she exited, the Vulcan rose immediately from his couch and proceeded to his sensor board. Accessing Carey's complaint, he immediately deleted it and removed any trace that it had ever been sent, then quickly used his powerful Security clearance to start a search through all of Voyager's databases for any reference made of Seven of Nine, and commanded the computer to funnel all of the various logs, some of them personal, to his personal workstation so he could go through each and every one to separate any that made mention of the former drone's romantic relationship with either Janeway or Torres until he had adequate time to speak with Janeway one on one about his concerns for the cool blonde's safety in the Federation and detail his plans to her about how to keep the female that he'd come to think of as something of a daughter, safe.

The Vulcan was close to one hundred years old and he'd seen and heard enough during his lengthy Starfleet career that told him as concerned he knew Janeway was about her Maquis crewmembers, she should be doubly concerned for her Borg because there were aspects to the Federation that Tuvok believed Janeway hadn't a clue existed.

Stepping out of the turbolift onto Deck Eight, taking yet another detour, but this one being as needed as the last few she hadn't planned on, Janeway walked briskly down the hall moving to a room on her ship she couldn't honestly remember accurately when she'd visited last since it always gave her a hefty dose of the blues. This time, however, she was hoping being surrounded by the flowers and plants Kes had grown and nurtured would give her the sensation that she was in the presence of good, which was how Janeway always remembered the petite blonde as?pure goodness.

Each week Kathryn received a new set of flowers from the room to display in her Ready Room, but after breaking down into tears after a particularly trying day when she'd lost three crewmembers at the hands of the Hirogen, she gone to Neelix, since she honestly felt he was the only one who would agree to her request without question, and asked him if at the start of each week, as a personal favor to her, if he would cut her a bundle of flowers and transport them to her office. Neelix, of course, had agreed since he was the most vigilant about keeping up the flora in the room, and never once had he forgotten or made any kind of comment other than, "Certainly, Captain?I'd be happy to." And each week Janeway walked into her Ready Room to find the bundle lying carefully on her desk where she would then prune and arrange, but not once since then had she stepped foot into the Airponics Bay, and even though she wasn't certain how long ago that last visit had been, she knew it had to be coming on three years quickly.

As she approached the door, Janeway stopped near the front of it, but stayed out of the sensor grid that would open it and asked quietly after she looked around to make certain no one was close enough to hear her, "Computer, is anyone in the Airponics Bay?"

"Negative."

Sighing and then taking another deep breath, Janeway stepped forward and quickly went inside before she lost her nerve. As soon as the doors closed, she request softly, not looking up from the floor yet, never able to find her command voice in this domain since Kes had left, "Computer, lower the lights to quarter and seal the door?authorization Janeway bravo, seven, nine, red."

When the lights immediately dwindled until the room was mostly full of cozy, shadowed nooks, Kathryn took another series of quick breaths, then licked her lips as she swallowed, and finally inhaled deeply as she raised her line of sight. When two rows of shelves that were overflowing with various types of flowers and plants greeted her silently, Janeway smiled softly and whispered, "Hello again?it's been a long time," not certain if she was speaking to the plants or to Kes' memory since she'd always felt the woman's warm presence acutely in this sizeable room, before and after the Ocampa had left.

Continuing forward with fragile footsteps, she halted by a bush of daisies and went on speaking, "I'm sorry I've been gone so long?goodbye's have never been my strong suit?but I guess you know that." Then clearing her throat soundly as that last sentence brought forth a great deal of emotion as she clearly remembered sitting in Kes' quarters and saying goodbye to her just before the female's transformation, and recalling how she'd fought terribly hard with herself during those moments between trying to do what was best for Kes and to keep herself from begging her to stay with them, Janeway added, "You're probably wondering why I'm here," as she proceeded to the rose bush Kes had grown just for her when the young Ocampa had discovered they were the captain's favorite.

As not so distant memories of times she'd spent with the petite blonde surged forward, and she once again felt the acute ache in her chest at the loss that couldn't be replaced by anything since each of her crew were unique and precious to Kathryn, she snatched up a pair of sheers to keep herself busy and cut a bud that was fully bloomed and soon would wither, then explained, "Well, I've had something of a trying day?big surprise," she added dryly, "and since it's not even lunch time, I thought maybe a stop here would help me get through the rest without shouting or throwing my coffee cup across my office again."

Chuckling to herself as she pulled to rose away, she brought it to her nose and announced after sniffing the sweet, perfume that she loved, "The rumors I'm sure you've heard are true?I'm involved with B'Elanna," laughing somewhat since she even found it amazing sometimes, "?so some of her?tendencies?have rubbed off on me a little."

After a few moments of silence, Janeway migrated to a cargo container that was set on its side and most often used as a bench, taking a much needed seat. As she picked off some of the stray leaves and the thorns carefully and with practiced skill, Kathryn reported, "And yes, it's true that I'm also involved with Seven of Nine?although, I think most of my habits have rubbed off on her, rather than the other way around?unfortunately, since I'm sure she'd find this detour inefficient." Looking up as she twirled the flower gently between her fingers, the captain smiled while she went on, "You two never really got to meet properly, did you?" Shaking her head, she sighed as she looked back at the flower and said, "That's a shame, honestly?since I'm sure you'd have loved her once you got to know her?and once," Janeway chuckled, "she stopped thinking you were irrelevant." Happily and with pride, Kathryn informed, "You wouldn't even recognize her now?she's come such a long way?although," she smirked, "she's still very much Borg?well," she added lightly, "their most redeeming qualities. Lanna too. She's a honored warrior now. She went through all the rituals, wears a metal sash?the whole thing?she's even growing her hair out. I just found out today," Kathryn sighed, somewhat forlorn, but would only let it show when she was alone, "that she and Seven speak Klingon when they're alone together. I've never actually seen?or heard them do that, but I'm sure it's rather comical?now that I think about it since Seven's so deadpan all the time?and Lanna's?well, she's not." Laughing to herself, ignoring the little voice in her head that was reminding her that she was speaking to herself, she went on openly, "I'm not sure how they do it, honestly, but they've become very close on many levels. I guess it was only a matter of time before they stopped fighting each other, but sometimes it even surprises me to see them interacting when they don't know I'm watching." Smiling humbled, Kathryn whispered, "B'Elanna's so much different with her. Sometimes I can hardly believe my eyes, truthfully. She's so sweet?and patient," the redhead announced with clear surprise to her voice, "in her own way?and I honestly think," she chuckled, "that they go out of their way to impress the other one?and I'm not sure they even know it."

Taking a quick breath as tears threaten to well up in her eyes as she started to think about how much she was missing by being claimed by this ship, and the paradox that when she finally let it go, she might never see them together again, Janeway shook her head as she crossed her legs and rested her chin in her hand as she continued to speak to the flower, knowing very well she was no longer talking to the article in her grasp, "Samantha and Naomi are very good friends of theirs, especially Seven's." Smiling softly, Janeway whispered, "Naomi stays over our place about once every two weeks now?sometimes just with Seven and sometimes just with me. She's my assistant now, but she's just as sweet as she ever was." Wiping a tear way as she sat up straight, Janeway sniffled and said, "Neelix, of course, just adores her and he still takes care of them both?just like he always has?although," she added very quiet, "I think Samantha finally has someone to take care of her alone. You remember Nicole Fowler?don't you? She was the tall brunette that worked the night shift on the Bridge?well, she's Lieutenant-Commander Fowler now and she's my second officer."

When a few moments of silence fell upon the captain, Janeway sighed before she continued to whisper, "Tuvok's still around?still as steadfast as ever. He and Seven have grown pretty close since they've bonded on the logical," she chuckled again, "level...although, I'm sure he misses your mentoring sessions. Chakotay's still here too?although, he's on our sister ship right now helping them out. Tom, Harry?the Doctor?everyone's fine," quieting until her voice was merely a faint ghostly murmur, "everyone misses you, Kes." Sighing quickly again as two tears sprung free, Kathryn announced the obvious in the same tone, "I miss you..."

"Doctor to Captain Janeway."

After sniffling a few times and using her sleeve to wipe her eyes, Janeway cleared her throat and said after she tapped her communicator, "Janeway here."

"Captain, I've had some appointments rearranged?would it be possible for us to meet now instead of later?"

"That'll be fine, Doctor?I'll be there in a few minutes. Janeway out."

As she sniffled and wiped her eyes again, Kathryn said, "And as always?I'm the busiest person on the ship?some things never change." Leaving the flower on the container as she stood, the captain blinked her eyes a few times as she took several solid breaths, then shaking her head and leaving quickly, she finished, not able to do anything but smile softly while she spoke, "Thank you again for listening?I'll try not to go so long between visits."

Captain Janeway stepped out of the Doctor's small bathroom after taking a few moments to use the facilities and make certain any lingering signs of her previous emotion filled, although fairly cathartic, moments in the Airponics Bay where gone, Kathryn answered when the Doctor, who was sitting in his office chair waiting for her asked if she was feeling alright, "Oh, I'm fine." Somewhat lying, she said, "I was just in the Airponics Bay checking on the flowers and some of the pollen must have bothered my sinuses."

"Captain, if you're allergic to pollen now too," the hologram said, "don't you think you should start taking your yearly medication?"

"Doctor," Janeway sighed, forgetting that she was talking to a hologram who constantly had full access to her medical file, "a little sneezing fit never hurt anyone?and for all I know, there could have been some mold or something in there. It's really not a crisis." As she sat down in the chair while he sighed and shook his head at her continued stubbornness to practically any form of medical advice, Kathryn said, "What have you got for me?"

The EMH rolled eyes once more before he reported, sliding the PADD he'd prepared forward on his desk toward the captain, "I've got several ideas?some of them more practical and probable than others, but I thought it best to list them all at this point." While Janeway retrieved the report, squinted slightly then pulled the PADD farther away from her before she started reading, the Doctor felt the need to ask since he'd never checked the woman's vision, "Captain, when's the last time you had your eyes checked?"

"Doctor," Janeway replied, rather clipped, not looking up from the tiny text, "I'm here to discuss Seven of Nine?not me. Go on please."

"As I was saying," he started as he sat back and folded his hands in his lap, "and as you can see?hopefully," he added just to make a point, which the captain completely ignored, "we have several avenues to take?and some options with the portable regeneration device. Before the removal of her abdominal implant, I'd started developing this model." Turning in his chair and pulling up the schematic on the sensor board behind him, he allowed softly as Janeway looked up from the PADD, squinted again, then finally sighed and rose to come closer, "Mmmhmm." When Kathryn again ignored him and leaned on the wall as she looked at his work, with her arms crossed, the Doctor went on, "This device utilized the contact nodes at the base of her spine?where she interfaced with her alcove previously. In theory, it could be worn around her waist?like an emergency survival pack. Of course, it would weigh significantly more than a survival pack, but with Seven it wouldn't be anything she couldn't handle, nor would it tax her systems beyond acceptable levels for something of this nature."

When Janeway nodded at that then turned to him, the Doctor said, "Besides the fact that I haven't figured out how to power it independently of a vessel for long periods of time?there, of course, is the problem that she no longer has contact nodes. With this design base, which is honestly the most practical and durable?I see two options: one, we look into changing the design so that it sends a signal to her cortical node, like her alcove does now?or two, we reimplant her contact nodes."

When Kathryn raised her eyebrows at that last statement and her face clearly showed her disapproval, the Doctor held up his hands and explained, "I know what you're thinking, Captain and believe me, I've thought this through completely, and if I was certain we could get the first option to work, I'd never have suggested it, but the fact is that with this type of device, contact nodes work best." Standing up and pulling up another display, he explained, "Currently, her alcove works fine because it is stationary and the signal doesn't have an opportunity to travel away from her, but," he looked back at Janeway, "in the open air, or in another situation, it's possible we could run into a problem with that. We'd have to create some attachment that rose up from her waist and sat on her shoulders or something of that nature. One, that would restrict her movement a great deal and probably make it more prone to damage. There's also the fact that if she were trapped in a dangerous situation, it could be equally life threatening for her to activate the device since there'd be a definite risk that the signal could be detected." Sighing and shaking his head, he added, "If she had contact nodes, there would be no signal for them to detect?only the power signature, but I'm certain she and Lieutenant Torres could create some kind of device to minimize that risk."

Nodding her head, Kathryn remarked as she started back for the chair while looking at the PADD, "Okay, you've got a point, but I'm not willing to resign myself to that fact yet. What were the other plans?maybe we can incorporate several ideas into one device?"

As Janeway sat back down, the Doctor did as well while he explained, "The others are more emergency medicine. Listed there," he pointed to the PADD, "is a list of various medication that she can take to counteract some of the affects of lack of regeneration, but their potency is only temporary, and after three or four weeks, no matter how much medication we gave her, she'd simply be unable to function without regeneration at that point." As the captain pursed her lips while she crossed her arms over her chest and ran her index finger across the seam of her mouth in contemplation, the Doctor added, "That's actually very promising if you think about it?and it would especially be useful for an even lengthier period if she had access to an alcove?assuming for some reason it was necessary to conserve power and only operate it at small intervals here and there."

"Agreed," the captain acknowledged seriously, still thinking everything over carefully.

Leaning forward on his desk, the Doctor went on, "The final avenue is purely a survival measure in the event that all other options fail." When the captain slowly dropped her hand, raised her eyebrows and took a deep breath, then seemed to hold it, the photonic entity announced, "We could write a program specific to Seven and download it into any device?Voyager, any of the shuttles?even a PADD?anything that she could interface with using her assimilation tubes that would command her cybernetic systems to completely shutdown." As the captain exhaled and brought her hand up to her forehead as she looked down and started rubbing her skin slowly, the Doctor added, "Used in conjunction with a synaptic stabilizer, she'd basically slip into a deep coma, but her neural processes would continue to function to keep her from sustaining any brain damage."

Closing her eyes and licking her lips for a moment, Kathryn looked up and asked, gravely, "How deep of a coma?"

"She'd be completely unaware of her surroundings, or incapable of coming out of it unassisted," the Doctor announced. "She'd be at the mercy of the synaptic stabilizer, but," he reminded, "there would be no permanent damage done to her cybernetics systems, which is the key, Captain. This same situation would occur if she went too long without regeneration?however, in that case, there is the risk that once her systems finally shutdown and became inert that we'd be unable to revive them, let alone repair the damage."

"How would she be revived if she used this command?"

"Once she was in a situation where she could immediately regenerate, someone would have to tap directing into her cortical node and reactivate her systems by sending an electric current through it and incorporating another command to overwrite the previous one." Shaking his head, the Doctor acknowledged, "The procedure would be delicate, although fairly uncomplicated. I'm certain Ensign Wang, Lieutenants Paris and Torres, Ensign Kim and Wildman, Commander Tuvok?or yourself could perform it without much difficulty." Then titling his head, he added, "The most difficult aspect would be that her skull would have to be opened using a laser scalpel, but all of the instruction on the procedure could be made readily available with her emergency pack."

Keeping her all of her fears in check and sticking to just gathering information and not worrying about making any decisions immediately, Janeway asked, "How long could she stay in this state?this coma?"

"Indefinitely," the Doctor answered, then amended, "well, until the natural aging process of her biological systems degraded if a stasis container wasn't available, but that could very well be a hundred years from now?so, basically, as long as was necessary. Again," he said, "this is worse case scenario?and absolute last resort to keep her alive and in a state of almost suspended animation." Sitting back, the hologram informed, "The whole incident with the Artificial Intelligence is what got me thinking about it actually, and I know it's drastic, but I'm certain it would work. It's actually fairly simple medicine?just?unconventional."

"And simply putting her into stasis wouldn't work?"

"No," the Doctor shook his head, "her cybernetic systems would still continue to function, even at a minimal level, and we'd still run into the problem of them shutting down completely?and possibly forever." Clearing his throat, the Doctor admitted, "If that were to happen, there is the possibility of reviving them, but I don't believe it's something that she would ever allow."

After a beat, Kathryn blinked and stated, rather than asked, "You mean reassimilated her."

"Yes," the Doctor answered. "If her human systems continued to function?say in stasis, she could then be reassimilated and I'm fairly certain the new nanoprobes introduced into her body would then reactivate all of her cybernetic systems during the process. At that point, we could once again deal with her as we did before, but like I said, I don't think she'd allow it. Plus," he reminded, raising his eyebrow, "we can be certain that even though she wouldn't be connected to the Collective, her body would rebuild all of its former systems. It would then be possible that the Borg would become aware of the situation since she'd undoubtedly begin emitting a subspace resonance frequency. I doubt that she'd forget who she was and try to over take the ship or something like that, or try to stop us from tending to her right away, but," shaking his head, "we simply can't be certain. I don't know?I've never assimilated anyone."

"Let's say she did allow it," Kathryn allowed the speculation, knowing in her heart she'd go to any lengths necessary to keep Seven of Nine alive, "how would you assimilate her? Would she have to do it?"

"No. That wouldn't work since if we were to do that, it would mean her current nanoprobes were inert." When Janeway nodded, the Doctor explained, "I keep a supply in stasis that I periodically utilize in an effort to maintain her systems. Seven's already programmed them to remain inert unless reactivated by an electrical signal. At that point, we'd have to reset their programming?to default, if you will, and at that point, we could inject them into her using a modified hypospray. Since nanoprobes, by design, don't begin assimilating anything until organic tissue is detected, we wouldn't have to worry about them trying to assimilate the hypospray, or anything like that. It would work pretty much the same as her assimilation tubules."

Taking a deep breath and shaking her head, once again rubbing her forehead while she looked over the data in her hand again, the captain asked, "Have you discussed any of this with her?"

"Not yet?I didn't see a need," the Doctor answered, "but, of course, I'll need her input on the portable regeneration device."

Nodding, Janeway set the PADD on the desk and ordered, "Alright, I want you to get to work on all of these ideas right away. We'll be adding an alcove to the new shuttle, and I definitely want this?Borg emergency kit, minus the portable regeneration until, ready to go as soon as possible. Go ahead and include whatever information you feel is necessary in it, and as soon as the shuttle's systems are functioning to that level, we'll also transfer that information to it." As the Doctor nodded, the captain informed further, "I'll talk to her about the options with the portable unit, and we'll let her decide which option to go with," tilting her head, "but I can pretty much guarantee?that she doesn't want you to reimplant her connection nodes. So, why don't you send your data to Miss Torres now and see what she can do about the power supply issue, since that won't matter?whatever Seven decides, and," the captain added, "I'd like you to bring Samantha Wildman in on this as well." When the Doctor raised his eyebrows in surprise, Kathryn explained quickly, "I know she doesn't have a lot of experience with Borg technology, but she is a very skilled biologist and she just might be able to offer some insight. Considering she's rather good friends with Seven, I think she'll appreciate the chance to help, as well as offer us a new perspective."

"I will, Captain?it certainly can't hurt."

Then quieting some, Janeway requested, "As far as the more extreme measures?I'd like you to develop a procedure for both of them, and make it available as you will with the others, but at this point, I don't want you to say anything to her about it. Something like that is best decided when, and if, the time ever comes?but for now, there's no need to cause her that kind of distress. Besides," she said, shaking her head, "I'm sure Seven knows as well as anyone about what could happen to her if she was unable to regenerate." Smirking slightly, Kathryn finished, "She might be stubborn and rebel from time to time?but she's not ignorant to the realities of her situation."

When the Doctor nodded and informed her that he agreed, Janeway bobbed her head and said, "Thank you, Doctor?again, you've done a remarkable job." Extending her hand, she added softly as he shook it, "I know Seven appreciates it?as well do I." Smiling modestly, she informed, "We'd never have come this far with you."

"Thank you, Captain," the Doctor allowed a pleasant smile at that.

After letting go of the Doctor's hand and starting for the door, something struck her, so stopping and turning around, Janeway said, speaking lightly and with pride, "You know, when we get home?hopefully before I'm old and grey," she added just to be certain she wasn't giving herself away, "you might consider opening your own practice." As the Doctor raised his eyebrows and then smiled at the thought, Kathryn said, "Since I highly doubt there's anyone back home that could care for Seven better than you?you're guaranteed to have at least one regular patient."

"Just one, Captain?" the Doctor asked, smirking.

"Don't hold your breath about B'Elanna, Doctor," Janeway came back smiling, silently informing him that she, herself, would of course see him as well, "remember?Klingon's don't take medicine."

As Janeway walked away, the Doctor shook his head and mumbled, "Apparently, neither do captains."

Forcing herself not to roll her eyes or rub her neck as she stood in one of the corridors on Deck Twelve with two geologists from Science who were in the process of attempting to get the captain to agree to an away mission to survey the planet they were in orbit of, Kathryn nodded her head as she responded, "Yes, I've read them all, Ensign?and I understand your position, but," she reminded, "we've yet to send an away team to survey this planet to make certain it's safe for us." Janeway raised her right hand and said as she spoke with her first two fingers extended, "This simply isn't a critical aspect to our mission right now." When the lead scientist started to argue, although respectfully, that it was critical and that soon if they didn't collect some soil samples their work would be completely put on hold, the captain sighed and interrupted, "Mister Edwards, right now we've got a starship to upgrade and crew assignments to settle?that's our top priority. Period." Then softening and quieting some, Janeway explained, "Don't think I don't understand how important this is to you and your colleagues, but we can only responsibly do so much right now and this has to come first." Reaching out and patting his arm as he grew defeated, she said, "Why don't you send me your timeline and I'll do my best to getting an away team put together before you run out of time, alright?"

"Yes, Captain?thank you."

Nodding, Janeway said, "Okay?now if you'll excuse me, gentlemen" she added before they got any ideas about conducting the first survey mission themselves, something that Kathryn only left in the hands of security or senior officers since those missions in particular tended to be some of the most dangerous, thus a more seasoned staff was necessary. Once she was a few steps away from them and they hadn't called out to her a second time, Janeway breathed a sigh of relief while she picked up her commanding step until she was once again moving briskly down the hallway of her vessel.

When she turned the corner and started for the Shuttle Bay where she had promised herself she'd put in a few more hours of labor this week to assist her over-worked, although not under-appreciated engineers, Janeway said out loud, twisting her body and sidestepping quickly, "Computer, state the time," while a blonde crewman, who was busy reading a PADD intently as she walked, passed closely to her left. When the young woman's head snapped up and back at the sound of the captain's voice, not having realized it was her commanding officer she hadn't bothered to move over for, and attempted a murmuring apology, Janeway simply bobbed her head absently over her shoulder as she continued forward without missing a step.

"The time is 1218 hours," reported the ship's computer in its ever-present, monotone feminine tones.

The captain allowed only a mild sigh at that since although she was once again working straight through her lunch break, she wasn't doing as poorly managing her time today as she thought. Only eighteen minutes behind schedule was rather acceptable at this point in Kathryn's daily grind, so without much more worrying about not having adequate time today to work on the shuttle, and putting off her fretting about trying to fit three meetings aboard the Alaxiat into the span of an hour since she certainly wasn't going to cut her time with Naomi short today, Janeway breezed into the Shuttle Bay.

And that's when she heard it: there was music playing in the Shuttle Bay?or more like playing loudly.

When the musical selection fell upon her ears, the captain automatically, out of habit, frowned and came to a halt just beyond the large, heavy doors. Never once in all of her years as a captain had Janeway entered a public room, where there were officers on duty, to discover them violating protocol in such a manner. As she scanned the room, also out of habit, and let her vision center on the new shuttle, Janeway, whose entrance hadn't been spied or heard, quietly watched two of her engineers, as well as Lieutenant Paris, work on the outside of the construct. To further her initial and habitual dismay, they were without their tunics and their overshirts, leaving their chest clad only in tanktops.

Janeway sighed softly at the ingrained uneasiness this situation automatically triggered in the Starfleet captain, and once again forced herself to not rub her forehead at the situation. For a few more moments she watched them lift and then hold a heavy piece of hull plating, while one of them began welding it to the craft, and when she watched them strain and then detected Paris singing to the lyrics, most likely to keep them occupied during the hardest part of the work, Kathryn expelled the air from her chest at her own straight-laced, Starfleet backbone, and the style of music, not to mention the fact that Paris was signing, and finally relaxed.

Shaking her head slightly as she continued forward and started unzipping her tunic, Janeway decided the best way to bridge the issue of the lax protocol and the fact that her engineer's had been heavily taxed in the last several months was to join her crew just as they were, believing that currently, moral was more important than protocol?especially protocol that was hardly something that put them at risk while in orbit. There was also the fact that it was a good deal warmer in the Shuttle Bay currently, feeling much more like that of her and B'Elanna's quarters. After she folded her jacked while she walked, then set it down out of the way, Kathryn came up to the three men while she pushed the sleeves up on her long-sleeved shirt, cursing her luck for choosing to wear that style instead of the short-sleeved version, and said to Ensign Cohen, who was doing the welding since he was the smallest of the three men, "Mister Cohen, why don't you help them and I'll take care of this, hmm?"

"Aye, Captain," Jackson Cohen replied, cutting the power on the device and handing it over to the redhead.

While the ensign took his place next to Paris and Jacobs, who were grateful, Janeway asked as she activated the welder and carefully began running the red tipped tool over the seam of the partition, "Is it me, or is abnormally warm in here?"

Speaking up over the music still sounding steadily, since it had been his idea, Paris reported, "It's just for effect, Captain?you can't have a end of summer beach party without hot weather."

After she recalled the exact date and realized that if they were on Earth that it would indeed be the end of summer, at least on the North American Continent where she and Paris were from, Kathryn said, not giving herself away yet, while she continued to work her way up the partition, "Oh, is that what this is?well, I guess that explains the music." Reaching as high as she could go, Janeway looked over at Tom, who was clearly anxious and questioned, smirking finally, "Who's this anyway?" as she pointed to the roof, then added before he answered, "Let me guess?it's from the Twentieth Century?"

Smiling slightly as he shifted his position to keep a hold of the partition, the helmsman answered, nodding, "They're called the Beach Boys, Captain?they were mid-Twentieth Century American icons."

Janeway nodded as she gave a face that said she was certain they were, although it also said that it wasn't really her taste, and she knew it certainly wasn't B'Elanna's, not for the first time wondering how they'd lasted almost three years since they just seemed to have zero to very little in common, except for their rebellious streak. As Jacobs and Cohen laughed softly, Kathryn looked back to the partition, then turned around and said, "Hold on just for a minute," as the tried to find something she could stand on to reach to the last few centimeters.

When Randy Jacobs, who was a rather well-built man with richly caremel colored skin, and clearly the strongest out of the three males, piped up that he could just give her a boost, Kathryn glanced over at him and immediately started to balk, but a moment latter when she realized she really didn't have much choice without taking more than a few minutes hunting down a cargo container or something of that nature, and none of them were tall enough to reach it on their own easily, Janeway nodded and supressed her uneasy sigh. Turning back to him as he and Cohen switched spots, the captain felt the need to ask, "Are you sure I won't be too heavy?" as he pressed his back to the partition to assist with the holding as best he could while he clasped his hands together and bent forward some.

"I boost the chief all the time, Captain," Jacobs reported simply, figuring that would say enough since although B'Elanna wasn't much larger than Kathryn, she was certainly much denser, mostly due to her genetic make-up, thus she outweighed her by fifteen kilos, easily.

"Alright," Janeway allowed, although there was still a slight amount of trepidation in her voice. Carefully, by quickly placing her right foot in his hands, the captain was just about to hop once to assist as she placed her free hand on his shoulder when Randy said, "Up-sa-daisy," then lifted her swiftly. When he told her to put her knee on his shoulder to steady herself, the good captain complied, then forced herself not to shoot Paris a disapproving look as he started singing along to the song, brightly enunciating, "I wish they all could be California girls," because she was certain he was making some attempt to comment about her current situation. Instead, the captain focused on her task, and as she finished up her work while she held onto the top of the shuttle with her free hand in an effort to keep some of her weight off her helpful ensign's shoulder and arm since he was holding her up on one side of his body and assisting with the other effort with his other arm, Kathryn looked down and informed, "Okay, coming down."

In one swift move, the captain slid her knee off his shoulder, replaced it with her left hand and let herself fall to the metal floor, landing on her single foot just before Randy let her other one come free of his grasp. Settling herself quickly, Kathryn patted the strong man's shoulder soundly and said, "Good work, Ensign," before she proceeded to the other side and repeated the process.

After coming to a rest on the ground again after being boosted a second time by Jacobs, this occurrence going much more smoothly and without any polite, diplomatic preamble, Kathryn asked out of curiosity since she'd never been fond of being in the dark, as the men relaxed, while she wiped her forehead with the back of her head, speaking quietly and directly to Paris, "What exactly is a California girl anyway?"

Clearing his throat softly, Paris leaned over and whispered, "Remember when we went to Venice Beach?" referring to the time when they were transported back to Earth, but arrived in the late Twentieth Century. When Janeway nodded, he smiled and said, "Those were California girls." When the captain still seemed not understanding since she'd seen hundreds of women that day and found nothing strikingly similar about them that would make her understand such a label, Paris sighed and explained plainly, still very quiet, "Basically, Captain, just think Seven with B'Elanna's skin tone in a bikini and I'm sure you get the picture."

Janeway did well not to blush or seem suddenly uneasy by the mental image she was just given as she nodded, and said, lightly, "Now it makes sense?thank you." Bobbing her head once and stepping away, she said, pleasantly, "I guess I missed all the Seven of Nine's gallivanting about while we were there?" although knowing very well if that had been the case, she wouldn't have missed a single one since Seven was one blonde that always managed to turn her head.

As Paris mumbled that he hadn't missed them, Janeway wiped her forehead again, pushed up her sleeves higher, and asked, "Okay, gentlemen?what's next?"

"Actually, Captain," Lieutenant Paris stepped in again, figuring the two engineers that weren't as used to working with her wouldn't speak up, "we were going to have lunch now?but you're welcome to join us?"

"Oh," Kathryn allowed, then shook her head and said, "well, don't let me stop you. I'll pass on the offer though?but thank you." Looking up toward the top of the shuttle where there were several partitions that were stacked and ready to be welded into place, the captain requested quickly as Jacobs started away with the other two, "Before you go, Mister Jacobs," then continued when the man turned around, pointing to the top ledge where she could sit, if she could get up there, smirking, "would you mind?"

With fifteen minutes to spare before she had to report back to the Bridge and meet with her assistant?the captain finding it ironic that it was typically she that was rushing to get something done so she could make time for Naomi rather than the small girl reporting for duty to actually 'work' for the redhead, although the child certainly did assist the good captain in many ways that had everything to do with the functioning of her ship because it had everything to do with the functioning of the captain?Janeway silently entered her quarters, unzipping her tunic again as she passed through the threshold. However, this time, there was more of an actual reason to visit her beloved Borg other than for the fact that she was in love with her: the captain was dirty and unless it was absolutely necessary, she would never present herself in such a manner to her Bridge staff. Kathryn could get messy with the best of them, even B'Elanna, and she wasn't usually typically adverse to doing so since she'd been raised on an agricultural reserve, and even though she figured no one would think anything of it if she made it known that she'd been working on the new shuttle, in her eyes, it was a poor excuse for a captain that didn't attempt to look his or her very best during all situations. She believed now as much, if not more so, as she believed when she first took command of Voyager that such practice was absolutely critical to moral. She knew her crew looked to her to for support, and she knew that when she could manage to maintain her appearance and show almost no signs of her daily grind then that helped them believe that everything was as it should be, or would be remedied soon, and that there was little to worry about.

Stopping just inside the doorway as she finished unzipping her outer jacket, Kathryn?who was now in a fairly decent mood thanks to the physical exertion, the fact that they got quiet a few things done on the new shuttle today, and the comedy relief of her engineers and Tom Paris had also helped? smiled softly at the sight before her, and allowed, "Hello again?having fun?" Janeway wasn't sure what it was, exactly, about entering in her cabin to find Seven of Nine seated on the floor, crossed legged but otherwise erect, with her back to the couch while watching the television that made her want to either cry or ignore her duty and join the blonde, but whatever it was, Kathryn honestly believed that she'd never forget that image.

Seven raised her eyebrows at not only the unexpected entrance of her oldest lover, but of her current, fairly grungy state, while she responded with a question instead, "What has occurred?"

Understanding the question immediately and continuing to find Seven's concern for her, that never seemed to dwindle in the least, despite the circumstances, incredibly, Janeway chuckled softly as she went over to her desk and took off her tunic, "I was just working on the new shuttle." When she looked down at herself while she draped her jacket over the back of her chair and saw the state of her sweat-soaked shirt, she added as she turned around and began pulling it from the confines of her waistband, "And I thought I'd come clean up here, instead of my Ready Room, so I could see how you were doing." Walking toward Seven as she pulled off her dirty shirt and wiped her forehead with it, the captain remarked, "Well, you look like you're relaxing to me?feeling better?"

Seven waited to give her answer until after the captain leaned down and kissed her forehead, replying, "I am still 'tired,' but I am enjoying my 'vacation.'" Looking up higher as the captain stood upright again, the Astrometrics officer announced, as she pressed the button on the remote control that paused the show, "It is unfortunate that you cannot join me, however?I researched the database and discovered several more 'shows' that 'star' Lucy?although," she looked back to the television, while she informed, "in most of them, she is 'plays' a different individual, but they are still enjoyable."

Smiling crookedly, Janeway asked, honestly curious since she knew that the Borg rarely did anything without thinking about it and there was usually a specific reason for any changes in her behavior, "Darling?why are you sitting on the floor?" Although, Kathryn couldn't deny that she'd hadn't seen the Borg relax in what seemed like ages, so it was possible Seven was in the habit of sitting on the floor while she watched television, and the captain simply wasn't aware of that.

"Naomi Wildman and Nick Fowler often do so," Seven explained as she pushed up from it and started to stand, wearing her plum, cotton t-shirt and pants. "So, I decided to 'try it out' to see if it heightens the television viewing experience."

Janeway smirked, while she nodded in a scientific manner, not at all surprised since it seemed the Borg approached almost everything as an experiment, and said, "I see?and?"

Taking Janeway's shirt from her hands, aware that Kathryn was on a time limit and was required to return to the Bridge to meet her little friend, Seven announced as she started toward the bedroom, "I prefer to stand?however," she glanced over her shoulder to make certain the redhead was following her, "since I am required to 'rest,' I have discovered that sitting on the floor helps to keep me from falling asleep. So," she finished as she pulled the pips off of Janeway's shirt, then ran it through the replicator to clean it, "it is a useful tactic, in that regard."

The captain remarked as she pulled off her bra and handed that as well to Seven, then went into the bathroom, "Darling, don't you think you should sleep let yourself fall sleep if you're that tired?"

Seven rolled her eyes mildly as she recycled the captain's garment, and replied, "I will sleep more this evening, Kathryn. If I sleep during the day, it will make it difficult for me to do so at the appropriate interval." Coming back into the bathroom, Seven added as she set Janeway's clothing on the top of the toilet, "This will make it 'easier' for me to get back into my 'routine.'"

Leaving it at that, not wanting to argue with Seven since she did have a good point, although Janeway was fairly certain Seven deserved a full week's of sleep, Janeway asked as she filled the basin of the sink with warm water while Seven, always thinking ahead, pulled down a wash cloth for her, "Did you have a good time with Samantha?"

As she retrieved the bar of soap from the bathtub, Seven replied, "That is correct." When the captain held out her hand for the washcloth and the soap, Seven completely ignored her and went on as she came up behind Janeway and dipped the rag in the water, pinning Janeway with her arms that were wrapped around her to keep her from moving away and silently making her intentions known, "I was unable to consume anything other than a nutritional supplement, but the time was pleasant." After she soaped up the cloth, Janeway not fighting her, Seven reported as she started to wash the captain's bare back, "We discussed a variety of topics?however," she smirked slightly, "the conversations continually migrated to Nick Fowler."

"Oh?" Kathryn allowed, smiling softly at Seven's caregiving as she relaxed into her arms and simply let herself be tended to.

Smiling more, Seven stated, "I believe the appropriate term for Sam Wildman's condition is 'smitten.'" As Janeway chuckled warmly and remarked, soft and smoky, "I don't think she's the only one," Seven dipped the wash cloth into the water again and said, equally soft as she pressed her lips to the captain's neck, "That is correct, my beautiful Kathryn." Placing her Borg hand carefully on the redhead's stomach, she added, "I am also suffering a similar condition." When Janeway fell completely silent at that and simply looked down, the blonde rang out the rag with one hand and asked as she started washing the front of her torso, hoping to use her own brand of humor to assist her captain with whatever was suddenly weighing on her mind, used to the oldest woman's instant bouts of melancholy, as well as continual, silent contemplation, "An unremarkable monetary sum for your thoughts?"

Kathryn let out a soft bark of laughter at that, then replied in her grave voice as she lifted her head, leaned back against Seven's chest and looked at her through the mirror, "I'm just brooding again," smirking weakly, "you know how I get?"

Smirking as well, Seven said as she started softly washing Janeway chest, doing her best to keep her voice soft, which wasn't as easy as she figured it should be, "Then I will 'pay no attention' to the female without adequate clothing?although," she kissed Kathryn's neck quickly, whispering, "that task is not as simple when the female is you."

"More sweet talk?"

"You are perfection..."

Sighing very softly, the sound a mixture of bliss and dismay, the captain allowed, "Seven?"

Raising her eyebrows slightly as she once again dipped the wash cloth in the water, preparing to rinse away any soap since she was aware that if she did not the solution would dry out her partner's skin and cause her irritation, Seven said, "Kathryn?"

As the Borg began rinsing her torso, Janeway said surely while she watched the blonde work through the mirror, "I love you." When the Borg repeated the phrase, Kathryn said, "No?that's not what I mean," but her intonation wasn't harsh. Turning around, the captain put both of her hands on the ex-drone's upper arms, "I love you with all of my heart?and everything that I am." Squeezing her fairly soundly, she added as she looked her lover directly in the eye, not having to look up much since the Borg was barefoot and Janeway was still wearing her uniform boots, "Wherever I go?whatever I do?I'm okay as long as I'm with you?I'm home," she finished utterly quiet, "as long as I'm with you?and no where," she shook her head, "will ever be home without you. Not Voyager?not Indiana?no where."

When Janeway released her for just a moment before the redhead hugged her tightly, Seven paused for a moment while she contemplated the words and cross-referenced them with the data she had on the captain, then said after keeping herself from sighing, and instead began rinsing Janeway's back, "I understand, Kathryn?we do not require neural transceivers to share our thoughts about this matter."

Thinking about that statement for a split second, the captain realized that Seven was absolutely correct. She did understand?in fact, of course, she understood. She understood better than anyone possibly could. Then nodding, Kathryn hugged her tighter as Seven dropped the cloth into the sink and wrapped her arms around her, and whispered, "I know?I know you understand."

As Janeway began to ease up on her death grip of a hug, Seven pulled away as well, kissed the redhead's forehead and said as she disengaged and retrieved Kathryn's clothing, "I believe I am required to allow you to return to duty so that Naomi Wildman may benefit from your presence as well." When Janeway sighed in endearment at the Borg's wording, as if it was she who was keeping Kathryn and not the other way around, the Borg smirked as she turned around and handed the captain her garments, holding the pips in her hand since she planned to attach them, and added, "Perhaps the evening of our 'double-date' you and Naomi Wildman should have another sleepover?since I have a 'feeling' it will be a lengthy endeavor?if B'Elanna Torres acts typically."

"Oh, that's right," Kathryn said as she pulled on her bra and got situated in the half-tanktop style garment. "When is that, anyway?"

"The evening after tomorrow," Seven reported, purposefully not informing Janeway that B'Elanna had stopped by a few hours ago to tell her not to make plans for tomorrow since they all had to 'talk.'

Not giving away her dismay that the occasion hadn't been planned for tomorrow since she honestly was still trying to find a way to keep both of her lovers, especially Seven, from the impending conversation, and knowing that would be very difficult to manage if they all had dinner together, Janeway responded, "Well, I think that can probably be arranged?although, are you sure her mother hasn't already asked Neelix to watch her?"

While she gave Janeway her shirt, Seven reported, "Since we only made the arrangements this afternoon, she was concerned that she would be unable to find a 'babysitter.' When she said that she would seek the assistance of Ensign Resse, which would require us to return by 'midnight,' I informed her that you would not be attending and that she should speak with you." As the captain unzipped her pants and stared tucking in her shirt, Seven went on while she adhered the redhead's rank insignias to her collar, "She was hesitant, so I offered to speak with you on her behalf." As Janeway smirked and shook her head, the blonde added, purposeful, "She was also dismayed that you would not be attending and was concerned her presence was keeping you from having 'fun.'" When that caused Kathryn to sigh and shoot Seven and knowing look, the Borg asked, "Are you certain that you cannot attend, Kathryn? I have adequate holodeck time?we could make it private. I do not believe Sam Wildman would be adverse to your presence."

"Darling," Janeway started steadily as she titled her head so Seven could finish her task unbidden, "trust me on this?it's best that I don't. Despite her concern, Samantha would undoubtedly feel nervous?and Nick probably would too?especially since they're still getting to know each other. I don't want to ruin anyone's time?especially yours and B'Elanna's."

"Kathryn," Seven replied seriously, "you do not 'ruin' our time." Placing her hands behind her back as Janeway turned to the sink and began washing her hands and cleaning the grime from underneath her nails, the blonde informed, "I believe you are underestimating their ability to adapt."

Sighing, Janeway came back, "It's possible?but I'm still not going." When she heard Seven sigh, Kathryn said softer, but still determined, "Seven?I don't want to argue with you about this subject again, alright." Grabbing the hand-towel Seven had retrieved for her, the captain turned toward the Borg and said, "Thank you?please don't let this bother you. You and B'Elanna deserve to go out with your friends and have a good time without having to worry about me and my job." When the tall blonde sighed again and looked down, Janeway stepped up to her as she threw the towel over he shoulder and added, "There's also the fact that I'm not sure I'd be comfortable." Once Seven looked up at her, somewhat surprised by that omission, Kathryn explained, "I like Samantha, but I don't know her nearly as well as I know Nick?and a setting like that is much more intimate than your birthday party." Rubbing the blonde's arm, she added, "It's just not good practice for me to reveal that much of my private life to my crew?especially if they're not senior officers." As the Borg opened her mouth, Kathryn acknowledge, "Yes, I do more with her because of Naomi?but that's always limited to my interaction with her child. Something like this is totally different?and I don't want to spend time with the two of you in that way when I'm not completely comfortable. It's not fair to you because you both would end up focusing on me, by pretending you weren't." Smirking, dipping her head and looking into Seven's slightly down-turned face, she finished, "And don't try to tell me that you wouldn't because I know you two too well."

After the Borg sighed heavily then nodded in understanding and acceptance, Janeway smiled softly and reminded, "I love you?I love you both, and I like knowing that the two of you are having fun without having to worry about me, or what other people might think if I was with you." Then smirking again, she added, "Besides, you can tell me all about it afterward," stepping up closer and flirting some, trying to bring Seven around, "and you know how much I like listening to you talk."

"Very well," Seven came back with a semi-forlorn look on her face. "I do not want to argue with you either?I merely wish you to enjoy yourself, as I believe you would."

"Well," Kathryn continued with the sensual demeanor, "why don't you save that holodeck time and we can arrange an evening when I can enjoy myself with both of you alone? That way," she flirted more and she placed her hands on Seven's flat stomach and slipped her hands underneath the material of her shirt, moving them to her lover's long back, "if I want, I can kiss you anytime I want to?for as long as I want to." When Seven raised her eyebrows slightly, perking up, Janeway added as she moved her hands past the Borg's waistband and lightly rubbed the small of her back and then her hips, "We could go to the beach, or to a lake in the forest and have a picnic." Pulling Seven closer to her, the captain whispered, finishing, "And then we could go swimming, and we wouldn't have to worry about clothing?or," she smirked as caressed the Borg's firm, shapely bottom, "who might over hear us if I decide to make love to you right there on the beach?and we can't do that if Sam and Nick are there."

Smirking, Seven stated, "You are attempting to console me. However," she took a small step backward on purpose and looked the captain up and down, "I should inform you that not only will I make the appropriate arrangements, but that you should depart immediately before I am forced the remove your clothing and make you efficiently 'late.'"

Humming, Kathryn pulled Seven back toward her as she said, sexy, "Hmm, I think I can stand to be a moment or two late?although," she smirked again as she moved one hand to Seven's stomach again, "it's a good thing you're supposed to be resting or I'm not sure I could resist looking like a bad captain." Smiling as Seven did as well, Janeway requested as she hovered close to her lover's lips, "So, why don't you bother me with your lips for a few minutes before I put my captain's face back on?"

Janeway, with a soft smile of her thin lips that wasn't totally forced, exited the starboard turbolift, donning fresh coats of mascara and her typically shaded brownish rose lipstick, and asked as her subtle grin morphed into a genuine look of delight while she turned toward Operations where Ensign Kim was showing her assistant the ropes of his duty, "More pre-Academy training?"

From where she was perched on the stool that pulled out of the console, with her legs tucked underneath her to give her better height, Naomi looked up from the sensor board, glanced over at Harry, then back to the captain while she replied, gamely, "Aye, Captain."

Nodding in a business-like manner as she saddled up next to them, Kathryn asked as she absently put her hand on the child's upper back and gently combed her fingers through the girl's long, strawberry blonde hair, "So, what's my Operations officer been teaching you, huh?"

As Naomi explained how she'd learned how to open a channel and send a message on all subspace frequencies, Harry Kim carefully observed the actions of his captain with the child. The ensign was aware, more than most of the redhead's officers, that Kathryn Janeway had a maternal streak that was as strong as her competitive one, if not more so, thus he wasn't surprised to see her petting her head and back in such a manner. He was, however, curious as to what exactly his captain did with the girl when they were in her Ready Room. Since he rarely saw Naomi leave to deliver a report somewhere, and only every once in a while did they both leave and disappear for a short time, he honestly couldn't imagine what they did for their hour every other day, and he hadn't been able to figure out how to ask without seeming nosey. Harry really didn't consider it being 'nosey' since he'd always felt somewhat close to both of the redheads. The captain, for obvious reasons, and the child since they both weren't actually supposed to be here. He and Naomi were from the other Voyager that had been created when all of the matter on the ship was duplicated. Both of their counterparts had died, and just before Janeway had self-destructed her ship to save the other Voyager as well as destroy the Viddian vessel that had boarded them, she ordered Kim to get Naomi and take her through the subspace rift to the other Voyager. And because he and the child were the only persons on this vessel that were from the other ship, that were part of the other crew that had sacrificed themselves for this ship, he was curious if part of the captain's sensitivity to the child was that fact, although he was fairly certain Naomi had no idea what had occurred the day she was born.

When Harry heard the captain's distinctive voice speaking to him, the ensign blinked his eyes and responded to Janeway before she caught him daydreaming, "You're welcome, Captain. Besides," he smiled as she looked down at Naomi, "someone's got to teach her that pilot's and captain's aren't the only ones that get to do cool things on the Bridge. It's my duty as an Operations officer."

Chuckling, Janeway shook her head as Naomi climbed down off the stool and said as she patted his arm, "I appreciate your enthusiasm, Harry, but I don't think your post will be going the way of the dinosaur anytime soon."

Kim shrugged, smiled more and whispered as he leaned over, "I don't know, Captain?we already have emergency doctors?could be just a matter of time."

"Hmm," Janeway nodded seriously, although she was merely joking, "good point. Keep it up then, and let me know when the revolution occurs so I can take an extended vacation, huh?"

Laughing softly, Kim said, "Aye, Captain."

Janeway nodded to Harry once more as he turned back to his work and the port side turbolift hissed open. When a rather stern looking Nicole Fowler came through the door just as she was turning and about to head off to her Ready Room, Kathryn didn't ask what was occurring and merely raised her eyebrows in silent questioning. As Fowler started back for the command deck and waved at Naomi, but bobbed her head once to Janeway to tell her she'd taken care of removing Carey from Voyager, Kathryn placed her hand on the child's shoulder and said, "Come on, I need some coffee."

Snickering slightly as she reached up and grabbed Janeway's hand as they walked toward the captain's office, Naomi remarked, "Captain, you say that all the time."

Kathryn smiled while she replied, squeezing the girl's hand slightly, "Don't you start in on me too?I already had my lecture from the Doctor today." Once they were inside her domain, Janeway let go of Naomi's palm and asked as she gestured toward the upper level while she continued toward the replicator, "Do you want to share a sandwich with me?" Before just recently Kathryn never had to ask such a question, but since it seemed the child was over her growing spurt for the moment, she'd noticed that she wasn't as hungry recently, and sometimes didn't even finish all of her milk.

Hopping up into the couch, Naomi said, "Okay?what kind?"

"How about peanut butter and jelly?" Janeway replied, since it had always been one of her favorites and she knew Naomi liked it too?not to mention it was readily available in the database, which meant she couldn't mess it up.

"Okay, but," Naomi reported tentatively, hoping she wasn't being rude, "I don't like grape jelly, Captain," then added quickly when Kathryn looked over at her, "but I like all the other kinds."

Smiling at the coincidence, Janeway turned back to the replicator as she reported, "How about raspberry then?it's always been my favorite?" When Naomi agreed, Janeway ordered the sandwich, then two glasses of milk, one of them chocolate. As she turned around and balanced everything in her hands and saw the child getting off the couch and coming over to the handrail to help her, Kathryn smiled at that too and wondered if Nicole Fowler wasn't having a small influence on the child's manners. It certainly wasn't like Naomi was ill-mannered, so part of her wasn't certain if the child was just becoming more aware of such things, and more comfortable with her, but she had a small notion Fowler's helpfulness was rubbing off on the girl.

When Naomi took the plate from her hands, Kathryn said, "Thank you," as she came around the stairs and migrated to the couch. Setting down the glasses on the coffee table, she got an idea and said, "Why don't we sit on the floor and have a picnic." As Naomi looked up at her, surprised, Janeway smirked and whispered, "I worked through my lunch break?so I thought I could spend it with you and catch up."

Nodding and smiling brightly, Naomi came back while she slid off the couch again, "Okay." As Janeway looked down at the floor, then frowned before she turned and went to her cabinet to pull out her pillow, the girl informed, "I've never had a picnic inside before?well, except in the holodeck, but that makes it seem like you're outside."

Setting down the pillow on the floor and then sitting on it, Janeway asked, "Do you want to share the pillow with me?"

"No thank you, Captain?I'm fine." When Janeway nodded and proceeded to get comfortable by taking off her tunic, Naomi asked, "How come you're sitting on that?"

Chuckling, Kathryn said, "Because I'm getting old."

"You don't look old, Captain," Naomi came back quickly as she picked up her milk while Janeway placed a napkin on both of their laps. "First Regal Devin looks old cause she had grey hair, but not you."

Janeway snickered more at that and said as she reached over and patted her assistant's head, "Thank you," not bothering to tell her not to mention that to Devin since she knew from experience the first was the first to proclaim that she was a 'relic,' and always seemed rather proud of that. Kathryn, on the other hand, hadn't reached the mindset that her age, and the wisdom that came with it, was a gift, and she knew part of that was because she was several years older than both of her lovers. She also didn't bother to mention that she too had grey hair, but fortunately, with her hair coloring, it wasn't nearly as visible as long as she didn't pull her hair behind her ears to expose her temples, where the majority of the rebel strands resided and tempted her to pluck them all out some days.

Picking up her sandwich and settling back, Janeway asked as Naomi scooted closer and came to a rest near the crook of her arm as she continued to play with her hair with her other hand, "So, how's your art project coming?"

Excited instantly, Naomi said as she reached for the other half of the sandwich, glad the captain had offered since she hadn't liked what Neelix had made for lunch and had only eaten enough to curb her hunger momentarily, "I finished today. Miss Resses says it's real good too. She's has to put it in the oven, and then we get to add the glaze, and then she has to bake it again?but after that," she looked over and up at the captain, "it will be all finished and then I can bring it home." Looking around Janeway's Ready Room as she took a bite of her sandwich, she asked after she chewed, "Captain, would you like to have my hand sculpture for your office?" Explaining quickly, she reminded, "Miss Resse says people put sculptures in their office's all the time?but you don't have any." Before Janeway could answered, she asked, curious since she knew the captain was fond of the medium, "How come you don't have any, Captain?"

Smiling softly, Janeway put her sandwich down and said as she picked up her glass of milk, "I had some when we started off, but they were all broken the first year we were out here." Then rubbing Naomi's shoulder as the child allowed, "Oh," Kathryn said, "Ordinarily, I'd be honored to display your sculpture, sweetheart, but why don't you keep it in your room where it's not as likely to get broken?alright?"

Naomi frowned at that since she'd really wanted to give it to Kathryn since it was a hand that had attributes of the captain, Seven, and B'Elanna, then offered as she snapped her fingers, "I know, Seven can make a forcefield for it?like she has for the Tomorrow Sphere?that way it won't get broken."

Caving, although it wasn't like such a request was something she should resist, the captain said, "Alright then?if Seven makes a forcefield for it, then I'd be happy to display it in my office." After sipping her milk, she felt the need to ask, "Are you sure you don't want to keep it in your room, though?it is your first one?"

"Oh, I'm sure, Captain," Naomi nodded, smiling. "I want you to have it?and I can just see it whenever I'm on duty." As she took a bite of her food, she said again, "It's real good too?it looks mostly like Seven's Borg hand, but I put nails on it so it looks like your hand too, and Miss Resse helped me draw a Klingon symbol on the palm because I couldn't figure out how to make it look like B'Elanna's hand too."

"Well," Kathryn said with pride, "that's sounds rather impressive, Miss Wildman. Are you sure you don't want to be an artist instead of a Starfleet officer?"

"I can do both," Naomi came back readily. "I'll just go to the holodeck when I'm off duty and do art like Miss Resse does." As Janeway took another bite of her sandwich, the child did so as well, then asked, "Captain, when we get home, can I meet your sister?the painter?"

"Sure," Janeway nodded easily, forcing herself not to sigh and become suddenly forlorn again since the real reason she was having a picnic with Naomi was not so much because she was hungry, but because she wanted to spend as much time as possible with her small friend before they got so busy that became difficult, and in preparation for the fact that it was very possible that if the Slipstream drive was successful, she'd be lucky to ever see Naomi face to face again?and at the very best, she imagined there would be several years in between visits.

Secretly and somewhat selfishly, Janeway was doing her damnedest to give Nicole the opportunity to grow closer to the Wildman's. There were several reasons for that. One, was that she honestly liked Nicole Fowler and truly believed that someone like Samantha, and her daughter, would do the tall woman a world of good as far as getting over her past and helping her realize that she absolutely was a good person as well as a good person to be involved with. The others revolved around the singular idea that if there was one member of her crew that she'd have the most difficult time saying goodbye to, it was now this one little girl. And because of that, Kathryn was trying to ensure that despite the situation, whether she received another commission or decided to retire, she'd still be close to Naomi. If she retired, she was hoping, more like praying, that Samantha decided to return to Earth, and if that was the case then she knew she could visit the child once or twice a month easily?and if she stayed with Nicole, and if Nicole stayed in Louisiana, then she could probably see her once a week, and that would mean the child could come for extended visits without there being a problem with her being too far away from her mother. In fact, Kathryn was rather tempted to speak with Samantha once the Slipstream project became public knowledge about possibly migrating to the agriculture reserve she was raised on since she knew from talks she'd had with the scientist that she was concerned for her child as far as missing out on all the wonder nature could bring to a person's life. And, there were also the facts that it was a small community, which Naomi could relate better to, the schools there were wonderful and very small, which Naomi could also adapt easier to, and she'd still be around her best friend?and not to mention her hero. All in all, Janeway thought that sounded just wonderful, but she knew her view of the situation was heavily biased to the fact that she simply wasn't ready to say goodbye to Naomi?and honestly, Kathryn didn't honestly believe she ever would be now.

And part of that was because she honestly wasn't sure she'd ever have the time to have children, nor did she know if her lovers wanted them. Yes, she knew B'Elanna had made mention of that during their pre-Day of Honor talk, but Kathryn knew her lover had been under a great deal of stress and she didn't take that completely seriously. It wasn't that she didn't believe B'Elanna, but she just wasn't going to make reference to it because of the poor woman's emotional condition at the time. She also knew Seven of Nine had been researching child-rearing, but again, that didn't mean anything. Seven researched just about every concept imaginable, but that didn't mean she wished to engage in them, and even though she believed that Seven would undoubtedly be a wonderful parent, although a little on the strict side, she honestly couldn't begin to responsibly make those kind of plans. Not only had they never discussed marriage, and Janeway was too much of a traditionalist to have children without getting married first, but the cold hard truth was that in all probability, one, or possibly all of them would be separated upon their return?and Kathryn couldn't even begin to guess how long such a period that would be.

All in all, it was all so completely complex and unknowing that it honestly made Janeway's head spin to think about, so instead of thinking about having children of her own, she was focused on keeping the child that she had now. She certainly didn't plan to be demanding in anyway, just do what she could to see to Naomi's happiness, which she believed would require that the child at least stay in close contact with Seven of Nine?and she was fairly certain part of Seven's happiness would require that the Borg stay in contact with the first real friend she made aboard the starship.

"I'm not sure where Phoebe lives right now," Kathryn informed as she set down her sandwich, suddenly not hungry anymore as she started to inwardly fret, despite herself, "but she and our mother were always very close, so I'm sure that she lives close enough to my family's ranch that we can go see her whenever you'd like." Janeway also purposefully didn't mention that she didn't even know if her mother and sister where still alive. She always assumed that Earth hadn't been a part of the war with the Dominion, but she couldn't know for certain since she'd gotten very little data on that situation before the communications array had been destroyed.

"I can't wait to see your ranch, Captain," Naomi reported, placing her food on the plate as well, having learned a small trick regarding the captain that she didn't give away since she figured it was part of her duty to take care of the woman. Whenever the captain got the sad look on her face that she currently had and stopped eating, Naomi always stopped eating as well. Since she knew Kathryn was aware of her little game of how she mimicked her, she'd noticed that after a few minutes, Janeway always returned to her food in an effort to get Naomi to do so as well. The child didn't know why the captain sometimes stopped eating, but she was old enough to know that such a thing wasn't good for her, so to make sure Janeway ate as she was 'required' to do, she used the captain's protective streak against her. Naomi was certain it was the single most 'sneaky' thing she'd ever done, but she figured as long as she never told anyone, she wasn't doing anything bad and simply doing her duty. And as long as she continued to take care of the captain so that the woman could continue to take care of everyone else, that was all the reward she needed since it wasn't like she didn't get plenty of praise from the redhead on regular intervals. "Is it like Dorthy's farm in Kansas?does it have pigs and chickens too?"

Chuckling softly, Kathryn said, "No?well," Janeway amended, "ours doesn't. We only grew vegetables and fruit, but some of the neighbors had chickens and cows though. I'm sure they're probably still around since the community traded the crops at the market so everyone could have plenty of food." Settling back further, Kathryn went on explaining since she was sure the concept was completely foreign to the child, "Most people on Earth and in the Federation only eat replicated food, but where I grew up, we ate real food?so we had to grow it, and instead of everyone growing everything, we all kind of pitched in so that everyone could have a little of everything. We mostly grew corn and tomatoes, and we would take what we didn't need down to the market. The other families did the same thing with their crops?some of them brought eggs and milk, and those types of things, and then everyone would just share. And what we didn't have, we replicated, but we only did that when we had to." Noticing Naomi wasn't eating, Janeway forced herself to pick up her sandwich, as she finished, "And, if one family had a tough year, meaning they didn't have a lot of food to trade, then everyone just pitched in and took care of them. No one ever went hungry because everyone worked to help the others. See how that works?"

Naomi smiled to herself as she picked up her sandwich while she reported, "That's so cool, Captain. It's kind of like Voyager?how everyone helps out Neelix with the cooking and growing the vegetables in the Airponics Bay."

As Naomi took a bite of her food, Kathryn responded, "Mmmhmm, it's very much like Voyager, actually. It's not like a big city on Earth where you don't know most of the people?everyone knew everyone else?just like on Voyager. And here we have to be careful to ration our resources?and that's not something we'd have to do in the Alpha Quadrant. People certainly aren't greedy back home, but they just don't have to worry about the same things we have to worry about. They don't have replicator rations or have allotted holodeck time since they have all the power they need?so that's similar too since we had to plan and save food for the winter when there weren't any crops to get at the market."

"What happened if you ran out of food in the winter?" asked the child.

"Well, we had to plan to make sure we didn't run out," the captain answered. "Just like we have to plan here so that we don't run out of power?it's the same."

"I guess it's good that you had a lot of practice planning that stuff so that we never run out too."

Smiling softly, never having looked at it from the point of view since the habits where simply ingrained into her way of life just like Starfleet protocol was, Kathryn leaned over and whispered as she kissed the top of Naomi's head, "I guess it is?although," she felt the need to say since it was true, "Command Chakotay is very good at saving too?so he's helped me out a lot."

As Janeway set her sandwich back down, but continued to rest her chin on top of her head, Naomi sighed slightly since it seemed that the captain was definitely sad about something since she typically only expressed her affection in this manner when she was sad. So, after taking a bit of her sandwich, and putting it back, not really wanting any more since she'd almost eaten the entire half, the child took a hold of Kathryn's hand and asked, hoping to keep Janeway talking since she always seemed happiest when they talked, as she traced the groves with her tiny fingers, "Captain, what's a Maquis?"

Blinking, Janeway pulled her head away and asked, although she kept most of her dismay out of her tone, while Naomi looked up, "Where did you hear that term?"

"Lots in the Mess Hall," Naomi reported quickly, then asked, equally fast, terrified, "Is it a bad word?"

"No, sweetheat?it's not," Kathryn reassured softly before she worried the child anymore by her question. Then clearing her throat mildly, Janeway took a moment to contemplate her response, not sure she should even get into it, then sighed slightly as she responded, "Well, it's actually a French word?it means resistance."

Smiling, Naomi asked, "Like resistance is futile?"

"Mmmhmm," Kathryn smirked while she bobbed her head. Pulling Naomi closer again and returning her head, although this time her cheek, to the child's head, she queried, "Do you know what resistance means?"

"It means to try not to do something?like when Mommy tries to get me to go to bed?sometimes I resist." Snickering slightly, the child reported, "Whenever Seven tries to get me to go to bed, she always says resistance is futile?so that means I have to do it."

Chuckling slightly, completely able to imagine Seven using such tactics preemptively, Janeway nodded and said, "Yes?that's what it means. So," she started lightly, "the Maquis were a resistance group in the Federation."

"Is that like the first's crew?were they like the Maquis?"

Not at all surprised that the child would make such comparisons since Janeway was very much aware how attentive to everything Naomi was, not to mention how sharp she was, Kathryn answered easily, "The first's crew was similar to the Maquis?yes, although," she felt the need to add, "they didn't fight like the Maquis. The first decided to leave instead of fight." The captain again purposefully neglected to mention that if Devin had been forced to, she would have fought, but she didn't feel it was necessary to add that to her explanation. Pulling her head away, the captain asked, slightly concerned, "Is there a specific reason you're asking?or were you just curious?"

"I was just curious," Naomi answered plainly. Then furrowing her face some in confusion, she questioned, "Does that mean the Maquis are bad?because they fight?"

Janeway forced herself not to sigh as she answered, "No?they aren't bad." Feeling completely over her head since she partly felt that answer was accurate, and partly felt it wasn't since she knew that if seven and a half years ago someone other than a child had asked her that question she'd be much more inclined to label them as 'bad,' the captain went on, "There are several Maquis on this ship, and they're all very good people." Smiling some, Kathryn informed in case the child didn't know, "Chakotay and B'Elanna were Maquis, you know?"

"They were?" When Janeway nodded, the child asked quickly, "How come they fought with the Federation?"

Giving her small friend a rueful smile, Kathryn said softly, "Honey, I'm not sure your mother would like me to talk about those things with you." When Naomi sighed and nodded, Janeway rubbed her arm and said, "If you really want to know, why don't you talk to your mother, and if she says it's alright, then you can come talk to me again if she'd rather me explain it?okay?"

"Okay," Naomi replied, somewhat defeated since recently she felt like she'd been getting that response from everyone, and usually her mother always tried to distract her with games or reading, which the child rarely fell for any more. Reaching for her milk, Naomi took a sip, then started to ask about something else she was curious about, "Captain?"

Kathryn expelled the air from her lungs in endearment since often times when they were together Naomi hit her with half a dozen similar questions which often left her brooding for several minutes about her responses, since although Kathryn liked children and felt she handled Naomi well, she didn't have a lot of experience with them, "Hmm?"

"What's adoption mean?"

Sighing in relief inwardly since this subject was at least something she could answer fully, well almost completely, Kathryn answered, "Adoption is when someone takes custody of a child that isn't their own." To explain further, certain she'd heard that term from Nicole, she went on, "Nick was adopted?and so was her younger sister. Sometimes," she said carefully, "some people can't have children of their own, so they adopt children that don't have parents. Most of the time that's because in nature, it's not always possible or safe for species to have children?just like cats and dogs can't have babies?the same is true for some species."

Nodding at that, Naomi reported, "My mommy said that when she had me that my spikes made it hard for her to have me?so I had to be transported out of her."

"Yes, sometimes it's dangerous because of that, and sometimes it's dangerous because all species are different, so sometimes the mixture of genes causes genetic problems in off-spring that science can't cure, but," she added quickly, "you don't have to worry about that. The only thing that made it hard for your mother were your spikes, but the Doctor took care of that problem easily."

"What species can't have babies?"

"Well," Kathryn thought about it for a moment, then asked, "do you remember Kes?" When Naomi nodded, Janeway explained, "She was Ocampan, and they typically only live nine years, so even though we weren't sure, it was possible because of that, she'd only be able to have an Ocampan baby." Shaking her head, the captain went on, "Although, through study we've found that similar species that occupy the same general region of space can procreate, where as species that live thousands of light years away can't, and that's just nature's way of making certain that life continues on. Just like there are several species of animals that can change their sex randomly when there aren't enough male and females to go around to ensure that they don't die out. Most bipedal species, like humans, can't do that naturally, but we can procreate with other species, like Klingons and Katarians?Vulcans too."

"Can Borg have babies?"

"The Borg don't procreate like most species," Janeway explained. "They expand by assimilating. They take people and make them Borg?and sometimes," Kathryn said softly as she once again kissed Naomi's head, "they take children too?just like Seven."

"And then they put them in um?mature chambers until they grow up?right?"

"Maturation?yes, that's what they do with the children they assimilate."

"But what about Seven," Naomi asked quickly, "she doesn't assimilate people anymore? Will she be able to have a baby?"

Trying not to focus on the negative, the captain answered, "She can have all the babies she wants, but she'll have to adopt them because she doesn't have all the systems in her body that she needs to have children of her own." Explaining quickly, the captain added, "Since the Borg don't have children like humans do, they take those systems out of people they assimilate since they don't need them."

"Where will Seven find a baby to adopt?"

Janeway chuckled softly, then reported, "Well, she can adopt a child from someone like Nick's parents did?or, if we get married and decide to have children, she can adopt the baby that B'Elanna or I have?and we can all be his or her parents. See how that works?" The clearing her throat softly, Kathryn added with a certain amount of emphasis, "But, having a baby is a very important decision because it takes a lot of work. Being a parent is a lot like being a captain in some regards?it's not for everyone. You have to be dedicated to your child?just like your mother is dedicated to you. The welfare of your child has to come first?just like the welfare of your crew. It's the same kind of thing."

"You should have a baby, Captain," Naomi informed surely. "You're a good captain?I'm sure you could be a good mommy."

"Well, thank you," Kathryn laughed lightly," but I think I've got enough people to take care of right now?don't you think?" When Naomi smiled and nodded, Janeway squeezed her friend affectionately and said, "Speaking of?why don't you finish up your milk and then walk me to the transporter room since I've got a couple people I have to check up on before the end of my duty shift." As Naomi sighed at that since she was certain she could sit and talk to Captain Janeway all day without growing tired, Kathryn smirked as she tapped her fingernail to the child's glass and finished, also feeling as though she could talk to Naomi for hours, even if she was constantly on her toes, "Resistance is futile."

Snickering, Naomi said before she drank, "Captain, you can't say that?that's what Seven says."

Barking in laughter at being told by a child what she could and couldn't say, Janeway said, wryly, "Alright?then how about?that's an order, Miss Wildman." When Naomi giggled and said, "I will comply," the captain laughed again as she picked up her own glass and drank it down.

Materializing in the transporter chamber that had been constructed on the Alaxiat since the Fynth didn't have transporter technology, Captain Janeway blinked her eyes out of habit for the slight disorientation that the procedure caused and smiled softly as she was greeted by Chakotay. Since he was alone in the room, the captain didn't think anything of walking up to him and hugging him soundly as she informed, "You're a sight for sore eyes, Mister."

Chakotay hugged Kathryn back readily, then whispered as they both sighed while they remained in the embrace for longer than they typically did, although, they typically didn't spend such a long time away from the other, nor did they typically have plans to discuss their fate, "Don't tell Devin I said this?but I miss my captain." Chuckling as they started to pull away, he added, "I never thought I'd say this, but she's a lot less stubborn." As Kathryn laughed once at that, the commander gave her his best crinkly grin while he reported, putting his arm around her and starting for the doorway, "She's pretty easy on the eyes too?but I guess there's no accounting for taste."

Giving Chakotay a firm elbow in the stomach, Janeway said, "You're worse than B'Elanna?and I don't believe you for a minute," then smiled and said, coy, as he dropped his arm when the door opened, "but thank you, nonetheless."

Laughing and shaking his head, the commander cleared his throat as they both put their business faces back on and asked, "What's on the agenda, boss?"

Since she wasn't at all familiar with Devin's vessel, Janeway answered as she stopped and looked up and over to him, "I'd thought I'd start from the top and work my way down." Then looking around quickly, she added, "Unless she's too busy?do you know?"

Chakotay snickered and said as she gestured down the hall to the right, "I don't think she stops, honestly, but I'm sure she'd appreciate a reason to take a break." As they started down the long, straight, and somewhat dark corridor, which was standard for Fynth vessel's since their eyes were slightly more sensitive to light than the species aboard Voyager, Chakotay questioned quietly, "So, how late are you running today?"

Smirking, Kathryn came back, "Oh ye of little faith." Then holding up her finger and shaking it at him, she informed, "I'll have you know I'm right on time today."

After he chuckled at that, he asked quietly, looking around before he did so to make sure no one was in the vicinity, "Before I forget?is there something I should know about Carey's transfer?"

"Mmmnt," Kathryn groaned, shaking her head, "it's worse than you think, but lets not talk about it here." Looking over at him and pinning him with her most serious stare, she added quietly as they walked briskly, "Let's just say that there's a reason why Nick took care of it and not me."

Raising his eyebrows, then shaking his head, Chakotay whispered, "Off the record?he's lucky I'm not the captain."

"If you were the captain," Kathryn said with acid on her tongue, "I doubt we'd have a problem."

"True," Chakotay said, understanding what she was getting at but not wanting to get into it, "because he would have never lasted in Engineering."

Also understanding what her first officer was getting at, certain he was silently informing her that B'Elanna would have probably beat him to a bloody pulp then blown him out the airlock long ago, Kathryn merely said, "Mmmyes?I'm sure." Then sighing and shaking her head as they turned the corner, she went on, "Anyway, that's why I need to speak with Devin?so, you're more than welcome to attend."

Shaking his head, Chakotay said, "Well, I'd rather hear the whole story?since I'm assuming there's a specific reason he's here and not in the Brig?"

Janeway nodded her head and remarked, sarcastically, "You mean you don't want to watch me in action?" speaking of her acting ability, knowing he would understand since they'd worked together long enough to not have to spell everything out.

"I've already seen the show," the commander chuckled at the irritable, but confidently flirtacious look on his captain's face, having missed her wit as much as he missed his bed. "I had front row tickets with Captain Proton?remember?"

"Don't remind me."

"Aye, Arachnia," he teased which he knew would have produced yet another harmlessly sharp elbow if they were in private.

"Chakotay," Kathryn warned, "don't make me regret not permanently getting rid of you."

Laughing, he placed his hand on her shoulder, giving it a small squeeze as they stopped in front of the door to the first's office. He then entered the security code which opened the small, thick, metal door, since the Alaxiat's doorcall system was currently offline while some of the upgrades were being performed and the door was too dense to knock upon successfully, he already was aware.

As Chakotay whispered a good luck to her then went back the way he came, Janeway turned around for a second to watch him, curious as to why he wasn't even staying for a moment, but quickly figured it out when she heard Devin bark, clearly cranky, "My recollection was for no interruptions." Spinning around and raising her eyebrows at the reprimand, since it had been quiet a long time she been spoken to in such a manner, Kathryn looked around and said when she didn't seen the elder Fynth immediately, "Knock, knock?"

Sighing, Devin came around the corner and said, instantly recognizing the unique voice of her friend, "Kathryn, find no crime in my abruptness?please, enter." As Janeway nodded and stepped inside, apologizing for not knocking and wondering if Chakotay had pulled that move on purpose, Devin explained as she stepped up to the door and manually selected the code that dropped it down and sealed it once again, "We have a bother with our visitor alert system currently?the whole contraption has basically gone to the demon." Then sighing again and turning toward Janeway, Devin tried to relax and said, "You should ignore my demeanor?it isn't the company, I assure you." Placing her hand on Kathryn's shoulder as the small captain gave her an understanding grin, the towering, golden woman said, "It is good to see you again?what causes your treading?duty or banter?"

Chuckling softly at her friend's clear foul mood, Kathryn replied as Devin released her and gestured that she should follow her, "Oh, a little of both." As she rounded the corner and stepped into Devin's office which consisted of a circular desk and a long padded cot, which she assumed what something similar to a couch, Kathryn asked as she the older woman gestured that she should sit, "Things going poorly?"

"It seems the spirits have abandoned me on this cycle," Devin reported as she sat at her desk and turned toward Janeway. Then smiling crookedly, the first leaned forward and said, poking fun at herself, "If I were not a relic, I'd suggest hormone therapy, but since my birthing length has long since passed, I blame the spirits."

Allowing a commiserating grin, since even though medical advancement now freed Federation women of the burden of menstruation, her body still went through the typical hormone changes each month, Kathryn said, wryly, "Damn those spirits."

Laughing and clicking mightily at that, Devin slapped her hand down on her desk and said, strongly and with fervor, "It's a shame your B'Elanna isn't able to do the music for us again?I'm certain my madness would be lifted after such an event." As Janeway laughed at that and nodded, Devin sat back and asked, "How are your mates?although," she smiled, "from the glimpse of things, I gather they're well?"

Janeway smiled at the compliment and answered softly, "Oh, they're fine?thank you. B'Elanna's as busy as ever, but Seven's taking a small vacation to recover from her exhaustion."

Devin frowned visibly at that and asked, concerned, knowing quite a bit about Seven of Nine's situation from her first visits on Voyager, "Is she growing out of her alcove again?"

"No," the captain answered, "she was merely working too hard and not regenerating enough?and it finally caught up to her, but," she smirked, "she's doing fine. She was just getting too tired for her own good. She's just taking a few days off to rest and relax since her small," she lied, figuring that would kept Devin from inquiring, "project is done now." Chuckling softly and shaking her head, Kathryn added for effect, "You know Seven?efficiency is paramount."

Raising her finger, Devin reported, "Ah, not paramount, but near the peak. Her project was for you?yes?" When Janeway blinked at that, then quirked her mouth in question, the Fynth nodded and said, waving her hand, "You are her paramount, Kathryn?hear me in this?it is not a task to detail."

"Yes, well," Kathryn allowed, hoping to change the subject quickly. "Chakotay says he'll be coming back to Voyager shortly?"

Allowing the subject change since she certainly didn't want to pry and her comments had simply been Devin's way of reminding Janeway that in her company she could speak freely without fear of consequence, the first said, "Grenthel is accomplished to the task at this length?for the most part. Shreen will also be assisting since Roxanne Baker has been a most fortunate addition." Smiling Devin reported, "She is delightful?even when she is silent?and I appreciate her dutifulness." Shaking her head, Devin allowed, "If only they all were so dedicated?perhaps I could then rest easy during this adjustment length?"

"Speaking of," Janeway started fairly seriously, "before we get off topic, I need a favor of you." When Devin raised her eyebrows in surprise, Kathryn crossed her legs and informed as she folded her hands in her lap, "I'm having a problem with one of my engineers?and pretty big problem actually. He's been transferred over here for the time being because," she sighed, turning on the acting ability, honestly hating that she wasn't telling the complete truth to Devin, but knowing she couldn't responsibly tell her yet, "he's too important to the upgrade project to simply confine him to quarters?and unfortunately," she gave her best rueful grin, "the young woman that he's been bothering isn't as qualified as he is." When Devin frowned heavily at that, Janeway shook her head and said, "Tuvok's looking into the whole thing, and we'll do a full investigation, but for now, I think it's best if we keep them separated."

"I gather you have evidence against him?"

Nodding, Janeway said, "Another crewmember witnessed the incident, and," she sighed again, "this isn't the first time we've had problems with him." Seriously, she reported, "He gave B'Elanna a lot of problems when she first came onboard, and she wound up breaking his nose?so," Janeway added as Devin nodded, not at all surprised from what she knew of the Klingon sometimes hot-headed persona, "I'm trying right now to keep that from happening again?at least until we finish your upgrades?and then I'll deal with him. But, like I said, he's the second highest ranked engineer I've got and we need him on this project." Shaking her head, Kathryn frowned and finished, "Unfortunately, I just don't think we have the luxury of not trying to get all we can out of him right now. Of course, it's not how I'd like to do things, but, as I've learned in the Delta Quadrant," she smirked, "things don't always go how I'd like them to."

"It is not your bane alone, Kathryn," Devin added sardonically. Then nodding, she said, "Do not wear yourself about this. I will welcome him with open arms, and if he strays from the path I carve for him, I am more than accomplished to squashing rebellion within my ranks." When Janeway smiled softly and nodded her gratitude, the first questioned, "Is he merely a spoiled babe?or is there caliber to his crimes?"

"I don't think he's the sort to physically harm anyone," Janeway answered truthfully, "if that's what you're asking, but I'd like you to keep an eye on him since he seems prone to acting on his short comings by making others look poorly." The clearing her throat, she felt the need to add, "And?just between us?from the evidence we have, I'm fairly certain he is has a problem with authority?specifically female authority." As Devin gave her an inquisitive look, which told the captain the Fynth had no concept of sexism?at least not of this sort since from what she knew of Devin's culture, at least the former one, they were fairly matriarchal, Kathryn shook her head and said, "I know it probably doesn't make sense, and I don't really have the time for a history lesson right now, but suffice it to say there are some people that still believe woman should be seen and not heard?well, that's an over-generalization where he's concerned, but I think you get the point."

"I am not unfamiliar with the concept," Devin informed, "I am merely surprised that a member of your crew would suffer from such a delusion."

"You and me both."

"Well then," Devin smiled rather devilishly, "I'll be certain to detail his tasks several times per cycle to remind him from where he gets his directives." Before Janeway said anything, Devin stood up and informed, "If the situation were different, he would not blink without requesting permission, but," she smiled as she came around the desk and went to her pitcher of water, "considering he isn't mine to mold in such a way, I'll let him blink freely."

Turning around and coming over to the couch with two glasses of water as Janeway sighed and rubbed her forehead, Devin ignored Janeway's unease, thinking she was much too nice for her own good, but also admiring the younger woman's determination to remain true to herself despite all of the things she knew could easily turn the small captain into a much less forgiving person, and said as she handed her a glass of water, "Let us speak no more of the misfit because it is clear that he distresses you. Tell me," she sat next to Kathryn and finished, smiling with mischief again, "how is your 'sex life?'"

When Janeway almost choked on her water, Devin laughed heartily, then patted her friend's back, explaining, "My apologies?but I was required to ask you?find no crime."

Coughing still, Janeway said red-faced, and coarse from the coughing attack, "Devin?why do I get the feeling you lost a bet with Chakotay?"

The tall Fynth shrugged and reported, "I was a babe to the concept?and apparently, he is not."

Kathryn sighed and shook her head as she said, "That's an understatement." Then coughing once final time, Janeway finally chuckled and said, "Oh, I'm gonna get him for that if it's the last thing I do." When Devin clicked in humor and reported that Chakotay had known the redhead would make such a proclamation, Kathryn turned to Devin and asked, "So, since I'm the victim here?am I allowed to know what you bet on?"

"One evening while we dined," Devin informed, "he was speaking of his string of bad 'luck' with shuttles, and I informed him that he couldn't have possibly lost more than I have?which," she smiled as Janeway groaned, "seemed logical considering my length of duty, but apparently," Devin sighed, and patted Kathryn's back again, "age isn't as great a factor as I believed it was?"

Laughing softly and shaking her head, Kathryn held up her finger and said, "Truthfully, I've lost count of how many times we've had to salvage a shuttle at the hands of my first officer." As Devin laughed mildly at that, Janeway asked, "I'm curious, if you'd have won?what would've you made him do?"

Devin smiled brightly and whispered, "If I were with youth, I'd have requested his company in my bed for the remainder of the cycle." When Janeway froze and then blinked at her in relative shock, the elder Fynth sat up straight and said, smiling before she sipped her water, "But since I'm far too prideful to use such tactics at this length, I think perhaps I would have made him do something physically taxing so that I could enjoy detailing the view?maybe rearrange the furniture in my dwelling?or something like that."

Bringing her hand to her mouth before she burst out in laughter, wondering if Chakotay had any idea that their Fynth friend had taken quiet a liking to him, Kathryn chuckled a few times as Devin merely sipped her water then smiled down at her. Then shaking her head and clearing her throat, Kathryn said, "Well, I guess I'm the one who asked?" As the older woman nodded in amusement, Janeway handed over her glass as she stood and said, "Well, I think on that note, I'll get going since I have a few more people to see before I have to get back to my sex life." Chuckling and shaking her head as she walked away, Kathryn stopped at the corner and said, doing her best to have the last laugh, "Which, in case you had any doubts, is very nice?thank you for asking."

"My child," Devin smiled as she stood and started toward her water cart to set down the glasses, "if there was a question in my mind?I wouldn't have inquired. Now leave me to my spirit lacking chagrin before I lose the rest of my mind under the weight of envy." Then turning toward Kathryn, she smiled sincerely and reported, "However, it is always a prize to see such maddening happiness?send my greetings to yours."

"Knock, knock," Janeway began modestly while she simultaneously tapped lightly on the outside partition of Saff Garen's quarters, where she'd been told he was currently. Keeping her head out of the open doorway so she didn't violate anyone's privacy, she went on immediately, "Anyone home?"

Recognizing the distinctive voice of his former commanding officer at once, the twenty-three year old Bajoran jumped to his feet out of surprise and instantaneous uneasiness while he said as he looked about the room for his shoes, "Uh, Captain?yes?I'm here...Garen, I mean...not McCormick."

Janeway easily heard the slight commotion in the room as well as the uneasy inflection in is voice, so she explained before she entered, "I'd like to speak with you for a moment, Mister Saff?is this a bad time?"

Garen sighed softly at that, now certain Chakotay had spoken with Janeway recently since he highly doubted that the Starfleet captain would have made a visit if she thought he was doing alright, especially considering he had left her ship and had made it fairly clear that he'd done so because he never felt comfortable aboard Voyager, or comfortable with her. Giving up immediately on trying to find his other shoe, figuring it was underneath the bed and also not wanting to give the captain the impression that he was nervous, Garen scooted his other shoe under the bed out of sight while he answered, sitting back down on purpose, "The door's open."

Kathryn ignored the rather unfriendly reply, not surprised and smiled warmly, but not overly grand since she believed that would be too obvious, while she stepped inside, saying, "Thank you?I won't keep you long since it sounds like you're busy." When the tall, thin and dark-haired young man merely nodded at her, Kathryn glanced around quickly, then asked, pointing to the cot Garen was perched on, "Is there somewhere else you'd prefer to go to speak privately?" Before her former crewman could respond, she added looking back, "I'm not really familiar with this deck?"

"Captain," Garen sighed again, although this time it was audible, while he stood up, "whatever you're going to say?I've heard it all before?at least five times." Shaking his head and holding up his hands as Kathryn raised her eyebrows and titled her head to the side somewhat, he added, "I know you don't have to be here, and I appreciate that you came, but I'm telling you?just like I told Chakotay?there's nothing anyone can do, and if you two really care about me, you'll just leave me alone." As he sat back down, he frown while he finished, "I'm not like all of you?I like to be by myself?so, you can save your time on other people because I don't need any advise."

Clearing her throat mildly, Kathryn pointed to the cot that Garen was perched on and requested, "May I?" When he looked up at her with an irritated look on his narrow features, Janeway held up her hands while she informed, "No advise?you have my word." Then she added, hoping to spark his curiosity, not telling him the complete truth, but feeling the need to shade the facts to keep him off the defensive, "I'm not exactly sure what you think has prompted this visit, or what you and the commander have discussed, but I'm here on business...nothing more." Quirking one side of her mouth, she finished, "I need your help, Mister Saff?I'm not here to lecture you."

Not completely trusting, although surprised by Janeway's words, Garen queried as he moved over and silently gave her permission to remain in his presence, "Then, you're not here to try to get me to come back?"

Playing her part well, the captain came right back while she sat, frowning and pursing her lips just before she spoke, "Has Chakotay already talked about this with you?" On the next beat, she said, shaking her head, "Forgive me if I'm being too presumptuous, but I was under the impression that you'd jump at the chance to do this kind of work again."

Not afraid to show his displeasure, the Bajoran stood up and reminded, "No, I'm not interested." Turning around and looking at Janeway, he said, "With all due respect, Captain...I don't understand what the problem is with the commander, but I don't appreciate him sending you in here when I already told him I don't want to work in Maintenance anymore. I never fit in...and frankly, I hated it...and I came over here so I don't have to do that anymore."

The captain furrowed her brow, ignoring his attitude and letting him express whatever he needed to since she was hoping to confuse him and throw him enough off balance that he let down his defenses long enough for her to sneak inside and execute her plan, and said where she sat comfortably and proper, "I don't want you to work in Maintenance...I want you to work in Astrometrics."

"Huh?"

Understanding the surprise completely, Janeway went on easily, "Is is just me...or are we having a miscommunication?"

Now totally confused, Garen sighed and remarked, shaking his head, "Captain, maybe you should start from the beginning?I'm lost."

Kathryn chuckled mildly while she said, dry, "Join the club." After the young man shot her a quick, and very small uneasy smile, the captain crossed her legs and sat comfortably as she turned her upper half slightly toward him when he sat back down next o her, "Seven of Nine is going to be very busy for several weeks, if not months, working on the new shuttle upgrades and various other projects that will keep her out of Astrometrics." As the Bajoran seemed to be paying more attention to her now than she'd ever seen him, the captain kept the smirk from her face as she said, "I don't really want to disturb the other officer's schedules, but since I know that things aren't nearly as routine over here right now, you were the first person I thought to offer the job to."

Dumbfounded, Garen informed, "You want me to work in Astrometrics with Seven?" Although he figured that certainly were much worse people to have to work with, Captain Janeway being at the top of his list, he had a pretty good feeling working with Seven of Nine would be a very distinct kind of hell from the stories he'd heard, even if he appreciated the voluptuous scenery.

"Well," Janeway explained, "yes...at first, just until you get up to speed, but no...not really. She'll still be the department head, of course, but I just need someone that's familiar with this critical kind of work, and can handle the solitude." Shaking her head quickly, the captain added, "I know that you've made the decision to leave, and I respect that completely, but I was honestly hoping you'd be more interested...it certainly would make things easier."

Beyond suspicious, the young man questioned directly, standing once again, "Why me...why not Kim or Delaney?" Not giving Janeway a chance to answer, he turned toward the redhead and informed, curt, "I know there's more to this. I'm not stupid kid."

Figuring it was time to move in for the kill, and knowing this idea of hers would either sink or swim right now, Kathryn stood up slowly and said with sureness, coolness, but warning, "I don't ever recall saying you were, Mister Saff." Getting directly in his face, she said quiet, but serious, "I'm not in the habit of justifying my reasons, Ensign, but in this case, I'll make an exception...just so we're clear where we stand. It seems I've misjudged you. I was under the impression you'd appreciate this opportunity considering it's similiar work to what you did with the commander. Oh, I know well a good just how much you dislike serving aboard my vessel, Garen...but the fact remains, I have position to fill, and it's my duty to this crew to put the best person available in that position, despite any personal problem they may have with me. You don't have to like me, Ensign...but if you work on my ship, you do have to follow my orders...and since you've never had a problem with that, I thought you were the best person for the job."

"What about Kim?"

Continuing on in the same manner, Kathryn explained, "I need Mister Kim on the Bridge, and I don't want to have to upset anyone else's routine if it's at all possible." When Garen seemed to falter for a moment and ponder that, Janeway went on, "I need someone who's bright enough to pick up the work quickly...and can work unsupervised. I won't lie to you...the work is specialized and complicated. It takes a great deal of focus and Seven of Nine isn't the most patient of instructors, but from what Chakotay tells me...this is right up your alley." Shaking her head, she added, "I don't know what problem you're having with the commander, nor do I want or plan to get involved...and even though requesting that you fill this whole will make my job easier, I'm not going to beg that you do so. You either want it, or you don't...it's a simple as that."

Moving away from the captain's piercing stare, turning his back to her and pacing around, Garen questioned, still aggitated, "What about my work here...I just got here...I can't leave." The Bajoran face the captain again and announced with aggression, "I don't abandon my post, Captain...not when they need my help."

The captain shook her head and reminded, "I can replace the work you're doing now with a handful of other officers...Astrometrics is another story." When Garen sighed and went to open his mouth, Kathryn barked, cranky, on purpose, "I don't have time for this, Mister Saff." Slightly less harsh, she went on fluidly, "As far as not abandoning someone when they need your help...well," she laughed once sarcastically, "I was under the impression that your family is on Voyager and that I'd made my request perfectly clear." Stepping up to him, she informed, "I'm not going to argue about this with you. My offer's on the table, but it won't be forever." Then nodding her head once, stepping away, she finished, "Think about it...if I don't hear from you for tomorrow evening, I'll give the job to someone else." As the Barjoran bobbed his head tersely, Kathryn did so as well again, glanced around and said, "I'll let you get back..."

"One more thing, Captain," Garen said quickly before Kathryn passed through the door.

Stopping, but only turning around halfway, Janeway raised her eyebrows as her face remained impassive and said, "Yes?"

"Let's say I took this...would I have to live on Voyager?"

Remaning even, Janeway shook her head and said, "As long as we're in orbit around this planet, which will be for several weeks it seems, no...but after that, yes."

"And what happens when Seven's done with her project?"

Keeping herself from smirking, since she figured that she'd at least sparked his interest, which was more than they usually got from him, the captain reminded, "Seven's an extraordinarily talented individual...I'm sure she won't have a problem keeping busy and lending a hand wherever I need her." Then knowing it was time to leave him to stew about it, Janeway nodded her head and said, "Now, if you'll excuse me..." and left without saying another word.

Peering through the dimmed window of the Sri Lanka, which was technically her shuttle craft, but it was currently being housed aboard the Alaixat since the construction of the new shuttle was leaving Voyager with a rather cramped Shuttle Bay, Kathryn Janeway spotted crossed legs of her former second shift helmsman, Roxanne Baker. Since the young woman was sitting in the back of the small craft, which left her body concealed behind the partition, except her legs, from where she sat, Kathryn assumed she was either reading or eating since she looked entirely too upright to be sleeping; thus, she knocked soundly on the thick window as she stood on her tip-toes and tried to make as much of her head as possible stick up over the console. When Baker uncrossed her legs and leaned forward, glancing in her direction, the captain lifted her hand and waved in friendly manner. As Roxanne stood up immediately once she recognized the auburn kissed mane, and the thin elegant hands of her commanding officer, which was all she could see from her sitting position, then hurried made her way over to the window, but didn't attempt to open the hatch for her and instead just stood in an attentive position, although she did seem pleased, Janeway forced herself not to laugh or to make the younger woman anymore nervous as she said, shouting to be heard, which was futile since it was unlikely Baker would here her from inside a sealed shuttle, "Will you open the hatch, please?" Then to further the effectiveness of her request, she pointed to the sensor board and repeated, mouthing the words this time, "The hatch."

"Oh?right?yes, Ma'am," Baker replied, speaking aloud as well, nodding furiously after blinking and shaking her head. Roxanne then scurried over to the other console and quickly opened the hatch, feeling insanely witless, which was typical for her around superior officers, especially this one in particular. Now completely out of her element since seeing Kathryn Janeway, especially one on one, was the one thing she figured wouldn't happen to her when she woke up this morning, Baker took a deep breath and then quickly snatched up the disgracefully old and withered bound book she had read been reading, placed it in the corner and set a PADD on top of it to hopefully hide its pathetic state as the hatch lowered slowly. The reason for her disbelief and rather clear unease was simple: one, she could be rather pessimistic about her own luck, and two, no matter how much the ensign daydreamed about getting stranded on an isolated, although hospitable, planet with the dynamic woman and talking with her all night long, usually while cuddled rather intimately together under a starry sky inside a sleeping bag after skillfully making love to Janeway until she whispered her name to the heavens, she knew that it would be a very chilly day in hell before Janeway ever saw her as anything more than a crewman and someone to most likely pity. She figured that was especially true these days considering that Kathryn had girlfriends like Seven of Nine and B'Elanna Torres, who Baker easily considered the most attractive women aboard Voyager, other the ship's captain.

Despite the fact that Roxanne Baker had a rather big crush on her former commanding officer, which had been steadily building for just over a year and had yet to abate since she'd transferred to the Alaxiat, which had been one of the reasons she'd decided to leave?although not the only one, there was also the fact that the redhead terrified her to no end, especially when they were alone. As much as she loathed that reaction because she knew it only made her chances, which were already minute, as far as she was concerned, with the ranking officer even more unthinkably small, she couldn't pretend it didn't occur simply because every time Janeway looked at her directly, she felt like the redhead knew exactly what she was thinking. Since Baker was somewhat of a loner and had a rather vivid imagination, she half expected the captain to approach her one day and request that she have a psychological evaluation before she laughed at her and told her she didn't have a chance in hell. Baker had never known Kathryn to be rude, at least not like that, but she certainly was confident, insanely confident, and considering the pilot didn't think too highly of herself, she figured with her luck, especially with romance, that's exactly what would occur?and that was probably best case scenario.

As the door lowered completely to the floor with a low, heavy thud and Kathryn immediately came into view around the corner before she ascended, Roxanne straightened, placed her balled fists behind her back, and forced herself not to hold her breath for too long as the captain glanced up at her as she turned her way, smiled and said, "I'm sorry if I startled you, but I thought since I have a few minutes, I'd stop by to check up on my shuttlecraft." When the captain's smiled turned to a smirk as she looked around the room, patted the solid partition with her had, and said, turning just to her head toward the brunette, "I was hoping to run into you while I was around?must be my lucky day?" Roxanne felt her cheeks start to burn at not only the enchantingly pretty woman before her and her easy, confident way, but the fact that Kathryn had obviously made a special stop to see her in the shuttle. Roxanne was no fool, and she figured Chakotay had told the captain he'd found Baker camped out in her shuttlecraft, and she also surmised Janeway was 'looking in' on her because she was worried the her former pilot wasn't doing well. Again, Baker highly doubted Kathryn had any personal stake in the matter, other than the fact that she cared for her crew, but she still couldn't help but flush slightly at just the thought and the subtle, flirty personality that she so secretly wished to know and understand privately.

Softly, Baker looked down for a moment and said, "Yes, Ma'am."

Used to the young woman's quiet and dutiful responses, never usually getting much else out of her?even during the half hour they were trapped together in a turbolift, about a year ago, one early morning during a shift change when main power decided to give up on them and keep them in the dark for almost twelve hours until they fixed the problem?Janeway chuckled soundlessly as she passed by her, squeezed her forearm near her elbow with one hand, patted her back with the other, and said, "It's good to see you, Miss Baker?I won't bother you long," while she went to the forward section and had a quick look around at her shuttle. A little disappointed Roxanne wasn't saying more because she'd honestly hoped her leaving would help bring her out of her shell, Kathryn continued to engage her, which was habit, and asked as she leaned over the console and brought up a maintenance log, "The commander tells me you're doing well..."

Turning around and taking a breath, yelling at herself in her mind for being such a "wimpy, pathetic girl," Baker nodded her head, then said when she realized she was nodding to Janeway's backside and she couldn't see her, "Yes, Ma'am."

Janeway nodded her head at that softly, expecting such an answer and after expelling the air from her lungs very softly in endearment, she remarked as she finished scanning through the log, glad that it seemed at least someone was paying constant attention to her machinery and not letting it just sit around collecting dust, "Well, I'm glad." As she turned around, she added, "And thank you for keeping the old girl company?I was worried she might get a little homesick?" When Baker nodded as she looked down at the ground, Janeway sighed and softened visibly, then said as she approached the slightly taller brunette, "Do you mind if I kick up my feet for a few minutes and have some coffee?" Not waiting for an answer, since she didn't plan on leaving until she was sure Roxanne wasn't feeling any depression and just acting like her typical, meek self, she explained as she past by her again and went to the replicator, "I can't really stay long, but I could use the break?I've been on the go since five this morning." Smirking, she said wryly as she snatched up her coffee, before drinking it and turning back to Baker, "And that's a little early?even for me."

Baker smiled shyly at the cute look on the captain's face, swallowed and said, nodding her head several times, "Yes?I mean no, Ma'am?I don't mind." Taking a breath, trying to figure out what to say so she didn't sound like a bumbling idiot, as she assumed she did, forgetting that in order to sound like an idiot, one had to speak more than she was, she nodded her head again, but remained steadfastly standing, still pretty much at attention as Kathryn migrated to the padded bench in the back of the small craft and sat down, and managed as the captain crossed her legs, sipped her coffee and looked up at her, "You can stay as long as you want?I wasn't doing anything critical?just reading a book."

"Oh?" Janeway raised her eyebrows pleasantly. When Roxanne bobbed her head, Kathryn smiled and asked as she gestured the cushion next to her with her chin, silently informing the ensign she was allowed to sit down too, "What are you reading?if you don't mind me asking?"

Shaking her head, sighing inwardly at herself for even bringing that up, Roxanne forced her legs into motion and answered as she perched on the edge of the couch, prim and proper and barely turned to Janeway, putting herself between the captain and her book, the pilot said, "It's okay?but it's really old?I doubt you've never heard of it?or would even like it."

Janeway rested her head on her arm as she turned around some and said, "Try me?"

Glancing over at Kathryn for a second, unable to help herself, she swallowed again when Janeway looked right back at her, smiled as she relaxed and nodded at her to go ahead, and finally said after five seconds as she turned away from the captain and looked down at her battered book, "It's called Foxfire?"

"'Never, never tell, Maddy-Monkey, they warned me, it's death if you tell any of them...but now...after so many years...I am going to tell, for who's to stop me?'" Kathryn quoted the beginning of the book softly, as she looked down into her coffee mug, ignoring the coincidence factor of this moment, and currently latching onto whatever she could that would possibly get Roxanne to relax and open up a little. The captain certainly wasn't looking to become best friends with the young woman, but she definitely was trying to show her that it was okay to join in conversations, even with superior officers, and to doubly make certain that Roxanne really was doing well and wasn't terribly lonely. As the stunned and dumbfounded pilot snapped her head around to Kathryn, causing her long pony-tail to wipe around to her shoulder, Janeway turned up one corner of her cheek and remarked dry and coarse, "Well?it went something like that?"

Closing her mouth that was slightly gapping, Baker turned hurried toward Janeway, suddenly smiling brightly to an extent most people of Voyager had never seen and said, hurriedly, "You know Foxfire?" Then quickly, she shook her head, rolled her eyes at herself and rattled, speaking louder and slightly higher pitched, "I mean?of course you do?you just quoted it, for goodness sakes. I'm just stunned?please don't take offense, Captain, but I've never met anyone else that's read it?I mean, before I told them they should."

Since that was more than Baker had ever said to her, and certain more enthusiasm than she'd ever shown, Kathryn decided the literary classic was more than an adequate subject, so she said, "No offense taken. I'm rather fond of old books myself?so I understand completely." Before she sipped her coffee, she asked, "So?who's your favorite character?Maddy or Legs?"

Sighing some, fairly happily, Baker looked down at her hands as she sat back farther and answered, softly, while she picked her at short nails, "I honestly don't know. Sometimes I think Legs?definitely Legs, I mean," looking over at Kathryn quickly, "she's so?her, you know?" When Kathryn closed her eyes partly and nodded, shaking her head somewhat wistfully, understanding the romance with the tough, wild, rebellious sort, Baker smiled more, turned toward Kathryn and said as she too rested her head in her hand, "But then I think about Maddy. She was so good?so hopeful, and loyal, and," sighing and shaking her head, turning back around and looking down at her hands, quieting, "I?well, I guess I understand her better?so sometimes I think she's my favorite." Clearing her throat mildly and sitting up straighter as she came back to herself and realized who she was talking to, and that she should try not to be so fanciful around someone like Kathryn Janeway, certain that the captain would just think she was just a girl with her head in the clouds and couldn't take anything seriously. Trying to make more of better, older, more intelligent impression since it was widely known that their commanding officer was one of the more intellectual captain's in Starfleet, and there were even rumors that her IQ was close to the level of a genius, the twenty-five year old female said, "But I honestly love them all?her character development was exceptional. I assume it was probably a tedious book to write, to make that kind of free-flowing thought style work like she did?without making it seem?constructed or overly chaotic." Shrugging, she glanced once again over to the captain, who was listening closely and finished, "I'm not sure how she did it, but I've yet to find a similar styled book that matches its quality. What do you think?"

"Oh, I couldn't agree more," Janeway replied easily, shaking her head, then sipping her coffee. "I'm not sure I've ever thought about the actual process of writing it?in that detail, but I'm sure you're right. It makes sense." Giving her best lop-sided grin, Kathryn added, "I love stories, so I usually just get wrapped up in them and forget that someone actually wrote it since?" she chuckled, "I'm not much of a writer?well," she clarified, "at least not a creative one." When Baker nodded, but didn't say anything, Janeway remarked, "Seems like you know what you're talking about?does that mean that you write too?or do you just prefer to study it?"

The ensign shook her head softly and said, "No?no, I don't write." Laughing somewhat, shy, she admitted, "I wish I could, though?but I can't, at least not well?so, I just study what others have written?deconstruct them, I guess?look for patterns and hidden details." Looking over at Janeway, she said, "You can learn a lot about someone by reading what they've written...learn about the author, I mean. Some more than others?although, not usually as much with fiction. Poetry is best for that?but I guess that's obvious, but still, there's more there than meets the eye." Then clearing her throat and nodding over to her book, she said, "But Foxfire reads a lot like poetry in some places?it's really unique to me, but I honestly haven't ever sat down to study it." Smiling and looking down at her hands, she muttered, "I've just read it so many times, I think I can't help but think of those things."

Hopping to keep the ensign talking, even if she knew she should be excusing herself any minute and getting back to Voyager so she could get home relatively on time, but since she suddenly felt that this little detour might be the most important one she made all day, Janeway selflessly put aside her desire to be home on time, knowing Seven would understand, and also knowing B'Elanna would be there to keep her company, and asked, "What's your favorite part?since, I'm assuming," Janeway smiled and said quietly, "you could recite it?or at least paraphrase?" she added when Baker shook her head softly, as if she couldn't possibly do as well as the captain had. When Roxanne laughed softly and continued to shake her head, Kathryn leaned back, resting her head on the back of the sofa with her legs kicked out and crossed, while she cradled her coffee in her lap and said, "Alright?then I'll guess?hmm?oh?I love this part," clearing her throat mildly, she recited her most memorable part of the story, in her opinion, "'But Maddy Wirtz whose Foxfire names are Monkey and...sometimes, Killer does not regret she'd ever been born...this is a girl with happiness coiled in her heart tight and secret as a snake. She's standing there listening silently to her aunt's machine-gun voice knowing that the cold seething anger in the voice like the anger in the near-lashless eyes will exhaust itself if unchallenged...unprovoked...if the girl lowers her head...lowers her eyes...stands subdued and unresisting thinking yes but...Foxfire is my heart...yes...but you don't know who I am...and you'll never know...you have no power to hurt me...I stand here...biding my time..."

Turning her head as Kathryn did indeed read her mind this time, and freezing almost every system in her body at the surreal sight before her, Baker took a deep breath and held it as Janeway continued on, word for word, she knew, while she leaned back and closed her eyes, but spoke to the ceiling in a semi-whisper. Instantly falling into her mind, Baker imagined herself becoming strong and confident, just like Legs always was, even in her silence as she crawled over next to Janeway and leaned into her. And her confidence didn't falter when Kathryn wrapped her arm around her and merely turned her head to face her as her blue eyes opened, but she didn't stop reciting the words that they both loved. Neither of them faltered a nanosecond when Roxanne took a hold of the captain's coffee mug, then set it over to the floor, or when she approached her again, brazenly placed her sure hands on the equally thin woman's thighs and languidly showed her appreciation for their shape while she leaned forward and hovered slightly above her since she was taller. Looking down at the captain's body and her hand as Kathryn grew quiet, but held her stare while she smiled her warm smile, the pilot looked up into her face again as she informed, fearless, "I'm going to call you Kathryn...Kathryn."

When Janeway's smile turned to a more needful, longing gaze as she whispered, "Roxy," while she softly took a hold of Roxanne's hand and commanded it to touch her left breast, instructing, "Touch me here," Baker said while she unzipped the captain's tunic halfway and slipped her hand inside, "You know, Kathryn...you're my heart." As Janeway leaned her head back again as Baker kneaded her bosom expertly, the ensign leaned in again and began softly kissing her neck and jawline, which caused the intrepid captain to shiver and whispered, "Roxanne?"

As the young pilot continued to stare at her lap from where she sat, obviously not really looking at her but thinking about something very intently, Janeway's smiled widened in humor and curiosity for the female's quirkiness, finding her rather preciously cute, and said again, louder and reaching out to touch her shoulder to stir her, "Roxanne?"

Just as Kathryn had moaned deeply for a third time and once again commanded her hand, this time away from her breast and to the juncture of her legs while they kissed deeply and with a burning, unstoppable passion, Roxanne heard her name called again and felt the captain's soft touch on her arm, which quickly stirred her out of her fantasy world. Blinking several times, Baker said, "Huh?" as she looked up. Then instantly realizing what she'd been doing, and turning a hundred thousand shades of red all at once, the pilot mumbled as she shook her head, "Ohgod, I'm terribly sorry, Ma'am?I was listening." Standing up to retreat, she added when Janeway chuckled mildly and told her it was quite alright, "Um, yes, yes?you were right?that's my favorite part...it's a great part." Going to the replicator for some water before she passed out from all of the blood thundering in her ears, Baker rattled, "I'm sorry for zoning out?I was just thinking about the story since you read?well, tell it so well. You should read professionally?"

While Baker kept her back to her and stopped talking nervously for a moment while she sipped her water, Kathryn laughed soundlessly at their funny exchange, always have having a soft spot for less-confident, sweetly nervous officers, while she shook her head and sipped her coffee. Glancing over to the side, recognizing instantly that she was looking at a bound book and it immediately peaking her curiosity, Kathryn set her coffee down on the floor and reached over while Baker finally got the nerve to turn back around. Scooting the PADD off the book, Kathryn laughed once in delight as she said, "Would you look at that," not speaking to anyone but herself since she figured the book was Baker's before she even saw that it was indeed Foxfire. As she carefully picked up the ragged leather that's seams were splitting all over the place, Janeway queried as she drew it to her, "Where in the world did you find this?" Looking up quickly when Baker didn't answer her and seemed uneasy, she asked hurriedly, "Do you mind?"

Shaking her head quickly, calming down as she realized Janeway thought it was nice instead of pathetic, Baker forced herself to relax as she said, coming back over to the couch and sitting down next to the captain, "Not at all?it's filthy though."

Chuckling as she smiled and shook her head, the captain said, "I know?it's priceless?where'd you find it?" While Baker explained that she'd hunted for nearly two months, trying to find someone that had an old, bound copy of her favorite story that they wanted to part ways with, and finally made a trade with a woman whose mother had recently past away, Kathryn carefully opened the book at its natural fold while she set it in her lap. Shaking her head, Janeway said, "Something tells me this book could tell a few stories of its own?it looks like it's been to hell and back?twice." As Roxanne snickered and agreed, the captain closed it up, looked over at Baker as she said, smiling, "You know, I've got a few treasures in my collection too?but none of them," looking back down at the book and rubbing her palm over the worn, brown, nondescript cover, "have nearly as much character as this one."

Handing the book back over to Roxanne, she said, "You hang onto to that?I'd trade a year's worth of holodeck time easily for it?I haven't read that story in?ages, it seems." When the ensign seemed surprised by that, certain the captain owned the book since she'd done such a wonderful job reciting it, Kathryn nodded, understanding to curious look and explained, leaning forward some and whispering, "Don't be deceived?I'm blessed with a photographic memory?so, I rarely forget words I've read." Then sighing, she shook her head and said as she patted Baker on the back softly, "Too bad I haven't figured out yet how to keep track of the time, though?"

As Janeway stood and started toward the replicator, Roxanne jumped to her feet and said before Kathryn said her goodbye and got away from her, "If you'd like...you can borrow it." Holding out the book as Janeway turned around, surprised herself, Baker explained quickly, "I've read it more times than I can count, honestly?so it's fine. I can always download something to a PADD and bring it with me?it's not a big deal."

Accepting the gesture immediately, pleasantly surprised and grateful since it seemed like Baker was finally starting to come around, Kathryn took the book and said, warmly, "Thank you?that's very kind." Looking it over again, she shook her head in endearment for the mangled masterpiece, while she joked, but was serious as well, "I'll take very good care of it for you," looking up and smirking, "on my honor."

Roxanne forced herself not to frown and sigh at that, since before then she'd partially forgotten that the captain was involved, and said instead, as she nodded and placed her hands behind your back, "You're welcome, Ma'am?take your time with it?there's no rush."

Nodding, Janeway stepped up to Baker, patted, then squeezed her upper arm as she held the book to her chest and said, "Thank you for the coffee break, and the next time you come over to Voyager, track me down, huh?" As Roxanne raised her eyebrows at that slightly but smiled and nodded, Kathryn explained as she did so, "I've got at least twenty books in my collection?and you're more than welcome to borrow any of them." Pulling her hand away and looking back at the book, she added, "I don't know about you, but I always preferred bound books instead of reading something on a computer screen, but," she finished wryly and humorous, "I've been told mine is a subjective opinion?certainly is easier on the eyes, however."

"Yes, Ma'am?thank you, I'll do that."

"Good," Kathryn bobbed her head, then turned and started away saying, "Have a goodnight, Miss Baker?thank you again."

Stepping up to the back of the shuttle and watching Kathryn go, Roxanne said, hurried, "You too, Ma'am?pleasant dreams."

Janeway glanced over her shoulder at that, surprised again, pleasantly so and responded, holding up her hand and manipulating her fingers as she breezed out of the exit, "I'll keep my fingers crossed?"

Chuckling in mirth and relief that it seemed she'd successfully figured out how to stop worrying about one item on her very long list of frets now that she'd confirmed that Baker did indeed seem happier, and slightly more confident, which she believed would continue to rise as the days past and she gained more experience, Kathryn stopped abruptly and gasped somewhat as she came around the corner and was grabbed by her shoulders. Holding her hand to her chest, and taking a deep breath as Chakotay laughed and apologized, Janeway looked up at him and said, "Are you?trying?to kill me, Commander?"

As the first officer chuckled and patted her on the back, he replied, "Just doing my duty to keep you from running into me, Captain."

While Chakotay smiled and continued to laugh at her flushed cheeks, she narrowed her eyes at him, elbowed him lightly as she sneered, "I'll bet."

When Janeway finally smiled and shook her head, then mumbled about how she'd thought she'd learned her lesson about walking with her head down, the commander questioned, "You all done for the day?"

"Yes, I was just on my way back actually."

Tapping her on the shoulder and gesturing that she should be headed in the other direction, Chakotay asked after Janeway looked over her shoulder, then nodded and started away, keeping step with her since he had been going in down that hallway, "How'd it go with Baker?" figuring that's why the captain had been in the Shuttle Bay.

Smiling, and holding up the book, wiggling it slightly, Janeway reported, "She leant me her favorite book?so I'd say it went rather well." When Chakotay gave her a soft pat on the back for a job well done, since he'd never had any luck getting the woman to say anything but "Yes, sir," Janeway shook her head and said quietly as she turned just her head toward him and leaned in slightly, "Although, it does make me wonder if all this has turned me into a cynic because I can't honestly figure out why such a sweet woman would want to join Starfleet." Holding up her finger, she added, "Don?t get me wrong, I think she's a fine officer," sighing, "I just can't figure out what the appeal was for her."

"Well," Chakotay informed, figuring the captain probably didn't know, "she was an only child and her parents were in their fifties when she was born?so," he shrugged, "maybe she just wanted to get out and see the galaxy?" Smirking some as Janeway squinted her eyes some as she looked ahead, which he knew meant she was thinking, he continued, "Certainly wouldn't be the first time someone's joined a similar group for that reason?plus," he finished, "there's no better place to be if you're a pilot."

"I guess," Janeway said softly, shaking her head, still curious, but only because she was even more so protective of the youngest crewmembers on her ship that had been straight out of the Academy, like Dawson, Kim, Baker, Roland, Alter?just to name a few, and especially protective of those amongst that group that were quieter, more less assertive, and easily taken advantage of. "But, like I said," she went on the next beat as they turned the corner and started down the final hallway, "it went well and I agree with you, she seems happy." Turning up one corner of her mouth, she remarked, "She certainly spoke more than I've ever heard her?so that has to say something."

Moving the subject along and not making any comments, since it was fairly obvious by Janeway's continued reactions to Baker that she hadn't a clue the ensign had developed a hefty crush on her, Chakotay asked, "How about Garen?" In truth, Chakotay hadn't been sure Roxanne's nervousness around Kathryn was due, in part, to her romantic notions regarding the redhead until she'd come aboard the Alaxiat. Before then, he'd always assumed it was just her meek personality, mixed in with a little hero-worship that caused it, but a few weeks ago, when he'd found Baker in the Sri Lanka for the first time, he'd spied Roxanne reading Kathryn Janeway's personnel file, which had concerned him at first. He hated to admit it, but it was true that he wasn't nearly as trusting as he believed he should be, so after that, he'd done a little research of his own, just to make certain the quiet woman didn't have it out for his commanding officer and dear friend. What he'd found hadn't really surprised him because Baker certainly wasn't the first person aboard Voyager to develop such a crush on the good captain, he knew that for a fact, several times over, but it had certainly made him sigh with relief, and then laugh softly simply because for a woman who seemed to always know what was going on around her, Janeway could be rather clueless when it came to such things?and he was certain that the only person she'd ever known had romantic feelings for her had been himself?but that was a long time ago, and it had been almost equally mutual. The commander had had to be a little more nosey than he cared to be, but after accessing one of Baker's personal logs, out of several that mentioned Janeway, he hadn't had to read more than a few sentences to figure it out, and that's where he stopped because not only was he not a snoop, he really didn't want to know. Furthermore, he didn't want to tell Janeway because he honestly believed that Kathryn's little mentoring projects were very good for her, and he also believed Baker would soon realize the impossibility of the situation, get over it, and be a better person and officer thanks to Janeway's continued influence and attention. So, because of all those things, he continued to play like he hadn't a clue since he'd done the very same thing three years ago with Ensign Rodham, and he'd pulled through fine and had certainly become a rather reliable officer?one he knew for a fact Janeway respected a great deal.

Sighing a little heavier as they stepped into the transporter area that was empty, Janeway turned around and said, "He's thinking about it, but," she smirked some, "I think he might just come back for a while."

Curious, since he hadn't any idea what Janeway had up her sleeve regarding the Bajoran, Chakotay smiled and asked, crossing his arms over his broad chest, "What did you two talk about?"

Shaking her head and glancing around, Kathryn whispered, "I'll tell you later once I know if he's interested."

Accepting that fine, figuring there was more to it and knowing his captain well enough that such a look and timbre meant she wasn't comfortable talking where others could possibly overhear, so he said, "Well, lady?it seems you've shown me up again?wanna switch jobs?"

Laughing soundlessly, Kathryn teased as she pretended to think about it, but said, "Mmm?no." Then smiling brighter, she patted his arm and said, "Thank you for your help today and for the escort." She certainly hadn't forgotten that her commander had tricked Devin into betting on something, just so he could pull one over on her, but just as Maddy Wirtz had said...she was bidding her time.

"Aye, Captain," he smiled, nodding as she released him. While she turned and climbed aboard the transporter dais, he maneuvered behind the controls, then looked up and asked before he energized, "Are we still on for tomorrow at midnight?"

"Very funny," Kathryn scoffed, sticking her tongue out, then finished right before the transporter was activated, holding up her hand and producing five fingers, informing him she planned to be on time tomorrow, "don't quit your day job, Commander."

Janeway allowed a definite sigh of relief as she made it to the closest turbolift on Deck Two without once being stopped or asked a question. Once the doors had closed and she'd selected the next deck down, determined not to detour any more on her way home and equally determined to spend the entire evening doing whatever it was that Seven of Nine wanted to do to relax and unwind, certain B'Elanna would go along with that, Kathryn looked up and queried as the turbolift stopped and the doors open, which she proceeded directly through, "Computer, state the time."

"The time is 1756," replied the ship's computerized, female voice.

"Damn," Kathryn said under her breath, since she would have been happy with a half hour, but a full hour wasn't anywhere close to being on time?at least not in her rule book, and once again she shook her head in wonder since she was absolutely certain neither Seven nor B'Elanna would say one single thing about her tardiness. She knew she couldn't bring herself to make excuses and apologize other than a soft, "I'm sorry," which was indeed heartfelt, simply because her duty to her vessel and crew simply had to come first, but she sometimes honestly didn't understand how her lover's put up with her, and constantly accepted second place in her life. Of course, she knew from the beginning that was how it had to be, and she believed they had too, but knowing and accepting were two very different things, Janeway knew quiet well, and part of her marveled at them, and was undeniably grateful since, although she couldn't be sure, she had a feeling she wouldn't react as well. Considering the fact that she'd always felt neglected as a child and young adult when her father would be gone for so many months on end, she had a pretty good notion that old feeling would creep up into her thoughts again too. Although, when it came to her heart, her true heart, Seven and B'Elanna took center stage every minute of every day, but since she couldn't responsibly operate just going with her heart, there was always a part of her that dreaded the moment she was about to have. And sometimes, she secretly wished that they'd tear into her and make a fuss because part of her believed she could stand up to that a lot better than she could stand walking in on them finishing up their dinner and then having to eat alone as they lounged on the couch and watched the television or took off to go workout with Lieutenant Fowler, all the while paying her much more attention than she believed she deserved. However, the absolute worst was when she'd come home and find them waiting for her, with candles that were almost burned out and food that was being kept fresh and hot under stasis fields while they patiently waited, starving, and never once saying a word?even when she'd promised to make it on time, and ended up being two hours late.

The captain would admit that despite that, this was the easiest and best relationship she'd ever been involved in, but despite that, there were times when it all hurt her deeply and inwardly?and that came from the fact that she often felt like a "wretched, selfish bitch," because of the aforementioned reasons, and because no matter what she did or tried to explain subtly to Torres and Seven, they just wouldn't let up on her. Constantly, "constantly" they bombarded her with the sweetest words, unparalleled devotion, and always managed to not only catch her by surprise and make her feel like a teenager in love with their thoughtfulness, but they almost always seemed to have time for her when she needed it. The exception was lately with Seven of Nine, but Kathryn no longer counted that because even though Seven hadn't been there with her, she'd been working her body into the ground for her?specifically and unselfishly for her alone.

And it wasn't like they weren't busy.

They were both department heads and senior officers and both of them were members of an advanced tactical unit. They also had more friends than Janeway really had, and socialized with on a consistent basis, but they still managed to do the most extraordinary things for her?out of nowhere it seemed they would come. Janeway could simply get up from the couch to fetch more coffee and Seven would tell her that she was in love with her and wanted her to know it was true every day. The first time Seven had ever done that to her, it had literally taken her breath away, and still to this day, she couldn't ever predict when the next proclomation would be sounded, so the effect was always the same. And B'Elanna, "Lanna," would do things like track her down during the day, find some place to stop and watch her for a few minutes, and then figure out some way to make contact with her and ask her if she knew how beautiful she was. All the time?"all the time," Seven and Torres did that for her, which left her feeling extraordinarily cherished and confounded in feelings of unworthiness?especially when she never saw them do that for each other, and she couldn't remember when the last time was that she did something nice for them?something special.

Janeway guessed that they probably did do things like that for each other, but she was never around to witness it. In fact, she was never around to witness most of their love. She knew they did absolutely love each other simply by hearing of the things they had done either through them, or through Fowler, and she did get to see it with her own eyes on a regular basis, but she didn't get to see the special things...the little things. She had no idea if B'Elanna had ever watched Seven work...although, she figured that was probably impossible to do since the Borg's senses were too keen to let such things go unnoticed, but still, she knew Torres was as clever as they came, and surmised if anyone could figure out a way to do it, she could...but still, she didn't know. And she didn't know if Seven had ever sent B'Elanna a priority message while on duty that told her that she loved her. She didn't know if Seven ever went into B'Elanna's office, like she went into hers, and drank her supplement, just so she could be around her?or dropped off a report, just so she could steal a kiss. She didn't know if Seven sat and watched B'Elanna get ready for her work day, or if she washed the Klingon's hair for her, and she didn't know if B'Elanna ever looked at Seven, the way she looked at her sometimes in the shower and instant before she made passionate love to her right then and there and expected nothing in return other than a smile. And she didn't know if one day before they were expecting company shortly, they'd found each other so lost in a kiss that they ended up barely having time to pull their clothes back on and wash up before their guest had arrived?or if Seven had ever carried B'Elanna off to bed like she did to her all the time. She didn't know if Torres spoke in Klingon while Seven made love to her, or visa versa, or if Seven of Nine had ever destroyed the chief's bedding by getting so lost in a moment of ecstasy she forgot herself?or if Seven had ever stayed alert one evening when B'Elanna was particularily unsettled and woke up to nightmares just so Torres wouldn't have to explain what had occurred and could then be comforted until she relaxed and went back to sleep. And she didn't know if Seven of Nine felt like nothing in the galaxy could possibly harm her whenever she was wrapped up in the Klingon's arms like she, Kathryn, felt consistently with the honored warrior.

As Kathryn approached her door, she slowed her approach, almost dragging her feet until she stood right in front of it, and for the first time since their relationship had begun, Janeway felt the distinct urge to turn around and go back to her Ready Room because suddenly, she wasn't sure she could take what she would find inside. Before, it was the emptiness that used to haunt her. For so long there had been no life in between those walls...only seemingly stale air and furniture. And now...now that was totally different. In fact, Kathryn never knew what she would find when she came home later than everyone else, and she'd honestly given up trying. Sometimes the place was quiet and peaceful, but still illuminated and vibrant, and sometimes it was downright bustling. Sometimes Fowler would be over, sometimes Chakotay, sometimes Naomi...and even once they'd all been there watching a movie. They'd all been there huddled around the television, laughing and concocting theories as to how the story would unfold, eating and drinking and having a marvelous time. But it didn't seem to matter what was happening really...whether her space was filled with nothing or filled with life, it all somehow left her feeling the same...it left her feeling like a contradiction.

Before, when there was no one there, the fact that her return was unnoticed was depressing after a while, even though she knew she should be thankful she wasn't putting anyone through having to deal with her and negotiate the realities of her life...at least her realities in the Delta Quadrant. And now that she did have someone there...not just one, but two, it was depressing because they did notice...they noticed more than she figured they should. They dropped everything...everything came to a screeching halt most of the time...all of the life, all of the excitement just died down...and all eyes were on her. Guests would leave shortly, movies would be left unfinished, conversations were discontinued, questions were focused on her, duties were silently assigned to her, she knew...all because she came home...all because she came home later than them. And it didn't seem to matter...no matter what she did, no matter how hard she tried to get home either on time, or make her appearance a non-event, something always undermined that. If it wasn't her taking a small detour to check up on someone or something, just because she couldn't let it go, then B'Elanna and/or Seven would ignore her requests to pay her no attention completely and proceed to make her the center of their world until she fell asleep. And what was equally infuriating to her was that she couldn't seem to resist. No matter what her mindset, all she had to do was walk through those doors, and one or both of them would look at her, smile, then approach her and embrace her, and for those few fleeting moments, she could forget everything.

Their love was the most addictive and potent wonder-drug she'd ever known. Everything was washed away until all she could think to do was smile and believe she was blessed like no other had ever been. And what was really bothering Janeway now as she continued to stand in front of her door, holding Baker's book to her chest while she looked at the floor, was that she couldn't think of what she did for them that even came close to what they did for her each and every day.

Finally, Janeway stopped wracking her brain trying to figure it out as she sighed and whispered, defeated, "There's nothing...I don't do anything like that."

Glancing at the book in her arms, she sighed and continued, "I'll go see an ex-crewmember who barely says five words to me a week, but I can't manage to get home on time for people that love me every day," practically inaudible, she finished, "that love me?not her," speaking of herself, the captain, and of the fact that she knew very well that Roxanne Baker had a crush on her. She'd never let on that she was aware, to anyone, nor would she adapt her behavior because she'd dealt with such a situation several times in her past and she knew that the best way to handle it was to pretend to be ignorant and allow them to move past it on their own. The only similar situation that had been difficult for Janeway to negotiate had been the short time she and her first officer had gone through that, but that hadn't been a crush. That had been a mutual attraction and somewhat of a legitimate possibility at the time since they both knew each other well and were slowly becoming close friends and allies, so Kathryn never thought of it any where near in the same regard as she thought of the other occurrences since she'd become a captain?including the current situation with Baker.

The pilot's crush certainly was one reason she'd paid such close attention to Baker when she'd left because the day Chakotay had told her of Roxanne's request, Kathryn had become dreadfully worried that the ensign was running away from her specifically, but after discussing the reasons with her first officer, without allowing her intuition to become knowledge, she'd agreed with him that Baker would have more opportunity aboard Devin's vessel. However, since she'd never discussed it with Roxanne, she couldn't be certain, so she made sure to keep extra close tabs on her, and even though it was clear to Janeway that the much younger brunette was still carrying a torch for her, she also seemed to be doing well and Janeway believed her progress would continue and soon she'd forget all about Kathryn?once she found her voice.

Janeway looked up at the door as her heart broke for her lovers, and for herself because no matter what, nothing could really change, so swallowing down her emotion, she raised her hand to tap the sensor as she held her breath, but before she did so, she stopped again as she had a thought. Blinking her eyes as her mind started to spin, she realized that even though it couldn't possibly come close to what her partners did for her, there was at least something special she could do for them?it was at least a start?it was at least "something."

Letting out her breath as she spun around, Kathryn glanced around the hall quickly then hurriedly scurried over to Commander Chakotay's quarters. Again looking over her shoulder, she held her breath for a second time as she entered her authorization code and overrode the seal on his door, being comfortable enough with her first officer to know that he wouldn't mind if she borrowed his replicator without asking for permission, but still uneasy about doing so simply because it certainly wasn't her habit to do such things, and mumbled as she stepped through, "I owe you one, Chakotay?Lights"

Once she was inside the quarters that were familiar to her since she'd spent many hours in them during her tenure in the Delta Quadrant, Kathryn made her way over to the desk and set down Roxanne's shabby book, then quickly migrated to the bedroom, needing to access his clothing replicator. Once she'd accessed B'Elanna's profile and found the necessary size requirements, she quickly scanned through her database until she found the item she'd flagged several months ago as a birthday present for the chief engineer. Torres' birthday was still several months away, so she wasn't worried that she wouldn't be able to think of something else to get for her. Then pulling up her replicator ration stash, she took a deep breath as she cleaned it out, and authorized what she couldn't 'pay' for with her own as 'captain's privilege,' as she whispered, "Forgive me, Daddy?but I have to do this," and then exhaled as a crisp, new pair of black leather pants were materialized. Smiling at the sight, even though she knew she was looking at two whole week's worth of rations?and more, which would mean that not only was she going to have to eat in the Mess Hall for almost every meal, but she was going to be seriously cranky for a few days while she fought through the well known, to her and others, effects of caffeine withdraw.

Snatching up the pants, she pursed her lips and narrowed her eyes some in contemplation as she considered what she could get for Seven of Nine that would be special to her and make her smile as she knew these pants would make her brunette lover do. When nothing came to her right away, she brought her finger to her lips as she stared into the replicator grid and continued to ponder. Then smiling and snapping her fingers, she spun on her heels and darted out of the room. Grabbing Baker's book as returned to the desk, she opened one of his side drawers figuring he had plenty of spare PADDs lying about as she typically did. When she found more than a handful waiting for her, she snatched one up, turned it on to make sure it was either blank or wasn't holding critical data, and when nothing appeared on the screen except a standard interface, she closed the drawer while commanding the lights to shut off, and exited. As soon as the doors parted, Kathryn was stepping through them, and allowed a terse, "Gentlemen," to two of her officers that were waiting for the lift, but not only did she hardly look at them, she certainly didn't falter a step while she kept right on going forward as they said, "Good evening, Captain." Walking directly in the middle of the hallway on purpose, looking straight ahead as she let her right arm swing slightly at her side, Kathryn breezed by several officers without saying at word or glancing in their direction, even when some of them said, "Captain?Ma'am?" and were forced to make way for her determined step, which they all did quickly once they saw how quickly and purposeful she was moving.

When she approached the door of the bay, she didn't bother querying if anyone else was present and proceeded directly inside. Not surprised that it was again empty, she effectively squelched the melancholy that this place always summoned in her while she clicked soundly over to the cargo container that she'd sat on earlier today and had a relatively short, but good cry. Carefully she set down the contents of her hands, except for the PADD, then cleared her throat as she accessed the voice interface, which would record her words and transfer them to text and stated, "For Seven of Nine from Kathryn?this PADD entitles you to one full day of the captain's time, to use however you see fit?and at your discretion. All you need to do is let me know when you wish to utilize this promise and I will comply."

Then setting the completed PADD down, she turned quickly, her movements rather crisp and proceeded to the rose bush, snatching up the pruning sheers as she passed them. Carefully she examined each of the buds that were just beginning to open, wanting to make sure Seven's first rose from her lasted as long as possible. Spotting a near perfect, deeply crimson bloom, she carefully negotiated through the thorny bushes and clipped it low on the stem. Then setting down the sheers as she examined the scent, Kathryn then nodded happily at the perfume and picked off the thorns and some of the base leaves, throwing those in back into the soil. Then turning around, still smelling the rose, she eyed the other flowers in the room, trying to decide which one B'Elanna would like. Not seeing any that spoke to her, and she had a feeling Torres wasn't really the flower type, she turned back around and picked another red rose, figuring that was best because of the meaning and that the Klingon would appreciate it for that reason. After cleaning off the leaves, but deciding to leave the thorns on it, hoping that would help appeal to her as well, Janeway carefully held the roses in her hands, snatched up her belongings, and trotted out the door.

Back on Deck Three, Kathryn let her quick stride turn into a modest jog since during her walk back to the turbolift and the ride up, she'd pondered a few other ideas on how to do some more things, specifically for her lovers, which would yet again require another small stop to her first officer's quarters. During her last private evening with B'Elanna Torres, after they'd finished discussing the Day of Honor and all of her chief's fears about that, and after they'd finally retired to the bed to sleep, while they had been intimately wrapped up, Janeway had questioned the Klingon about what it was that she wanted to ask her, remembering back to when they'd made love in the shower while they were preparing for Seven's birthday party and afterward, where they'd ended up on the tile floor, gasping for breath, B'Elanna had asked Janeway to remind her to ask her a question the next time they were together alone. That impending discussion had been a first for the intrepid captain, who admitted that before she'd become involved with B'Elanna her sex-life, with the exception of Julie Klein, had been rather ordinary?although certainly not bad, and she'd learned two things about Torres that she hadn't known?one of them she couldn't do anything to remedy right now, now that she was tapped out in the ration department, but the other one she most certain couldly do something about?and planned to, even if she was slightly nervous. However, as she once again stepped into Chakotay's domain and set her stuff down, she said out loud to herself, rather harshly and in her command voice, "Kate, stop being such a prude and get over already?you're a Starfleet captain for Christ sake."

Quickly making her way to Chakotay's bathroom, she looked around, sighed, said her apologies again and opened the mirror cabinet. Then smiling as she spotted what she was looking for immediately, she paid all of the other items inside zero attention--although it wasn't like there was anything scandalous inside, that is unless one considered shaving cream, an old fashioned straight blade razor, after shave, and cologne exciting--and quickly clipped her nails down to a much less lethal length before she used the built in file to soften up the edges. Once that was done and she'd cleaned up her mess, she hurried back over to the clothing replicator, accessed the medical supplies database and replicated several duplicates of her selection since she figured they'd be used sooner or later, and she could always just store them in her bathroom. Since she was replicating something from the medical database, that didn't cost her any rations, even if the items were for personal use, and she once again ignored the voice in her head that was telling her she was being frivolous with their limited resources, and setting a poor example as a commanding officer. Once that was done, she stuffed her supplies into the inner pocket of her tunic, gathered up the rest of her things, took a long, deep breath to settle herself and hopefully keep Seven and Torres, who both could pretty much read her like a book these days, from catching on that anything was wrong, then left the commander's cabin.

She knew they would probably think something was up just for the fact that she was bringing them gifts, but she hoped to be able to play it off like she wanted to do something nice for them. That was true of course, but she feared if they caught on that she was feeling like a selfish wretch, that only took and didn't return, they'd both go on some personal quest to remind her of all of the things she did for them. Janeway knew that was a fact if she'd ever heard one?and frankly, Kathryn didn't want to hear it, because as far as she was concerned, no matter what she did, nothing could come close to what they'd done for her?and she planned to not only start trying exponentially harder to be a better partner, but she planned to start right now, and continue straight on into forever.

When Janeway stepped into her quarters and simultaneously noticed that all the lights were off, that nothing in the way of dinner or candles was sitting out waiting for her, and she heard the distinct sound of B'Elanna's throaty, erotic growl while Seven of Nine gasped, fairly loudly for her, "B'Elanna?" the captain's heart rate instantly quickened as she closed her eyes and whispered, "Oh thank you," to no one in particular, although she'd be lying if she said that sometimes, especially in the last year, she hadn't felt that someone was watching out for her?specifically her, and not just her vessel.

As the soft, yet insistent sounds coming from the bedroom continued on and seemed to not notice the sound of her entrance, Kathryn tip-toed over to her desk and carefully set down what she was carrying. When Seven moaned again, which in turn caused Torres to rattle back to her, Janeway snapped her head around toward the bedroom as her heart palpitated at the lustful sound, then with haste, tore off her tunic, undershirt, and bra while she kicked off her boots. Then snatching up the roses, purposefully leaving her uniform pants on since she knew Torres would appreciate the look, and also because after the last time she used the restroom, she'd noticed that she did indeed have a bruise on her hip from her fall this morning which she hoped no one would ask about until they were breathing heavily and she was able to tell them to not worry about it effectively, she crept over to the bedroom door and carefully poked her head around the corner, leaning over slightly and smiling.

When her presence continued to go unnoticed since Seven and B'Elanna were now completely enthralled in their coupling and paying attention to only each other, Kathryn bit her bottom lip at that sight before her, which constantly jacked up her blood-pressure to dangerous levels as she stood up straight, dangled the roses in her hand and came to a rest in the seam of the bedroom door. Crossing her right arm over her waist and grasping onto the partition where she was leaning against with her shoulder and head, Kathryn took a very deep breath as Seven cried out to her lover again and arched her back some from where she knelt, upright on the bed, hovering above Torres' head.

Since they were laying mostly crossways on the bed, although turned slightly to the head of it, Kathryn had a rather good view of the action, and was also in a position not to be noticed unless Seven of Nine turned her head toward the door. If B'Elanna had never walked in on she and Seven doing similar things, she'd wonder if the Borg knew she was present and was merely ignoring her for Janeway's own pleasure, but since she'd come to understand that the blonde couldn't process information nearly as easily during sex due to the excessive stimulation, she was certain they hadn't a clue she was watching them, which was something Kathryn was duly grateful for. She'd watched Torres and Seven make love before two other times, but it had always been during one of their lengthy group coupling sessions, where they all had come to enjoy taking turns watching, but that was very much different than this because not only during those times did they know someone was watching, part of the experience was to keep the other person included, even though they were only observing, so often times those making love would call out to the sidelined party or watch their reactions.

There was none of that occurring this time, though. This is what she didn't know about. This is what she'd never seen before?this was B'Elanna and Seven's private life?this was their love.

Slowly Torres moved her pleasantly rough hands that were resting on Seven of Nine's gently undulating hips as the blonde straddled her head up her impossibly flat, almost concave stomach, until they were practically hidden underneath the blonde's heavy bosom. Then allowing her eyes to open for a moment to drink in the criminally gorgeous sight above her, she manipulated her hands until she was squeezing as much of Seven's breasts as she could, although doing so gently. When the Borg arched backward at that, her long, buttery hair that was free flowing, dipping back and reaching her waist, the Klingon closed her eyes again, and mumbled an 'I love you,' into Seven's warm, moist and intimate flesh that was pressed against her mouth before she moved her head slowly from side to side to keep Seven's protective, fleshy folds at bay and extended her tongue again.

Kathryn watch, helplessly entranced as her own body began to burn and shiver at the same time as Seven snapped her head forward as she twitched once, leaned forward a tad while she brought her own hands up to Torres' that were at her heavy bosom and allowed, deep and soft, "Mmm?mmm, B'Elanna?" Fairly unconscioiusly, Janeway let go of wall that she was holding onto to steady herself and migrated her palm to her own bare, tingling chest, and began to knead her left breast to a similar tempo as both Seven and B'Elanna were currently setting. When the brunette's carnal growl was readily detected, despite the placement of her head as Seven arched back some again, Kathryn's own back curved similarly as tendrils of electricity zipped throughout her entire body. Then again, she bit down on her bottom lip to keep from whimpering at the visual and tactile stimuli while the blonde let go of her chest, planted her hands back on Torres' bare, muscular legs, and leaned back farther as she continued to arch into Torres' face.

As the Klingon let go of Seven's bosom and latched onto her upper waist, pulling her closer and centering her, Janeway's mouth fell open slightly on its own accord as she started breathing heavily through it when the blonde began to increase the beat of her shapely hips as she kept her eyes closed and whispered B'Elanna's name toward the ceiling. And when Seven cried out loudly, "B'Elanna?oh B'Elanna?mmmmore," the almost hyperventilating captain, licked her lips, then swallowed as she was forced to stop touching her own skin and hold onto to door frame a second time as she felt herself sway just slightly since her body kept wanting to mimic Seven's movements.

Moaning into Seven's center as the Borg leaned back more, arching further, Torres was able to lift her head off the bed at that point and press into her lover harder. Wrapping one arm around as much of Seven's waist as possible to keep her centered, the Klingon once again reached higher and began fondling the former drone's chest, although this time her movements were clearly more aggressive and demanding, although no matter what B'Elanna ever did, she was never negligent or unkind. Her squeezing was needful, erotic and clearly being enjoyed by her lover, and furthermore, clearly for the purpose to help grant Seven's release, which looked to be close to occurring.

Carefully before she lost her ability to control all of her actions, Seven leaned forward again and came to a stop in an upright position, thankful that Torres understood the need and went with the movement easily, and once she was in the position she needed to be in, she lifted her arms, clasped them behind her neck to keep them in check, and then, and only then did she start driving her hips forward with more pace, signaling to B'Elanna that she was ready to climax, who didn't disappoint.

Now frozen as the world around her was filled with white noise thanks to the blood rushing to her head, Kathryn watched Seven grab the back of her neck, open her mouth as she looked slightly upward while her lower body pulsed and turned in the most mesmerizing of beats. When the Borg began grunting softly in tempo while Torres' head movement became more lively and she too began making continuous sounds, Janeway couldn't help but allow the softest of moans as her body pulsed with feral and emotion-filled energy. In the next instant, the Borg gasped loudly, lifted her chin to the ceiling and closed her eyes tight as she grew ridged in her somewhat extended, arching state, which caused Torres to hum in approval as she slowed down her tongue movement, and forced the captain to bite down again on her lips again as she balled her fist and clenched it at her sternum while her eyes threaten to turn into large pools of moisture.

Swallowing and blinking back her tears, effectively holding them at bay while her quick breath began to slow, the redhead unclinched her fist and let it trail down to her trim abdomen as Seven's arms fell to her sides, while her body loosened. When Torres scooted forward some, and at the same time Seven looked down and smiled, showing teeth, then seemed to gain all of her strength again, placed her hand on each side of B'Elanna's head and extend her legs until she was resting horizontally on top of Torres, who was also smiling, a pleasant, yet humble half smile graced Kathryn's still somewhat dry lips.

After she allowed Seven and B'Elanna to kiss softly and relax completely, and she herself was able to get ahold of her emotions and arousal, although that was still very clearly present, just not as overwhelming as before, Kathryn brought the flowers to her hand back up to her nose, smirked rather devilishly and asked, smoky, as she placed her free hand on her hip, "Room for one more?or is three a crowd?"

Lifting her head quickly, then smirking in clear approval for the state of the captain, Seven of Nine said in her clearest, purest tones, "Kathryn?I did not detect your arrival."

As Torres turned her head a moment later and caught sight of the captain, then smiled her crazy grin and snarled playfully, Janeway continued with the sexy demeanor and said as she pushed away from the wall and slowly sauntered over toward them, "No?I don't suppose you did?lucky?lucky me." When Seven slid off Torres, but stayed curled up on her side, leaving her enhanced hand on B'Elanna's muscled stomach, carefully, she reminded as she stopped at the edge of the bed, "You didn't answer my question."

Sitting up immediately, Janeway's demeanor and the fact that she was half out of her uniform, but walking around as if she were fully clothed as far as her amazing confidence went, sparking B'Elanna's more aggressive instincts even though she'd just spent almost the last hour making slow, passionate love to Seven and was definitely feeling the need for attention, the Klingon got to her knees and said while she migrated toward the captain, who was still keeping the roses near her nose and twirling them between her first finger and thumb, "Why don't you come over here and find out."

Kathryn took a purposeful step backward, placing her hand on her hip and flirted, "Mmm, but I'm so enjoying the show." When Torres climbed to her feet them jumped off the bed, and grinned at her, then took a step forward, the captain pulled the flowers away from her nose, tossed them on the bed saying, "Hold these, darling," speaking to Seven, and took a step forward herself. Quickly slipping her hand behind Torres' neck and pulling her into her chest with strength, Janeway kissed the Klingon passionately and dominant, not letting the chief assert herself yet, and after a few beats, she pulled away, enough to remove their lips from each other, but kept her forehead against Torres', who was breathing erratically, feeling rather unsure of what Kathryn was doing?exactly.

Purring sexily as she ran her hands greedily up the brunette's torso, Kathryn said, "Mmm?you know, if I said I was sorry that was late?I'd be partly lying, but," she added as she cupped B'Elanna's breasts, "I plan to make it up to you both anyway?mmm?all night long."

Breathless, B'Elanna whispered back as she grabbed the captain's by her narrow, straight hips, "Oh, don't be sorry, cowgirl?mmm?don't be sorry at all."

Kissing Torres' again in the same manner and kneading her bosom with definite purpose, Janeway pulled away again and said, "Hold that thought," then tore herself away. Taking a quick breath to keep her desire in check, the redhead ignored Torres' query as to where "the hell" she was going and said over her shoulder, smirking at Seven of Nine, who was happily observing this behavior with unwavering interest, as Kathryn knew she would prefer to do at this mornent, "Seven, the thorny one is for the Klingon."

After only a moment, the good captain reappeared in the bedroom carrying her presents in one arm, and her tunic in the other. Tossing the jacket recklessly across the room, where it landed on her lounger, she flipped the PADD to Seven, who she knew would catch it without a problem saying, "For you, love." When B'Elanna, bewildered, turned back toward her, still in her birthday suit, Janeway unraveled the pants and smirked, "As much as I'm enjoying the current view, I think I'd very much like to see you in these, Miss Torres."

As her mouth fell open, Torres looked quickly over to Seven, whose eyebrow that was encased in with her ocular implant was cocked rather high as she continued to watch her lovers and had yet to read the PADD, then whipped her head back to Kathryn, grabbed the pants out of Janeway's hand, then smiled, flabbergasted. Admiring the pants, looking like a kid in a candy store, B'Elanna finally swallowed, looked up at Kathryn, who was grinning brightly at her and said, "Red...these...these cost a lot." As Janeway laughed softly, shaking her head negatively, Torres finally sighed and said, knowing better since she'd considered replicating herself a pair on several occassions but could never bring herself to do it simply because she never thought they were worth three full weeks of rations, "Kathryn...I can't..."

Holding up her hand, Janeway stepped up to Torres and said, "Yes, Lanna...you can." Then leaning forward and kissing her smartly, she said, "Now, try them on already so I can have the pleasure of taking them off please."

The chief looked down at the pants again, then finally smiled and said, nodding hurriedly, "Okay...be right out." Then explaining before they questioned, Torres said as she walked toward the bathroom, "I just gotta clean up a bit...I don't wanna mess them up."

Turning around and watching B'Elanna scurrying into the bathroom, mumbling to herself and admiring the pants, Kathryn glanced over to Seven, who was looking up at her with a rather stunned look on her face, then smiled and said as she migrated to the bed and started crawling toward the blonde, "Take your time, darling." Crawling on top of Seven of Nine where she lay, now on her back to make room for Janeway, the redhead whispered, "Hello, Seven."

As Kathryn grazed her thumb across her cheek, Seven blinked her eyes several times and replied, softly, looking up into Janeway's face, "Greetings, Kathryn." Then furrowing her brow slightly, she reminded, "You are acting peculiar." When Kathryn hummed, smiled then kissed her softly, Seven allowed it easily, then inquired once Janeway pulled away and rubbed her nose against her and professed her love, "I love you as well. What has occurred?"

Understanding the question, Janeway shook her head while she mildly fibbed, "Nothing at all, darling...I just missed you both today." As the water facet was activated from the bathroom, Kathryn smiled down at Seven and asked, "Did you like your present?"

Seriously, Seven stated, "The 'gift' of your time is the most generous 'present' you have to offer." When Janeway smirked at her, Seven sighed some and said, "I wish you to know that I am aware of that...it is," swallowing, "there is no better 'gift' to acquire."

Shaking her head softly, Kathryn kissed Seven of Nine sweetly and quick, then informed, "No, darling...you...you're the best gift...I'm," she smiled, and whispered, "I'm merely a human."

"You are perf..." Seven started, but was cut off by Janeway pressing her finger to Seven's lips and saying, "Shhh...just let me be Kathryn tonight...and I'll work on perfection tomorrow..."

Not understanding what was happening with Janeway, but having a 'feeling' it was important that she comply, Seven of Nine kissed the redhead's index finger and responded, "Then I will comply...Kathryn."

fin