Bartender…I'll Do this Again
Part I
 

"Shit," Chief Engineer B'Elanna Torres cursed as she blew holographic smoke from her lungs while she sat at her desk chair, looking out the third story window of her quaint office on 79^th Street as she noticed a familiar an out of place form walking across the cobblestone street a ways down the road towards her building. Jumping out of her chair before her visitor, that she'd requested arrive to the simulation an hour before everyone else, reached the lobby door to the office building she worked at, B'Elanna added, "Christ…can't you ever be late?" as she stubbed out the cigarette. Then running around her cherrywood desk into the smaller room off to the side where she 'lived,' Torres breezed into the bathroom to prepare for the surprise she'd planned to spring on her lover. She was already in costume, plus her Fedora but minus the beige trench coat, which hung on the coat rack near the acid etched glass door that had 'Det. M. Murphy, Private Investigator' stenciled on it in black, block letters.

Stepping out of her bathroom in her grey dress slacks and pulling her white suspenders back over her crisp white tailored shirt, her medium length pony tail sticking out just above the collar, Torres smiled deviously as she looked down at herself to make sure she was presentable and her present wasn't noticeable. Then sitting back down at her desk as she heard the clicking footsteps of her lover approaching on the hardwood floor, Torres swiveled toward the doorway. When the easily identifiable silhouette of her party past in front of the windows and started for the door, B'Elanna folded her hands on her lower lap, scowled as she adjusted her pants comfortably and quick, and then said, smiling her crazy grin again, "It's open," as a soft series of knocks was heard on her door, and the woman's unique voice said at the same time, "Knock, knock."

"Building Three sixty-nine on 79^th Street, huh?" Captain Kathryn Janeway remarked, amused, and not surprised "at all" after she turned the knob on Torres' office door and started through it as the open locking mechanism clicked twice and the hindges sqeaked softly. "Lanna," she smiled as she saw the chief sitting at her desk in her 'manly' costume, "why am I not surprised?" Of course, B'Elanna looked still very much female, but Janeway was aware that her character was a male, and thus all of the holocharacters would treat her as such. Since she too would be playing a character, she was required to follow suit. Even though Janeway never once thought of Torres as male, even if she was tough, she'd played enough holonovels in her day to know it wouldn't be a problem. She'd even played a male character once, but that character had been a woman disguising herself as a young man so 'he' could into an all male club and solve a murder mystery.

Smiling still, Torres shrugged her shoulders as she kicked her feet down, leaned forward on her forearms, and said, "Viv liked it…she said it was apt."

"Mmmhmm," Kathryn smirked, still dressed in her full uniform since she'd been running around all morning trying to finish up what she needed to do in order to take the rest of the day, night, as well as the next day off, and had run out of time completely, "I'm sure she did." Glancing around the office, that was cleaner than she'd expected it to be considering she knew what Torres' character was supposed to be like, Janeway said as she came around the desk to give her lover a kiss before she hit her with a little bit a bad news, "I think you've officially warped her mind. I hope you're proud of yourself." Smiling, she leaned down, tipped up Torres' hat, kissed her lips softly, then whispered as she stood back up, tapping the hat back down, "You look cute," or "adorable" as she thought, but she didn't think the Klingon would stand for that, "Having fun?"

"I'm working on it," Torres replied evenly as she sat back and folded her hands on her lower lap again, grinning. As Kathryn crossed her arms over her chest and leaned back against the desk as she looked about the room, admiring the simple, plain and 'professional' decorations, the major things of interest in the room being only the desk, the black metal file cabinet, and the large, wood bookshelf next to that, B'Elanna asked, pretty sure she knew the answer, but wanting to let Janeway fall into her trap, "Why aren't you all dolled up?"

Sighing and rubbing her forehead for a moment, trying to stave off a headache that was beginning to throb too much to completely ignore, Janeway finally looked over at her, dropped her hand in frustration and said, "I'm sorry…I just ran out of time." When B'Elanna didn't say anything, Kathryn cleared her throat and said, holding up her hand, "I'm not backing out…I promise. I just need a few more hours to finish, but," she tried to smile as best she could, it always being important to her that when her duty required that she be late she either call, or tell them in person since her father had been poor at that, and she could remember how hard it was on her mother, "I wanted to tell you face to face." As B'Elanna still remained quiet, Kathryn asked, "Are you mad at me?"

"Nope."

Janeway sighed heavily again, and said, "Lanna, I'm sorry…things just got busy and…"

"Red," Torres smiled, "will you shut up already? I'm not mad…I swear it. You're the boss...and just because," she went on lightly, still smiling, "I don't get to see you anymore, doesn't mean I don't remember how it goes."

"Alright," the captain sighed again, feeling terribly guilty, but knowing she couldn't ignore the few things she had left to do, nor did she feel like she should deligate them to Chakotay so she could go play, especially since he was already the rock she leaned heavily upon these days. Then leaning forward, she said, "Thank you...I love you," before she kissed Torres softly a second time. As she pulled away, B'Elanna letting her without a problem, Kathryn said while she pushed off the desk and started to turn, "I won't be long…just start without me. I've studied thoroughly, so I won't have a problem picking…"

"I'm not mad, because you're not leaving," Torres said quickly, although softly and fairly deep as she stood up, grabbed Janeway by her hips and kept her from going anywhere. When Janeway sighed and said over her shoulder, "Darling…I promise…" the half-Klingon cut her off again as she wrapped her arms around her waist and pulled her back into her upper body, speaking with definite sexiness, "I already talked to the old man, and he'll finish everything for you. So, I'm officially abducting you…and," she finally pressed her hips into Janeway's bottom to reveal her surprise, "all your time is mine now."

As her pulse instantly quickened while Torres started unzipping her tunic and smiled at her over her shoulder, Kathryn glanced over her shoulder as well, then moved her eyes down as much as she could, as she said, surprised, "You didn't?"

Cupping the captain's modest breasts as much as she could through her undershirt and bra, B'Elanna snarled playfully into Janeway's ear as she pressed firmly against her and said, "I did."

Janeway glanced around the office then said, hurried, whispering for some reason, but just felt the need, "Darling, we can't do that here."

"Mmmhmm," Torres growled as she dropped one hand to the juncture of Janeway's legs and rubbed her kindly, but with definite desire, "This is my office. I can do whatever and," licking Janeway earlobe as Kathryn's breath caught and she titled her head back slightly, "whomever I want," then sang in a whisper, "and I'm not drunk, but right now I'm so in love with you…and I don't wanna think too much about what we should or shouldn't do." Moving her hands to Kathryn's hips and torso again to move her to the beat, B'Elanna continued whispering one of her favorite songs as Janeway chuckled, although modifying the lyrics slightly, "Lay my hands on heaven and the sun and the moon and the stars while Murphy wants to have me in the back of his car…Nothing quite like the feel of something new…"

Janeway licked her drying lips, then said, breathless as Torres stopped singing and kissed her neck, once again running her talented hands all over the front of the captain's body, "Lanna," she stopped to clear her throat and regain her voice, "Honey, there's not a bed, and I'm too old for the desk…or the car."

"Mmmno you're not, but there's a bed in the other room," Torres informed as she put her hands back on the captain's hips and pushed them forward, knowing the redhead was definitely agreeable, just was having a hard time reconciling that because of responsibility and rank…and modesty. "I can plan ahead too, you know…"

While Torres reached around her and opened the door to the small bedroom, Kathryn said, turning around, "B'Elanna, you know I love you for this, but what if someone shows up? I can't." As B'Elanna just continued to smile and pushed her backwards nodding, Kathryn said, laughing slightly, sounding fairly nervous for a starship captain, "Why don't we just wait until we're alone? You can beam over to my quarters tomorrow night…I never said you two had to stay away, besides," she sighed, rubbing her forehead, "I really do have a headache, and that's not just a bad excuse."

Grabbing Kathryn and pulling her close, pressing the holographic phallus she had attached to her body under her clothing against Janeway's pubic bone, B'Elanna smiled wickedly as she kicked closed the door behind them and said, "I'll fix that too…and we are alone…we've got an hour, and," she reached behind her and turned the key in the door, "the door's locked." Then reaching down and cupping Kathryn's bottom to keep her close, the chief said after she flipped her hat onto her bed, singing again, "And I don't wanna think too much about what we should or shouldn't do," next said as Janeway smirked at her, "And that isn't my gun in my pocket…and I am happy to see you."

Janeway bit her bottom lip as Torres started kissing her neck, pushing them back toward the bed and pulling her shirt out of waistband after she unzipped her pants, then said, giving in easily and starting in on B'Elanna's neck, "I can't believe we're doing this…mmm…godLanna, I've missed you so much." And that certainly was true considering they were now past the two month mark in the 'end' of their polyamorous relationship with the ship's resident former Borg drone, Seven of Nine, although the only one on the 'outs' was the ship's redheaded commanding officer, who continued to remain patient and understand with her lovers' nearly total withdrawl from her. She'd made a few efforts in the last month to send them personal memos and inquire as to how they were doing, but she'd yet to ask them to come over since she knew from their correspondence they were very hard at work on their spare time working on this simulation. So, since she knew they'd all be together here, she'd decided just to wait, but always had hopes that one evening they'd surprise her and come by. Unfortunately, that hadn't happened yet, but Kathryn was determined not to let that get her down and to enjoy what she could while they all pretended to have parted ways, and not so amicably.

Professionally, they acted civil around each other, but to help keep people from wondering if they were going to get back together, they purposefully avoided interacting when at all possible, and they all had enough frustrations that when they did have to see the others, sometimes they were honestly testy because that only reminded them more of what they were, especially Kathryn, was missing. All in all, it was extraordinarily difficult, but thankfully, for the sake of their mission, they were determined, and their personal angst helped to keep up the act, even if the reason was that they missed each other, rather than didn't wish to be together. It all looked the same to the unknowing, so the best course was the one they were currently on.

"Mmmurphy," B'Elanna corrected while she kissed her way toward Janeway's mouth, not having been able to do so in her own body in much too long as far as the Klingon warrior was concerned. "My name's Murphy, Kate." A month ago she'd spent a few moments kissing the captain while they were alone, but that had been while she was inhabiting Lieutenant-Commander Nicole Fowler's body thanks to a transporter accident that switched the two best friend's consciousnesses, so it definitely didn't have the same feel as kissing her now...especially when this kissing, she knew, was foreplay.

Laughing, Janeway said, "Ohgod, darling, I can't…" but was cut off when B'Elanna's lips finally met with hers, and Torres efficiently shut her up and began kissing her wildly, which cause the good captain to practically melt into her embrace.

Torres slipped her hand into the side of Janeway's pants, pushed past her standard low-riding briefs and cupped her bottom, while she did the same with her other hand on the outside of her clothing, then lifted the compact captain up. Smiling as she moved her kisses back to Kathryn's neck while Janeway wrapped her legs around her, B'Elanna announced as she knelt on the bed and started to lay them back, "You have no idea how long I've been waiting to do this for you."

As Kathryn ended up on her back, the brunette retracted her hands until she was holding herself up over and said before she kissed her again, while she pressed against the juncture of Janeway's legs as the redhead smirked seductively up at her, "I told you I was working hard on it."

The captain opened her eyes after the electric kiss as Torres migrated back to her neck an started pulling up on her shirt, then said, slightly tentative, "Um…darling, that feels rather…big."

Smiling, knowing it wasn't more than Janeway could handle when she was really worked up, which B'Elanna planned on making happen, Torres said as she pushed Kathryn's shirts up and started kissing her pert breasts, "Mmm, I'm a Klingon…we don't do small." Then seriously, although smiling, she looked up, took one of Janeway's hands and pressed it to her crotch so Kathryn could feel the girth with her own hand, certain Janeway would relax after that since it had almost been a decade since Kathryn had slept with a man and B'Elanna figured she was simply feeling out of her element currently—although Torres had no doubts the good captain would adapt quickly and find her confidence in no time—and next informed as she turned back to Kathryn's chest and tongued one of her small rosy brown nipples, "Don't worry, Red…you can drive for as long as you need." When the captain bit her bottom lip again as she instinctively started stroking the amazingly lifelike phallus, which was only slightly larger than average for a human male, and nothing that would give the poor captain nightmares or send her running out of the room, Torres snarled joyfully at the stimulation, since it was a high-tech device she'd 'tweaked' so that it titillated the wearer just as well as the receiver through contact nodes that sent electric signals to her brain like a prosthesis, then added, "Mmm…besides, I know what I'm doing, and," she growled again as Janeway seemed to catch on that B'Elanna was experiencing actual pleasure by her touch and not just vicarious pleasure from the thought so she put more effort into her languid stroking, "I know what you like...I still remember that too."

As Torres started in on her breasts again, Kathryn continued her ministrations, the sensation strangely erotic since she could also feel B'Elanna's firm bosom pressing into her stomach, and asked in her smoky tones, "Do you like that?"

Moving up to Kathryn's neck again and pressing herself against Janeway when the captain moved her hand away and started rubbing her back, the Klingon said, "Mmmhmm…it's an impressive piece of machinery if I do say so myself…mmm," B'Elanna whispered into her ear, "and it'll feel just like I'm inside of you too…to both of us, just how it's supposed to feel." As the captain hummed her pleasure at that while they started slowly undulating, Torres added in the same tone, "Let's go for a ride, cowgirl…"

"Mmm…Mister Murphy," Kathryn purred playfully after kissing B'Elanna in the windowless room as she straddled Torres' hips, both women now without most their apparel, although B'Elanna had continued to play out her fantasy by requesting that Janeway wear her hat and white dress shirt unbuttoned, which was "so fuckin' hot," according to the chief. "I do believe I like you today."

Smiling in totally giddy joy and appreciation for Janeway's indulgence with her, which she knew, just by knowing the redhead, wasn't something she would do with just any lover, Torres said, "Kahless, you are so sexy sometimes, it's painful," as she rubbed the mushroom like head of her newfound manhood across Janeway's crease to lubricate and tease her lover, who she knew was now eagerly awaiting her 'ride.' When Janeway bit her bottom lip while B'Elanna stopped the movement and correctly positioned the 'sexually assistive device,' as Seven of Nine referred to it, the chief asked, "Are you ready?"

The Borg had used it on the Klingon once while she was at the end of her yearly pon farr a few weeks ago while they 'christened' the detective's office, and made quite a mess considering Torres had been really wound up, and the Borg was one female strong and physically savvy enough to mate 'the Klingon way,' which had left both of them exhausted, but smiling, especially B'Elanna, who appreciated Seven's strong indulgence for her Klingon half in all things. Considering how physical and aggressive they'd gotten, they'd both been glad Janeway wasn't there, and after the blonde had informed she'd enjoyed herself tremendously, and even though she didn't wish to make love in that manner all of the time, nor did Torres, she informed B'Elanna that anytime she felt the need to really tap into her Klingon half, for whatever reason, she didn't have to worry about going to the holodeck alone, and that she, Seven, would be more than willing to assist her. That had lead to another round of love-making, although that time much softer, since B'Elanna was humbled and appreciative because although Seven constantly stated that she was Borg, often times Torres felt like when they were alone, she was also Klingon, and that was because Seven had done so much research and constantly went out of her way to bring a little bit of the Empire into her partner's life. No one else had ever done that for her...at least not in a way that didn't make the chief want to get angry because they were just dwelling on stereotypes, so it meant a great deal to her, and made her love Seven that much more.

Kathryn never did that, but Torres didn't expect or really even want her to. She certainly did honor her, and spoke a fair amount of Klingon, but no one else could really do it like Seven. That made Seven special to her, but Janeway was also special because she did just the opposite. She brought out the chief's humanity, which was just as vital to her personality, so as far as the brunette was concerned, she had the perfect set up. At least in theory since right now everything was still hit and miss, at best...at least where the fully human member of the triad was concerned.

Kathryn, who's hands were on Torres' breasts, nodded and whispered as she carefully started to lower herself onto the erection, "Mmmhmm, just hold it right…ohrightthere," she murmured, closing her eyes as the tip pushed past her first band of tight muscles. When Torres placed her hands on her hips, closed her eyes for a moment and inhaled deeply through her nose, Janeway opened her blue eyes again as she halted her progress and let her body adapt since her innerself was already clamped tightly around the small, but thick amount that was inside of her. As Torres announced, fairly faint for a Klingon, how incredible Janeway felt, the redhead licked her lips, rose up just a little to loosen her muscles and then started down again, stretching herself pleasingly. When she was down as far as she could currently go, which wasn't very far, and Torres opened her eyes and smiled at her before she dragged them up and down her body, Kathryn requested softly as B'Elanna squeezed her hips, "Stay still, please."

Shaking her head, Torres said, still smiling, "Oh, I'm not moving…you drive as long as you want. God, you look so amazing right now." When Kathryn smiled, then rose up again and slowly came back down, whimpering slightly while she did so at the acute sensation, B'Elanna took a another deep breath as her eyes rolled back for a moment at the stimulation, and said, "Kahless, Kathryn, that's incredible."

Janeway purred sexy as she rose up again and came down slowly, able to sink down father this time and said, "Hmm…who's Kathryn, Murphy?"

Smiling her crazy grin, B'Elanna brought her eyes back to Janeway and said after she swallowed and got her typical, much stronger voice back, "Kate's short for Kathryn."

"Oh, I see," responded the captain as she rose up, then followed, "Thank you for clarifying…because," as she sank down, she finished while B'Elanna grinned at her, "I'd hate to think that you're just using me…"

"I'd never use a woman like you, Kate," Torres came back. "I know where I stand in this arrangement."

"Mmm, I don't know," Kathryn whispered, acutely sexy, as she relaxed, leaned forward slightly, and upped the pace, which was still languid, "you've got an awfully big tab…something tells me that even such an impressive private dick," she smirked as Torres smiled in impish glee, "as yourself might not understand just how important it is to stay on my good side." Pressing more of her weight onto her hands, knowing Torres could take it, Kathryn said as she pressed down completely, slowing for a moment and titled her head back, "God…mmm…that feels so good, Lanna." Then feeling the need to lean forward more, she moved her hands next to Torres' head to the small twin bed, bracing herself over her and said, smiling down at B'Elanna as she stopped moving, "Thank you…this is awfully considerate of you."

Torres smiled honestly as she raised her hands to Kathryn's bosom and whispered, "No need to thank me, Red…I'm diggin' it…big-time."

Leaning down and kissing her mouth for a few moments as her body completely adjusted to the size inside of her, Kathryn hummed, "Mmm…I'm glad," as she pulled away and slowly started moving again, placing her hands to Torres' forearms and letting B'Elanna support her forward weight. As B'Elanna growled happily and squeezed her breasts in rhythm with her hips, Janeway said with clear gratitude for the allowance, whispering currently, "Ohyesdarling…just like that."

Steadying her breath before Janeway told her she could move her hips freely to keep herself reigned in, which was becoming difficult, B'Elanna pressed her head back as Kathryn's stokes became fuller, easier, and faster, and had to close her eyes and concentrate on her breathing. When Janeway started moving faster again and said, breathing heavier, "Ohgodyes…do it now, Lanna," the Klingon snapped open her eyes, raised her head off the bed as she moved her hands to Janeway's hips and started commanding her movements, pressing her down as she thrust upward, and said, "Yes, baby…yes, that's so good, Kathryn…god, woman, you're so hot."

Then sitting up, pulling Kathryn close and down onto her fully, Torres held onto Janeway's back and kissed her neck as the redhead barely broke stride, and then growled into her lover's ear as her more aggressive instincts started to overpower her and she felt the need to expend more energy just as the captain was doing, "I want you on your back."

Janeway pulled B'Elanna close at that, now just sitting down completely, tossed the hat to the top of the bed and said, pressing her fingernails into Torres' back, "What are you waiting for…"

Snarling, Torres turned them over, holding Janeway close and slightly in the air during most of the movement, relying on her sturdy legs to propel them, and when Kathryn hummed, pressed into her lower back muscles and started kissing her neck after they'd switched positions, the Klingon tentatively pulled out as far as she could, then slowly thrust back inside, repeating that movement once more while asking, "Is this okay?" wanting to make sure Janeway wasn't experiencing any discomfort now that she wasn't in control of the angle.

Janeway grabbed onto her backside, pulling her in completely and whispered, looking into Torres' coffee colored eyes, lustful, "It's wonderful…but I don't want it slow right now." Smirking as Torres snarled at her, Kathryn added, "I've had a long day, Mister Murphy and you've got a big tab…so I want you to work hard for it." And when B'Elanna moaned, "God, I love that," and started to pick up the pace, shortening her stroke some and putting more power behind it, the captain gasped as their bed started to squeak and the rhythm was sounded against the wall thanks to the headboard, "Ohgod…yes...ohdarlingmore..."

"Tell me what you want, cowgirl," the chief whispered into her ear as she complied happily and wanton, driving her hips into Kathryn in shorter, speedier strokes, but still holding back plenty of her ability.

"Harder...mmmyes...please, darling, fuck me hard."

"Yes, Red!" Torres shouted after she started to comply immediately while she felt her own impending climax building, Kathryn's wonderfully loud and pleasure-filled cries definitely assisting. B'Elanna announced as Janeway grasped onto her back with her arms while she drew her legs up higher, and resting her heels on the small of her back, completely opening herself up for Torres powerful presence inside of her, "Yes, baby…god you're so incredible."

"Yes, Lanna, fuck me…ohyeslikethat! Ohgoddon'tstop!"

As Janeway's nails pressed smartly into her back and she tightened mercilessly around her, crying out electrically, loud and longer than she ever had before, Torres growled as she just thrust against her completely, and said as her own body began jerking, "Jesus woman!"

Then kissing Kathryn's mouth in practically the next instant, even before either of them really caught their breaths or stilled completely, B'Elanna murmured against her lips as she slid her arms underneath Janeway, forcefully but not rough, still pushing against her as she felt the captain's inner muscles pull her in and keep her there, "I love you…mmm, I love you so much, baby…mmmthank you…god, I've missed you."

While B'Elanna moved her kisses to her face and her forehead while they settled, Kathryn kissed Torres' tanned shoulders as she wrapped her whole body around her, whispering how much she loved and missed her, and when B'Elanna moved to her neck and the warm, rigid phallus inside of her started to move out slowly, Janeway smiled as she kept B'Elanna close and requested, "Oh please don't leave yet," then added on the next beat as the Klingon eased back inside of her completely, "Or is it bothering you?"

B'Elanna moved her affections back to Kathryn's mouth and said before she kissed her pleasant and happily, using one of the good captain's famous lines, although not getting quite right, "You only bother me the way I love to be bothered."

Humming and chuckling against Torres' lips, Kathryn said again, "Oh, I've missed you, tool-pusher," which got a good snicker out of both of them considering their current situation. Then working her way to the chief's ear again, the captain nipped, then licked her ear lobe and said, gravelly, "Mmm, Mister Murphy, that was rather impressively hard work…thank you very much." As the Klingon laughed soundlessly to herself while she kissed Janeway's neck, the captain racked her nails lightly over the hybrid's back as she said, "Now will you do me a personal favor?"

Torres pressed herself up and asked as she braced herself over the redhead, grinning, "What's that, doll?"

The captain smirked as she snatched up the hat, set it atop Torres head, then brought her hands around to the Klingon's breasts while she requested, "Bother me again, Murphy…my headache's gone…"

"Sweetie," Lieutenant Samantha Wildman said as she started out of her bathroom and into her bedroom, holding the top to her sleeveless, black sequined gown up, "will you help me?" When 'Sweetie,' or Seven of Nine, Tertiary Adjunct to Unimatrix 01 turned her head toward her as she pulled on her navy blue dress coat, the xenobiologist said as the taller and slightly younger blonde raised her eyebrows in question, used to her gal pal's affectionate designations, and finding them acceptable, "I can't get the darn little snap in the back behind my neck"

As Samantha stepped in front of her and turned around, Seven reached over her shoulder and grasped the top of the gown, pulled the straps over her shoulders, and secured it behind her neck. While Samantha adjusted herself so her bosom was sufficiently covered and supported as much as possible in the provocative, although definitely tasteful dress, Seven admired the intricate curls of her friend's hair that was pulled up loosely on the sides and secured with some expertly placed bobby pins and a shinny black stick with a decorative silver addition at the end and a small, swinging ball from there, always marveling at Wildman's skills at 'doing hair.' When Wildman turned around, checked herself for lint and excess hair while she asked for Seven's opinion, the ex-Borg drone of almost four years smiled and stated, "Nearly perfection…may I make a suggestion?"

Looking up, Samantha said, "Sure…what," raising her hands to her head, "is it my hair?"

"No," Seven said as she quickly modified the implants on her hand until they were as sharp as razors and much longer. Then kneeling down, bending at her knees since she was wearing a knee-length, tight business style dress suit, the Borg carefully and quickly cut the seam of Wildman's slit that was offset from center until it reached her middle thigh, just below the end of her stockings before her garters were revealed, the sequins of the gown able to keep her adjustment from weakening the seam and risking that it would tear further. As Wildman laughed and then nodded in acceptance, Seven looked up to the scientist's bosom, frowned since she believed her friend was being too modest again since they were supposed to have adult 'fun,' and then reached up to the middle of her straps that covered her breasts, saying quiet, but serious, "Be still," then cut away the black sheer fabric that was resting between the more solid material, which was a sizable triangle that covered most of her cleavage.

As Seven pulled that away, Wildman looked down, leaning over a little so she could see all of it, then whispered for some reason, "Don't you think that's too much? Can't you can see a lot of my chest?"

Standing back up and returning her fingers to much less lethal rounded tips, the Borg said, "It is perfection." When Wildman still didn't seem convinced, Seven said as she turned her around and pushed her toward the bathroom so she could see herself in the sizeable mirror, "You are being too modest. Your 'chest' is only moderately exposed and it is of size enough that no matter your position, the material will not move from it." Turning her friend to the side, she added, "As you can see."

Wildman smiled as she blushed lightly, then chuckled as she reported, turning around and glancing over her shoulder to her bare back, "God, you know what…I really have become too modest. I never used to be. I wonder what happened?"

"You have been aboard a military vessel for nearly eight years without sufficient 'shore leave' and raised a child during the process without a mate to remind you of your attractiveness," the tallest blonde reported as if it should be obvious. "Kathryn suffers from a similar condition…however," Seven smirked at her friend, "she is captain and is obligated to be so…you are not. Besides," the blonde added as she looked back into the mirror at herself and then adjusted her collar, "I am certain Nick Fowler will approve of my modifications, and this 'works' better for your character." When the door call sounded almost in the next instant, Seven cocked her eyebrow and said, "'Speak of the devil.'"

Smiling, excited, Wildman requested as she approached the mirror and reached for her lipstick, "Keep her busy…I just need to finish up. I'll be quick."

"Yes, Miss Rose," Seven teased as she turned and left, her matching heels clicking steadily as she exited the tiled room. Then proceeding through the master bedroom door and into the living room, Seven said, "You may enter."

As the pneumatic doors parted, Lieutenant-Commander Nicole Fowler, dressed in a black, perfectly tailored police officer's uniform, complete with a belt with all the accessories, as well as a hat, stepped inside, immediately taking off her hat out of habit. Smiling at the tall blonde, who didn't look much different other than the nice, woman's suit, which covered more of her goddess-like curves thanks to the long, almost knee-length jacket, even though the white, nearly sheer blouse underneath clung to her amble bosom and had a nearly modest scooped neck, Fowler said, "Hey, Seven…you look real sharp." When Seven smiled warmly at her and nodded, then said, "As do you," Fowler looked around and asked, "You ladies almost ready?"

"Almost," Seven said as Fowler came up to her, wearing her typical long braid that practically reached down to her waist. Glancing at the tall brunette's belt, Seven asked, curious, "What is the function of all of…that?"

Smiling and chuckling, the ship's second officer said, pouring on her unique Southern charm, "Well, I've got my gun…it's projectile," she smacked that, "uh...extra ammo…handcuffs for bad guys, a billy club to whack'em with, and a flashlight to see in the dark." Then shrugging, Fowler admitted, "I'm clueless, really...Torres made the costume. What's your character again?"

"I am the 'nosey' reporter…Vivian Bando," Seven of Nine reported plainly, "since B'Elanna Torres does not prefer to call me Annika Hansen. Apparently," she smirked, "it is too 'foo foo' for a Borg, and a 'conniving bitch,' which I, Vivian, apparently am."

Scratching the back of her neck, Nicole leaned over and whispered, glad her name wasn't changing since she'd been so busy these days studying up on more academic and scientific things she hadn't been able to give a lot of time to Torres' character work-ups, asking, "What's Sam's name again?"

"Rose McEntyre."

"Rose, Rose…right," Nicole nodded, whispering, "thanks. Torres is Murphy, you're Vivian, Sam's Rose, I'm Nick, and Kate's...Kate."

"Correct."

"Speaking of," Fowler glanced into the bedroom then asked, tentative, "where is she…Kate?"

"Kathryn," Seven of Nine answered, never having really liked 'Kate' even though she knew most of the captain's acquaintances in the Alpha Quadrant referred to her as such, "will meet us there. She was required to complete several tasks before she could log off for duty today."

Nodding, Fowler poked her head through the bedroom door and teased her lover, yelling in her drawing speech patterns towards the bathroom, "Woman, why do you always hafta take forever and a day when you know you're the finest thang to ever grace these halls?"

"Because, you hillbilly," Samantha smiled as she turned off the light and stepped out of the bathroom, "it takes some effort to look like this…if you don't mind." As she approached Nick, whose mouth immediately opened slightly as she glimpsed the blonde, while her heart instantly started racing, Sam questioned, "Seven, are my black high heels out there?"

As Seven confirmed that while Wildman passed right on by her on purpose, only poking at her stomach as she went by, Nicole closed her mouth and swallowed as she watched the blonde sauntered along, the floor length garment clinging to her every curve, and she had "enough to build a race track" as far as Fowler was concerned. She then asked, "Is that new?" speaking of the now very sexy black dress.

Stepping into her shoes and winking at Seven, who was smirking, while she did so, Wildman answered, "Mmmhmm, do you like it?"

"Uh," Fowler smiled as she stepped up to her, wiping her nose, then chuckled, "well, that'd be a big 10-4, darlin'."

"Big 10-4," Wildman scoffed as she turned around, understanding the term since she'd studied both her and Fowler's character portfolios in an effort to not only have a 'ton' of fun, but to help Nick, who she knew wasn't as comfortable with holonovels as she was. Smiling as she grabbed the tall brunette's tool belt and pulled her forward as the muscular woman looked down at her cleavage, clearly, Samantha said, "You're such a hick, Nick Fowler…do you know that?"

Putting her hands on Wildman's bare upper arms and rubbing her thumbs against her soft, well moisturized pale flesh, having to touch her somewhere, but staying away from her bosom considering they weren't alone, Nick smiled down, shaking her head and said, "I will never complain again…you just go on and take as long as you want to," although, it wasn't like Fowler really ever complained, just teased her from time to time in an effort to remind her that she was the best looking woman aboard the ship, as far as Nick was concerned. Next, glancing over her shoulder quickly, Fowler said, "Excuse me for a moment, Seven," then turned back to Samantha, kissed her softly before she whispered into her ear, "Samantha Louise, you need a sticker that says 'hard on the ticker.'" When Samantha giggled then smacked her arm, Nicole said seriously, moving back to her crimson lips, "I love you even though you're gonna kill me dead one of these days."

Wildman smiled and whispered back, "Mmm…you're so sweet…and cute…I love you too." When Fowler pulled away, Samantha reached up and wiped the small amount of lipstick from the brunette's lips and said, "But you should thank Seven for the dress…it was all her idea."

Fowler looked over to Seven of Nine as the blonde came up beside her. Putting her arm around her shoulder while Samantha snapped her fingers, recalling something and scurried into the bedroom, Nicole patted the Borg's back and whispered, "Anything you ever need…you come to me and I'll see to it."

Smirking and cocking her eyebrow, Seven said softly and warm, her sometimes cold and harsh tones slowly becoming the exception rather than the norm, "I believe the Borg over-estimate humanity's ability to resist. They merely do not understand how to gain your allegiance without force. 'Finesse,'" Seven smiled as Nicole chuckled, "as Kathryn would say, is the 'key.'"

"How much of the ship is in your back pocket now anyway?" asked Fowler, joking.

As Samantha came up to her, handed her the wrap she was carrying, and merely turned around, holding up her hair, Seven informed without missing a beat, helping Samantha don her the garment so she didn't mess up her intricate hairstyle, "My objective is now complete." Smirking over to Nicole, she added, "All relevant females have been assimilated."

"Ah ah!" Fowler laughed, smacking her leg while Samantha shook her head and asked over her shoulder, "Don't you mean your Collective of hot babes?" and Seven replied, "Correct." Then walking over to Seven as she finished helping Sam, always finding it so strange that the two blondes seemed to be able to communicate about things like that without saying a word, Fowler put her arm around the Borg again, and said, "Girl, we've got to stick together you and me…we think the alike."

"Fowler," Wildman smiled as she started for the door, "don't you start teaching her that toilet talk too."

As Seven expelled the air from her lungs lightly, moved away from her, picked up the pace and came next to Samantha, Fowler followed after them, saying, purposefully being goofy, "Now see here, Missy, I don't know where you get your fool ideas, but I would never say such things. I was brung up right." Hanging back some so she could watch her girlfriend walk in front of her, Fowler waited until Wildman glanced back at her then smiled crookedly and game, and put on her hat, her girlfriend's dress doing well to push all of her buttons...those of the sexual variety.

After entering the turbolift and taking it up three decks in relative quiet, Wildman snatched up Seven's right hand as they started out of the lift, whispered a sincere and happy thank you for the dress. Continuing forward while she patting Seven's hand then let it go, she asked when Nicole still didn't come up next to her, or between them as she would expect, and asked, glancing back again and then smiling as she realized what Fowler was doing by still walking behind them, "Nick Fowler, what are you doing?"

Using her club to tip up her hat slightly since she'd been practicing twirling it in an attempt to hang back so she could watch Samantha without being teased or schooled for being such an "oogler," the brunette answered as Seven looked back, "I'm just getting into character, darlin'. I need to know how to use this thing proper, so I can do my job to protect and serve."

"You're such a liar."

"Woman, why do you always do me wrong, when all I do or want is to worship you?"

Snickering while Seven of Nine raised her eyebrows and looked back, Sam did the same thing and said, "Well I'm truly sorry, but I was just getting into character. I'm supposed to seem like I only tolerate you because you’re a good customer…and law enforcement."

"Well, I'm just givin' you a police escort."

"Mmmhmm, sure," Wildman shot back then glanced over her shoulder and smirked, saying, "Then why don't you come up here and escort us already?"

"'Cuz you'll just holler and beat on me like you always do," Fowler continued her rowdiness, definitely feeling the need to just be goofy and laugh since they'd all been working their "tails off" in the last month finishing up the work on the Invictus and installing the Slipstream drive, which would be ready to be tested in two weeks. "I'm trying to do my sworn duty and not offend Ms. Kate's money maker at the same time."

As they turned the corner and started for the main holodeck, Nicole smiled and said, "If it'll make you feel better…think of it as like a parade escort…here, I'll sing." Clearing her throat, Fowler drawled as both blonde's looked back at her as if she was crazy, "When she wiggles through my door…my chin gets heavy hits the floor. Silky hair, scarlet lips, swingin' double-jointed hips…my blood begins to roll." As Samantha and Seven both laughed out loud at that, Nicole kept right on singing as they walked down the hallway, "And when she nibbles on the my ear…it's partly pleasure, partly fear. A little dab is all it takes to get my heart a palpatatin'…feelin' like the end is near. I oughta getta policy…a double indemnity…it'd make my beneficiary a whole lot richer 'cuz she's hard on the ticker."

"Oh good god," Samantha laughed as they stepped up to the holodeck and Fowler came up behind her, wrapped her arms around her and kissed her neck. "Please tell me that that's a real song and you just didn't make that up," asked the scientist since she knew Fowler often wrote lyrics and was actually very good at coming up with them off the top of her head and improvising, so she wasn't sure.

While Seven entered the 'secret code' which they'd set up so once it was entered by the Borg, no one could scan the interior of the holodeck to spy who all was inside in an effort to keep the threesome's 'break-up' a reality, Fowler answered, snickering, as she ran her thumb down Sam's spine, "It's a real song…I swear it." Then whispering, she said, kissing her jaw, "Mmm, it reminds me of you. So, that means I love it. Don't you like it, darlin'?"

"It's crass, Fowler…double-jointed hips?" Samantha smirked over her shoulder, speaking quietly while the holodeck doors opened. As Fowler said, "Don't forget swingin'," Wildman asked, flirting, purposefully putting on attitude, which was a little game she and Nicole played with each other, both of them knowing full and well that they loved the other's personality, "Are you going to be like this all day?"

As they started onto Jane Way, the bustling cobblestone main avenue on the east side of town of this mixed early to mid-Twentieth Century setting that was supposed to be Chicago, Illinois in the United States of America—although Torres had made several modifications to indulge herself and a few others—Fowler backed off and then said, smiling as she looked around at the brick buildings and bulky automobiles, "Woman, why are you so hateful? You're mean as a damn snake sometimes…you know that?"

While Seven and Samantha both ignored her as they became more careful of how they acted as they progressed into the busiest section of this side of town because Torres had told them that as soon as they stepped into the simulation, it was showtime, Fowler walked past a flower and news cart, snatched up a red rose as the vendor looked on and didn't bother to try to demand payment since Nick was a beat cop, which meant it would wise to stay on their good side considering the high crime area they were in. Then jogging back up to the blondes, Fowler produced the rose over Sam's shoulder and said, playing her part as well since she—although Fowler's character was male—was supposedly hopelessly in love with the singer, even though she'd never even gotten an official date yet, and she'd tried, almost every night for the past two years, "But you sure are mighty pretty, Miss Rose…will you permit me to escort you to your destination on this here fine day?"

Stopping and smiling, unable to help herself as Fowler came around in front of them, Sam said, "Thank you, Sergeant," as she took the rose and brought it to her nose out of habit, even though it didn't smell. When Fowler smiled and held out her arm, Wildman slipped her much paler limb inside and said, "Oh alright, but don't you get fresh with me…Ms. Kate wouldn't like that."

"Oh no, Miss Rose…I wouldn't break the rules. I'm a police officer," Fowler said openly as they walked down the street. When Samantha said, laughing, surprised she was surprised, "Ohgod," as they turned the corner and started for Torres' office, Seven of Nine leading the way and keeping her eyes open for 'stories,' since B'Elanna was the only one who knew how the majority of the story was supposed to play out, but that could change at any time as the characters interacted with the group, Nick asked, "What?"

"Now we're on 79^th Street. Three guesses as to what building number she works in."

Having no idea, Fowler glanced back to the sign post then over to the building they just past, which was Three Sixty-seven, finally smiled, chuckled and said after she wiped her nose, "Oh, I love that girl. She's got more guts than anyone I know…hands down."

"I believe," Seven of Nine smirked as she opened the lobby door to the building B'Elanna worked in, the Borg most familiar with the aspects of this program after Torres since she and the Klingon had played around with it to make sure there weren't any critical errors, "that the appropriate term at this time would be 'hands on.'"

Whispering over her shoulder, Samantha said, "Why do I have the feeling I'm going to be embarrassed five hundred times today in front of the captain if those two have anything to say about it?"

Fowler smiled as she patted Samantha's arm and said as they started up the steps, "Just take the wind outta their sails, darlin'…and let me handle the rest. I've gotta gun."

Reaching the second story, walking in front of Fowler and Wildman to give them a little privacy and to show them the way, Seven slowed her pace as she detected a faint banging sound…like someone hammering rhythmically, slowly, which didn't make sense to her because this building wasn't under any renovation or construction, as was the case for some of the other buildings on this and other streets since there had been a few car bombings recently. However, B'Elanna was an engineer, so it was possible she was doing something 'with real tools' just because she wanted to do it. As they reached the third floor and started down the long hallway toward Torres' office, Seven first noticed that the noise was getting faster as Fowler asked, curious since she hadn't much of an idea what to expect out of B'Elanna's holonovel, other than to be prepared for it to get 'interesting,' "Who's hammerin'?" and next she detected a voice that she instantly recognized as Kathryn Janeway's. Stopping immediately as she became alarmed and then relaxed almost in the same instant considering what she'd heard the redhead say, which tipped her off immediately as to exactly what was occurring, Seven turned around and said, trying to be as 'normal' as possible, starting to get the hang of lying efficiently in order to protect people, "I forgot…you are required to remain in the 'lobby' at this time."

"What's wrong?" asked Wildman as Seven turned to face her and spoke.

Nicole held back her laughter well as she figured out what was going on since the faint banging had suddenly stopped, then picked right back up again, and it wasn't like Seven to forget such things, then said to Wildman, who hadn't a clue, "Come on, Miss Rose…let's go sit in the lobby for a spell." As Samantha nodded, not understanding, but willing to go along anywhere with Nicole, the brunette said over her shoulder to the Borg, "Seven, they're damn lucky they've got you…you remind them of that when they're done."

As Seven of Nine said, "I will comply," then spun and started back for B'Elanna's office, Wildman looked up to Fowler, furrowing her brow, then asked, "What's going on?" whispering as they stopped on the second level and Nicole looked up and mumbled, "Damn" since the pace was definitely quick now.

Wrapping her arms around the scientist, Fowler eased them back against the wall and whispered, "Don't you hear that?" When Samantha asked if she meant the hammering, Nick smiled and whispered into her ear, "That ain't hammerin', Sam."

Wildman looked up to the ceiling as the subtle racket quickly died down, then back to her lover, then opened her mouth, and said, whispering, "Oh no, you don't think that they're…" Then bringing her hand to her mouth, she said before she burst out laughing, she allowed, "Oh my god." Wildman thought about that for a moment, then started to blush as she recalled the speed of the sound and the rather obviously necessary circumstances of the encounter, considering the ruckus, and mumbled, "Oh my god…they were…"

Wrapping Wildman up tighter and kissing her neck as the scientist giggled along with her, then calmed down after a few moments and hummed into her ear at the affection, Fowler ran one of her thumbs down the length of Samantha's spine, and said, deep and sexy, "I think you can relax now about being embarrassed…that's mighty tough to beat."

Wildman smiled, still giggling and replied, "How can I look her in the eye knowing that she knows that I know?" speaking of the captain, which she figured Fowler knew.

"Mmm," Fowler said as she started kissing Wildman's neck, staying away from her lips so she didn't mess up the younger woman's lipstick, "They weren't doin' anything we haven't done, darlin'."

"Nick," Wildman whispered seriously, but not breaking the sexy mood, "we haven't done…that…mmm…thank you."

"Okay, true," Fowler grinned as she pulled away, but hovered over the blonde, leaning against her bent arm over her lover's head and using her other hand to open the front of Sam's shawl. As she grinned and slipped in her index finger underneath one of the black straps on Wildman's dress and drew it down until she reached the blonde's rosy, soft nipple, Fowler said, "But that doesn't mean we can't."

After biting her upper lip while her breast responded to the tactile stimulation, Wildman said as she ran her hand over Fowler's bare forearm, delighting herself in the firmness of it, "Nick Fowler, you're being naughty."

Leaning forward more and completely pinning Wildman into the corner, Nicole whispered in her lowest, contralto pitch, "I just cain't help m'self, Rosebud…you are so fine, and this dress," she grinned as she pushed the material back to expose almost all of Samantha's right breast, and traced her finger thrice around the large, blush areola, "hurts me in bad way…mmnt, mmnt, mmm." Then covering her back up, although slipping her hand inside as much as she could, she smiled, "You're enough to make me beg, and I think you know that."

Curious since she knew practically all there was to know about the tall pilot now, Wildman asked softly while Nicole gently massaged her bosom, "That wouldn't bother you…making love to me like that? Or," she smirked, not letting her girlfriend answer yet, "have you done that before with all of your other women?" When Samantha had found out that the pilot had had close to thirty lovers, she'd honestly not been surprised since she'd wanted to go home with her the first night she saw her, nor was she put off even though Wildman had only had three, including Fowler. There was also the fact that although Fowler wasn't a womanizer, she definitely liked them a lot, and it showed more than anywhere in the bedroom because she was 'hands on' the best lover Samantha had ever had…in real or fantasy life. She was simply incredible, and even though Wildman knew some of it was natural born talent, some of it was good, old-fashioned practice.

Smiling, Fowler withdrew her hand, switched arms, and answered as she exposed Wildman's other breast devilishly in the same manner, "She was the only one," she admitted, but not sadly, then continued easily, outlining her pink circle again, "but I love you, and I know what makes you smile. As long as you're happy," she squeezed her breast with her full hand and purred deeply, which made Wildman's breath catch slightly before she bit her lips again, "I'm happy, darlin'."

When Nicole glanced over her shoulder, turned her hat around, then bent down and started kissing her exposed chest, sucking on the large tip fully as she guided one of her hands into the slit of her skirt and delighted in the feel of her stockings and garter belt, Samantha bent her head down and whispered, breathless, "Nick…hmm…honey, you've got to stop that right now…you're gonna make mmme," she paused to take a breath and finished stronger, but still whispering, "You know how I get when you do that."

"Oh, I do know, Miss Rose," Fowler whispered back, then once again took the harder rosy bud atop the fleshy mass near her lips into her mouth, using more of her tongue to tease now. "Mmmhmm…mmnt, mmnt, mmm! Darlin'," she pulled away and whispered raspy, "mmm, have mercy on me…I'm just a sinner without hope for redemption."

Giggling, Wildman asked, swatting Fowler's back, "Where do you come up with this stuff?"

"I's real smart like, Missy," answered Fowler, standing up straight, and covering Samantha back up, but she kept one hand on her thigh, holding it up and around her legs.

When Fowler grazed across the juncture of her legs, and said, "And you know how I get when you look so pretty," letting the tips of her fingers slip inside her thin, lacy, black panties, Samantha whispered again, "Oooh, you're just being evil now," as she wrapped the arm holding her floral gift around Nick's neck and rubbed her flat, muscular chest with the other hand. Then when Nicole grinned and touched her again, rattled softly in approval as she pressed past the delicate folds and discovered a building wellspring, Wildman smirked and said, pulling open Nicole's shirt in one quick movement since the buttons snapped, "I hope you're happy now, Sergeant," then slipped her hand inside and rubbed her girlfriend's much different, flat and hard chest.

"I'm getting there quick," Fowler remarked as she pressed more of her hand to the blonde's body and traced her crease. "Mmm, oh I do love that, though."

Glancing around as her pulsed continued to escalate while Fowler didn't let up on her like she'd expected, Samantha said while she rasped her thumb against one of Nicole's much smaller nipples while the rest of her fingers strummed the three, small but well defined diagonal muscles near her upper ribs, "Honey, we can't…what if someone needs to use the stairs?" although she didn't sound very convincing.

"We're not blocking the stairs," said the helmsman, smiling, using her other hand to expose Wildman's chest more as her breasts were pushed together thanks to her close proximity, "Besides, I've got my gun…I'll just shoot'em."

Rubbing Fowler's chest more and pulling her shirt open as well so she could drink in her view while Nicole did the same, Wildman said, narrowing her eyes up at the brunette, "I don't believe you, liar...you wouldn't hurt a fly and you know it."

"Woman," Fowler smiled, then turned her hand and pushed her thumb inside Wildman's opening, her pitch changing immediately, becoming deeper as Samantha gasped, "Nick" in surprise, then whimpered through her nose as she closed her mouth quickly, "why are you always ridin' me…when all," Nicole grinned, easing them back into the corner again, keeping Wildman's leg up by pressing it into the smooth wall so she didn't have to hold it as much herself since although Nick's arm was wrapped around it, it wasn't supporting all of it's weight, "I want is to make you sing that sweet song of yours?"

Recovering quickly and glancing around again, the biologist tossed her concerns out the window since they hadn't seen anyone in the lobby, and there wasn't any noise or sign of people around. "Mmm, Fowler," Wildman purred with much more seduction and deviousness, "when I'm riding you…you'll know it, honey."

"Now I ask you," Nicole smirk, always impressed by Samantha's enthusiasm and ability to do what she wanted when she wanted, as she withdrew her hand for a moment, brought it around front quickly and went right back inside as they shifted up to stay in position, Wildman now wrapping both of her arms around Fowler's neck to keep most of her weight off her one leg, "who's being evil…hmm? I don't think I'm being evil…I think I'm bein' real nice to you, in fact."

As the brunette removed her thumb and began using it and her other fingers to stimulate her entire crease, which was becoming damper by the minute, Wildman leaned her head back against the wall after she glanced around again, incredibly excited now by the risk, and asked after she licked her lips and hummed, whispering still, "Mmm, you're so nice…what did I ever do to deserve you?"

"You were born and raised, and then smiled at me just right," Fowler grinned as she whispered back. "And then, you let me see you do this," she smiled wider as she pressed her thumb near the top of Samantha's sex that was demanding attention, "and," she paused for a moment while Wildman closed her eyes, whimpered as she clamped down on her lips and twitched each time Fowler flicked her nerve center, "that was all she wrote for me."

When Fowler pressed her index and her middle finger into her but didn't let up on her most sensitive region, and whispered, "Come on, darlin'…sing for me right now," Wildman tossed her rose down, pushed Nicole's hand away from her, then yanked her shirt open and urged it over her shoulders. Then when Nick grinned in excitement and tore her arms out in one move, leaving the back tucked into her pants though, Samantha dragged her eyes up and down her lover's body as she took a step toward her, reached up and latched onto Fowler. Nicole leaned down some, then pushed up the bottom of her dress enough that with the slit Sam was able to wrap her legs around the brunette when she stood up straight and lifted the blonde.

As Nicole pressed them toward the corner again so she could gain some leverage and use the walls to assist her, Wildman whispered, excited and quick, "Hurry, Fowler…do it fast." When Nick complied as she rattled her approval of her lover's sense of adventure and slipped her right hand back between her legs and pushed two of her long, fairly thick fingers inside of her as she supported most of Wildman's lower body with her left arm and hip, Sam bit down on her lips and forced herself not to just cry out at that top of her lungs as she was known to do since for some reason speaking enhanced the experience for her...especially when she was already feeling so close to climax. Although, she couldn't keep entirely quiet when Nicole maneuver them more, grunting softly at the strain on her and managed to gain a little more access to stroke her quicker and with more force, however Wildman only allowed a high-pitched whisper as her inner muscles began contracting, "Nikki…mmm…yes, Nikki please."

Her physical prowess being tested for all it was worth in this position of trying to not only keep her lover up, but held in a position so she could pleasure her freely, Fowler grunted soundly through slightly clenched teeth, "Mmm, Sam, sing…mmnt! I love you," as Samantha gasped quite a bit louder, "Yes…ohNikkiyes, I'm coming."

"I've gotcha, Sam….mmm…I won't letcha go," Fowler said softer and more gentle while she had to take her hand away faster than she cared to but needed to get both her arms around the blonde. As Wildman stilled after her quick and short release at the same time, Fowler kissed her neck after she spoke and pulled her away from the wall so her hairdo didn't become more tussled.

As Fowler, who was breathing heavily eased her back onto her feet, Samantha drew her hands to Nicole's tanned chest, feeling slightly dizzy, then kissed her lips softly. Smiling brightly against them, she wiggled her nose and then giggled, "I can't believe we just did that…mmm," she purred as Nicole chuckled and kissed her cheek, held her close and rocked her back and forth happily, "I love you, Nick Fowler, but you are so bad sometimes….mmm, but so fine," she grinned, rubbing her chest more as Nicole dipped her back some and smiled at her, "you are so fine to me."

"Indeed," Seven of Nine said loudly and even from one flight up, then started down the stairs, clicking steadily in her high heels. Rounding the corner and smirking, continuing on toward them fluidly, the Borg said, "I apologize for the interruption…however, I am required to depart immediately and I did not wish to utilize the 'fire escape' in this attire." Smiling at the both of them as they blushed while she passed without stopping, Fowler pulling Sam closer to her chest and positioning her toward the corner to hide her from view, Seven finished, "You may proceed upstairs, and I will not 'break' this story as long as you do not inquire about the 'hammering.'…however," she stopped at the bottom and looked over her shoulder as Nicole watched her go past while Sam fixed her dress out of view, "I feel obligated to inform you that the 'game' is now 'afoot.'"

Holding her hand to her mouth to keep herself from laughing out loud, Wildman stayed quiet until the lobby door was heard closing, then asked, pulling her head away as Fowler turned her head back to her, "Do you think she really heard us, or is just playing?"

"Uh, Sam…she's Borg…so…that'd be a big 10-4, darlin'…"

Tip-toeing on the balls of her feet, approaching Torres' office as she heard the Klingon yell, "One more time, Red…do it, baby! Fuck, you're so fuckin' hot, Kathryn! God, I love you!" while Janeway said, panting, at the same time, clearly audible to the former Borg drone even though the captain wasn't yelling, "Yes…mmnt…mmnt. Ohyes…ohyesdarling…ohgod right there," Seven put her hand on the door knob and waited to turn it until she was synchronized with the quickening, now more erratic banging, so the sound wouldn't be heard. When the sounds suddenly stopped as she opened the door and it squeaked, Seven froze until her heard Kathryn suddenly gasp for air, saying, "Lanna," at the same time, so she moved quickly toward the bedroom door before Janeway stopped heaving and Torres stopped growling in her throat.

Standing by the door for a moment, not wanting to break in on them until she was certain they had finished releasing themselves and were calming down, Seven listened closely, smirking as she heard some movement, then the distinct sound of passionate, yet happy kissing, considering she also heard Kathryn's low, throaty and acutely arousing chuckle while Torres whispered, "Jesus, cowgirl…how much coffee did you drink today?" When she heard a little more movement and more kissing, and a lot of content sighs and deep breaths, Seven reached for the door knob and began to turn it, but then quickly realized it was locked when it didn't move much. However, since her lovers continued to whisper to each other and kiss, the Borg was certain they hadn't heard her try the knob, so she pondered her choices for a split second then reached into her pocket and pulled out her lock picking kit while she knelt down. Using the technique that Torres had taught her a few days ago to pick the locks in this program so she could get in and out of wherever she needed to find the 'scoop,' Seven smiled as the key fell out of the lock on the other side and she turned the knob at the same moment.

Standing up as Janeway and Torres snapped their heads over to her, wide-eyed, Seven returned her kit to her pocket as she gave her famous look of intrigue and approval, and greeted, mimicking Janeway, "Hello…again." Then added quickly when Kathryn, who was straddling Torres' hips, although B'Elanna was sitting up and had her arms around her body underneath the white, opened tailored shirt, seemed 'freaked,' Seven said as she stepped inside and closed the door, "They are waiting in the lobby, and you are lucky I am Borg…Ms. Kate…however," she smirked as she came over to them, looking at Torres, "you may be requested to explain the 'hammering,' Murphy…and I doubt," she leaned down and kissed Torres' sweaty forehead, "that Sergeant Fowler will believe any explanation other than you were 'nailing' Ms. Kate…although I am certain she will be discrete."

When Janeway said, "Ohgod," and buried her head into Torres' neck, B'Elanna sighed, then started laughing out loud when Janeway's shoulder's hitched and the good captain started cackling, then finally said, looking over and up at Seven, who was clearly amused, "Hiya, Viv…thanks for the tip." When the 'reporter' cocked her eyebrow, B'Elanna looked her up and down and said, "By the way, ace…great duds…I mean it…snazzy."

"I would say the same for you, however," Seven smirked again as Kathryn pulled away, still chuckling and wiping her eyes and her damp forehead, "you are not wearing anything…although," she looked over at Janeway as the redhead finally turned toward her and pursed her lips while narrowing her eyes, "I am in approval of yours."

As Torres smiled and then laid back on her elbows, putting her hat back on, Kathryn looked over at B'Elanna, then almost started laughing again since she felt decidedly strange sitting atop Torres with the engineer's 'tool' still buried completely inside of her. Bringing her hand to her mouth, Janeway calmed down as Torres grinned at her wickedly, curious as to how long the good and sometimes stubbornly modest captain would stay in the position that had to be growing uncomfortable, then turned to Seven, smirked at her since the Borg knew very well what was going on, and furthermore what Janeway's 'problem' was, then requested, tapping her lips, "Thank you. Kiss me please."

Remaining where she was standing, having entirely too much fun at her lover's expense, she knew, Seven said, "Perhaps if you stand…"

Janeway scowled at Seven as Torres laughed, then laid all the way down, tipping the hat over her face, and said, grabbing the article and flicking it off, "I hope you're happy…she was never like this before she moved in with you." Then leaning forward more and biting her bottom lip slightly at her tenderness since they'd been going strong almost the entire time, Kathryn sucked up her inherent embarrassment and eased off of the artificial erection. Hovering over Torres for a moment, she whispered after B'Elanna grew serious and asked her if she was okay, seeing the slight discomfort in Janeway's face, "Mmmhmm…thank you very much for my present, darling." Then rubbing her nose against B'Elanna's as the Klingon smiled in success, Janeway kissed her softly and murmured, "I love you."

Then starting off B'Elanna totally, she held out her arm for Seven, who was at her side in an instant to helped her to her feet and to steady her as she regained her balance and tested out the strength in her legs. As Torres commanded the computer to make the device protruding from her groin disappear, Janeway sighed when she realized she could have just done that and saved herself, then after shooting B'Elanna one of her famous looks of disapproval since she was sure the Klingon had purposefully waited too, Janeway turned, looked to Seven, then sighed, chuckling as she started to the bathroom, shaking her head and definitely needing to clean up since she felt as 'messy' as the Klingon's quarters used to be before Seven moved in. However, she didn't get very far because Seven of Nine hadn't been able to kiss her perfect Kathryn in eighty-one point six two days, and she wasn't prepared to wait another moment.

Turning Janeway around, sliding her right hand behind her neck and pulling her into her chest, Seven of Nine actually dipped the captain back while she kissed her as Torres jumped up and called dibs on the bathroom, wanting to actually give them a few moments alone since she'd had 'several moments' alone with Janeway already. When Kathryn just clung to her shoulders and let herself be kissed, entirely too sated currently to do much of anything more, Seven complied happily and kissed Kathryn properly for over a minute…eighty-two seconds, to be exact, rounding up for good measure. Then pulling away as Janeway sighed with a mixture of bliss and anguish, the Borg did the same and said as she kissed Janeway's forehead while they stood upright, "I have missed you, my Kathryn." As Janeway wrapped her arms around her torso tightly and buried her head into her shoulder, Seven whispered again, "I have missed you."

Janeway looked up at the repeated phrase and cupped Seven's face with both hands. Rubbing her cheeks with her thumbs, she smiled and whispered, "Oh, I've missed you more, and thank you for looking out for me."

"I have your back, Captain," Seven smirked, then pulled Janeway's hands away from her face, urged her into her chest again, holding one arm out and started dancing slowly with the redhead. When Kathryn smiled in delight and shook her head, then whispered as she placed her head on her shoulder, pleasantly exhausted, and emotional, which was usually the case around the former drone, "So many changes, Seven," the Borg rubbed her back while she lead the captain and said, warm and smooth, "Do you not approve?" replaying a conversation they had the night they'd almost kissed for the first time in the captain's bathroom after a verbal shouting match over whether or not it was important for Janeway to believe that she, herself, was beautiful.

Chuckling once, Kathryn whispered back, speaking into Seven's neck, recalling the conversation easily, "I'm just having a hard time keeping up…as usual."

Seven smiled, and whispered back as she dipped Janeway back smoothly and with skill, "As usual…you will adapt…I have faith in you."

"Seven," Janeway said seriously as the Borg held her back comfortably, "you'll never know how much I love you."

Pulling the captain back up, spinning her around so Janeway's back was to her chest, Seven leaned down into her ear and whispered, "On the contrary, my beautiful Kathryn, you are perfection, and I am still Borg…only," she spun Janeway back around again, and cocked her eyebrow, "'closer to fine' because I love you as well."

As Torres came out of the bathroom in a pair of boxers and a tanktop and asked them if they were done being mushy, Kathryn threw her arms around Seven in order to do something before she burst into tears for having missed this kind of interaction so accutely she hardly stepped foot into their old quarters anymore. Picking Janeway up and wrapping her legs around her waist, despite the fact that she was risking soiling her dark clothing, Seven whispered into Kathryn's ear as she sniffled and Torres sighed, came over to them and slid her arms around both of them as best she could before she started crying, always having a hard time not becoming emotional herself whenever Janeway and Seven expressed their love to each other, "You are my reason…and I will always be with you."

Then setting Janeway down and kissing her lips smartly, she did the same to Torres and said as she started for the door, "I am in love with you both…however, I believe I have a 'story' to get." Looking down and noticing the damp spot on her hipbone, Seven smiled as she rubbed in the clear fluid, not planning to remove it in the least and finished as she turned and looked back to them, while she opened the bedroom door, "However, I will keep this one 'under wraps'…this time."

"Hey, ace," Torres said as Seven started way confidently and with purpose. When Seven stopped and looked over her shoulder, B'Elanna smiled and said, "Meet me at Kate's tonight?"

"Perhaps I will see you there, Murphy, however," Seven finished walking away, since she was supposed to be an old flame, one of many, of the detectives, "do not hold your breath."

"Lanna," Janeway asked as Seven left, coming up behind Torres and wrapping her arms around her waist, rubbing her stomach affectionately, "what in the world have you done to her?" but there was only pleasant surprise in her voice.

Turning around, Torres said before she kissed her, "Practice makes perfect…"

And when less than five minutes later as Torres was pulling up her suspenders and Kathryn was stepping out of the bathroom, the telephone rang, B'Elanna reported to Kathryn as the redhead zipped up her skirt and stepped out of the office in her simple, yet classy outfit, "That was Viv with a scoop." Smiling devilishly, B'Elanna sat down, kicked her feet up in success again and said while she lit up a cigarette, "Let's just say if Nikki tries to get cute with the hammering angle…I've got a better line on her."

"It's open," said Torres as she kicked her feet down and started to lean forward to extinguish her cigarette in the ashtray; however, when Samantha Wildman proceeded through the door first since Fowler had opened it for her and stood to the side so the glowing blonde could enter, B'Elanna dropped the burning stick as it impacted with the side of her desk when she got an eyeful of the supposedly modest woman's cleavage, which the Klingon hadn't expect, or could help but notice. Although, after she thought about it for a second, that dress certainly did explain what Seven had told her about in an effort to 'even up the score.' When a few of the embers fell into her fingers and singed her slightly—although the safety protocols were on, they weren't on at full so minor injuries could occur, but nothing terribly major, which B'Elanna thought was much more exciting—B'Elanna forgot herself and said out of habit, "Ah!…fuck!"

Then leaning down quickly, she popped back up and said, "Sorry…I'm sorry," while Fowler gave her a disapproving look and cleared her throat. As Wildman chuckled while Kathryn hollered from the bathroom, asking if she was alright, Torres sighed as she stood and put out what was left of the smoke stick as she stomped out the hot embers into the hardwood floor, "I'm fine, Red…just clumsy." Looking over to the blonde as Fowler shut the door, Torres smiled and said, "Hey, Sam…you look great…I mean it."

As Fowler hung her shawl on the coat rack, Wildman said as she started for the bedroom, "Thanks…I like your hat…it's cool." Then knocking on the open door, she asked, "Captain, can I come in?" while Fowler approached Torres' desk.

Once Janeway had told her to come on in and explained that she was just putting on her "face" B'Elanna whispered to Fowler as the tall brunette came over to the left window, parted the blinds with her fingers and peered out, "Great dress…nice." When Nicole glanced over to the bedroom, then smirked and said as she flicked closed the blinds, "Nice ain't the word, T," B'Elanna snickered and said, "True," then asked louder, "Wanna drink?" as she started for her liquor cabinet off to the side.

"I thought I was supposed to be a cop?" Fowler turned and said as Torres opened up the cabinet.

"You are, but that doesn't mean you can't drink…you're kinda dirty, remember?"

Nodding like she did, Fowler scratched the back of her neck and said, "Right…okay, sure…just a small one." Then looking over to B'Elanna, she cut her off and said, testy, "I ain't Klingon…small."

"I ain't Klingon," B'Elanna said under her breath as she poured Nicole a shot of Jack Daniels. "You want ice in that, copper?" When Nicole shook her head no and then opened up one of the drawers to her desk, the chief asked as she came over and set the drink down, "Lookin' for something?"

"Just being nosey…what is all the stuff anyway?" returned Fowler as she reached for her drink.

"Mostly bullshit," Torres responded as she went back over to the cabinet and poured herself a double, "but when my client shows up, I need to make a good impression so I get the case for sure...this is our first meeting face to face."

Taking a sip of the sweet amber libation, Fowler said, "So, you're drinkin'…how's that work?"

"Everyone drinks…just like," she grabbed her cigarettes, "everyone smokes." Popping one out of the soft pack, and then pulling it out with her teeth, she asked, gesturing to Nicole, "Want one?" When Fowler shook her head no, B'Elanna sighed and said, taking the cigarette out of her mouth, "They're holographic, princess…they cain't kill ya. Come on, sin a little."

After throwing back her drink, Fowler set it down and said, "You sin your way and I'll sin mine, smart mouth," while she started for the bedroom, curious as to what the 'women' were up to. Knocking on the door, Fowler asked, "Everyone decent?" When Samantha said, "No, Fowler, now go away and let us play," Nicole sighed, shaking her head and said, smiling, "Woman, why do you always hafta be so ornery?" Then seriously, she said in her more generalized speech, "Ladies, I'm just gonna shut this door so I can talk with Torres for a minute…so I'm not tempted," she smiled and stuck her head around the door, unable to help herself, "to sneak a peek."

As she stood next to the mirror with the captain, Samantha said as she smirked over at Nick while Janeway—who was wearing a tight, nearly shin length cream skirt with a slit in the back and a simple, but elegant matching silk tanktop—helped her resecure some of the pins in her hair that had been compromised in the hallway, "Oh, go on and talk your trash already…we don't wanna hear it anyhow."

"Not trash, Miss Rose," Fowler said as she stepped into the room and stood near the doorway to the bathroom, "just shop." Then tipping her hate as Kathryn looked over at her and smiled, shaking her head while she patted Samantha's shoulder and silently informed her she was finished, Nick greeted, trying to sound as normal as possible…well, normal for her, "How do, Ms. Kate."

"Sergeant," Kathryn said as she grabbed her small, rectangular matching purse and stuck it under her arm while she started toward Nick, then patted her arm and said, "Is that your club or are you just happy to see my singer?" Then gesturing over her shoulder, not giving anyone a chance to respond, she commanded, "Rose, you're with me."

Scurrying, excited since 'playing' with the captain, who she thought looked just "ravishing" in her "little white outfit" was certain to be an experience, not to mention an honor, and one that she was looking forward to since her daughter certainly always had such a grand time with Voyager's grand dame, Wildman stopped next to Fowler, stood on her tip-toes and kissed her quickly, then whispered, "I love you…have fun…and please," grabbing her belt and shaking it, hoping to make her point since she immediately smelled the liquor of Fowler's breath, and she knew Nick didn't drink very often, and then usually only drank light beer, "be careful…not all the safeties are on."

Fowler took a moment to pinch Wildman's chin with her thumb, then winked at her and reminded, "Careful and fun are my middle names, darlin'." Then kissing her cheek, she finished, "Now go on and have some fun with Kate…you deserve it," knowing Samantha was excited to finally get to spend some play time with her commanding officer like all of the people around her seemed to get, even her daughter.

Grinning, Wildman nodded, then walked around the corner just in time to see Janeway, who was holding an almost empty glass of what looked to be alcohol, blow smoke from her mouth while she sat on Torres' desk in front of her with her legs crossed. Samantha watched, shocked and in awe of how she handed the cigarette back to Torres, downed the drink, then slid off the desk, saying, sexy, while tapping B'Elanna's hat down, "Thank you again, Mister Murphy…it's been an experience…as always."

Kathryn skirted the desk and said as she sauntered toward the door, gesturing that Wildman should follow, "You'll come by tonight to hear Rose, won't you?" catching and ignoring completely the nervous smile on Wildman's face as the blonde watched her every move, plenty used to being studied that she might as well have been operating during a red alert, she felt so at home.

"Wouldn't miss it."

Taking Samantha's wrap from the hook and handing it to the blonde, Janeway smirked as she turned halfway toward Torres and Fowler, who was approaching the desk, "Then maybe I'll run you another tab if you're lucky." Opening the door as B'Elanna just grinned at her, Kathryn said, pulling her purse from under her arm and holding it at her waist, "Sergeant Fowler, I'm sure I'll see you there," and when she ushered Samantha through, she finished before she closed the door, "Good day, gentlemen."

"Damn," Fowler said under her breath as she sat on the edge of B'Elanna's desk, remarking to herself about the intensity behind the smoldering and rather wicked smirk Janeway had shot Torres just before she closed the door and winked. Looking over to the Klingon, who had the smuggest look Nicole had ever seen on her best friend's face, and she'd seen a few, Fowler scratched the back of her neck as she asked once the 'females' were out of ear shot, "Girl, what did you do to that woman?" Not giving Torres a chance to answer while the chief puffed on her cigarette, the commander added, "I mean damn…hot damn, T. Did you see the hitch in that get-a-long?" and continued in her mind, but didn't feel she should say aloud, "Talk about double-jointed hips…damn, Kate."

"I paid my tab," B'Elanna grinned as she was kicked back. Then popping forward and putting out her cigarette without event this time, Torres added, "By the way…Sam…ouch…like I said," she patted Fowler's shoulder, "nice catch, Nikki."

Snapping her head over to the engineer as she picked up the glasses and took them over to the cabinet, Fowler was just about to tell her not to call her that since Samantha was the only person who had ever called her that, and only did so during sex—although she didn't plan on giving up that sensitive information—when it hit her what that meant. Sighing, Nicole said, "Shit," and then cussed out Seven of Nine in her mind, next wiped her nose and finally chuckled as Torres said, "Gutsy, hot rod…not bad for a human."

Standing up, Nicole said as she took out her billy club and whirled it around while she paraded around the office and admired the decoration, "What can I say, sister…while you were payin' your tab, I was takin' time to smell the roses…seemed like the right thing to do…all things considering."

"No shit…like I said…ouch," Torres came back while she returned to her desk. "So, what's up?"

Turning around, Fowler admitted plainly, "I haven't the foggiest idea what the fuck I'm supposed to be doing."

"Didn't you read the stuff I sent you?" asked the holonovel's main character. When Nicole stuck her club back into the loop and groaned slightly, B'Elanna sighed and said as she kicked her feet up, "Alright…I get it," since she knew Fowler was taking it upon herself to pretty much go back to school because she was having some insecurities about returning to the Alpha Quadrant and being drawn back into Starfleet's fold. Torres didn't, in fact no one did, know that Janeway had offered the tall brunette the position as her first officer if the captain was allowed and decided to take another command, but she understood Fowler's reasoning without that knowledge since she realized all the time how difficult Nick had it sometimes of how she was just thrown into the mix and had to do her best just to keep up.

Sitting down in the chair in front of B'Elanna's desk, Fowler kicked her legs out and said quietly, "Don't take it personal, T…it's not that I don't care…"

"Hey, it's cool," B'Elanna came back quickly, but with a certain amount of compassion to her voice, having noticed in the last month that although Nicole was still herself, there were a lot of changes happening in her life, so she hadn't been quite as cheery as she typically was due to stress. Torres knew she put on a good show for Samantha most of the time, and just acted out right silly to help herself keep from becoming pensive since she didn't want Wildman to worry Fowler was regretting anything or more so worried about the scientist's and her daughter's safety when they returned, and B'Elanna totally respected and understood that, so when Nick did let her anxiety show around her, she always felt honored and obligated to assist.

When Fowler looked up at her, B'Elanna lifted her hands and said, "I mean it…this is just for fun, and you can't screw up the story…only I can do that. You can impact it, but the computer will just compensate, only I can end it. Your character is probably least important," she explained without concern Fowler would take offense, "so don't sweat it."

"Okay, thanks," Nicole came back as she wiped her nose and sat up straight. Lifting her leg and resting the ankle on her other knee, the commander went on, "Can you just give me a run down…I skimmed through it earlier, but I'm not sure I get it." Shaking her head, she also admitted, "I've never been much of a fiction reader…and this is my first holonovel."

Not surprised since the only program Nicole ever ran consistently was either flight and command training scenarios, or her now deleted country setting, which had been a completely private program, Torres nodded and said, "Sure." Leaning forward, she pulled open her drawer, snatched up a small cigar and tossed it to Fowler, saying, "Think fast." Then snatching up her cigarettes as the tall brunette nodded and chuckled, cigars being the only thing Nicole had ever tried smoking, and that had been as a teenager, Torres lit her smoke stick and said, "Save that for after…it'll go good with the celebration…hopefully."

Fowler nodded and stuck it into her breast pocket, deciding to indulge her friend since she was kind enough to think of it and not jump down her throat like she knew B'Elanna could for not being adequately prepared to play in a holonovel she knew Torres had worked very hard on, and made last minute changes to so she could accommodate for Fowler and Wildman's presence since Samantha had expressed interest in it. Then kicking her feet out again, slouching down into the chair and crossing her arms, the commander asked, "So, first off…what's Seven's gig?"

Smiling, Torres leaned back and said, "She's a big-time reporter…works for the Chicago Tribune downtown. Viv and I go way back…we usually help each other out. She gives me inside info that isn't published and I give her the scoop when I crack a case. You can't trust her, though. She'll fuck anyone over for a story…especially me. The only time she won't is to save her own ass." After grinning at that and taking a toke off her cigarette, B'Elanna added, "Oh, she hates Kate…I mean hates her…like wants her out off town, and she's always trying to get the dirt on her, and currently, she's using Rose to do that by pretending to be her friend. Basically," she smiled wickedly, "she's a cold-hearted bitch, but successful."

"Why does she hate Kate?"

"Because Kate threw her out of her place one night for bothering a customer," the chief explained. "Viv lost the story because of that. It was a big one, and a rival reporter got it, and got the story that she was tossed out on her ass, which hurt her reputation some. So, ever since then, she's been trying to run her out of town, but she hasn't had any luck getting anything on her…at least as far as I know, but she could be sitting on something…I don't know."

"So," Fowler nodded, "Kate's clean then?"

"Well, sort of," answered B'Elanna. "She's got an interesting way of doing business, but she keeps her nose clean and pays off the right people," pointing Fowler, "so she doesn't have any problems. She's got money, but no one really knows what she does with it because she doesn't really live like it. I mean, she's kind of simple and doesn't go in for the money scene…other than to make it and then do whatever she does with it. Some people think she supports the mob because they support her, but I don't really think that's it."

Holding up her hand, Fowler quirked her mouth and said, "Don't you know?"

Torres shook her head as she explained, "That's the stuff I have to find out to solve my case."

"So, what do you think it is then?"

"Well, I know some of it is to support her underground business where she makes her real money," the chief explained. Pointing at Fowler, she said, "Like how she pays you to keep an eye on her place and make sure her customers can gamble and party without the police getting involved."

Raising her eyebrows, Fowler asked, "Her customers are the mob?" who Fowler only recently learned about after watching a series of movies with Torres, Seven, and Wildman to prepare.

"Most of them…well, the good ones," Torres responded. "She's got a private bar with a secret entrance inside her place. I've never been down there, so I don't know, but that's the word…and my sources are reliable."

"Have I been down there?"

Smiling, B'Elanna said, "I don't know. If you're curious, I suggest you try it tonight." When Fowler chuckled, and nodded, starting to get an understanding of how this went, Torres went on, "But, I don't think she really gives two shits about the mob, and just uses them to make a profit. She's shady and tough, but underneath all that is a really nice woman, I think. I think," B'Elanna smiled, "that she's putting that money away for someone, or for some do-gooder charity. That's how she is. She'll rub elbows with gangsters and pretty much whores out her singer…but for a 'good' cause…although," she added as Fowler's face changed to something very unhappy, "you can't touch…she's got really strict rules. You go for the goods and she'll blow your hand off with the gun she keeps under her bar. She doesn't use bouncers. She just kicks people out and never lets them back in her own way…everyone respects her…well," Torres snickered, "all the guys do. Most of the up-scale women think she's trash and talk shit about her, but they don't come to this side of town often…but she goes to theirs to do her banking and all that stuff." When Nicole continued to look unsettled, Torres laughed and said, "Nick, chill the fuck out already. She's just a lounge singer that brings in the bucks by packing them in every night…including you," she pointed, "so if anyone tries anything, just kick their ass…although," she smiled, "Red's pretty quick on the draw…so she'll probably beat you to it." Holding up her hands, B'Elanna sighed, "It was her idea…I swear it. She read the script and picked out her part. The original Rose was just a hologram. I thought she'd go for the police captain's secretary, but she said she wanted to play with Red."

Scratching the back of her neck, Fowler leaned forward and asked, "She knows all this stuff, right?"

"Yes," Torres nodded, relaxing, understanding that Fowler just couldn't help herself, even when there was nothing to worry about. "Don't worry. I promise, it's not that kind of story. She's Kate's property, so to speak…everyone knows that…everyone respects that. They just come to watch the show and admired the scenery…that's all."

"Okay," Fowler sighed, "sorry…" When B'Elanna told her it was fine, the commander sat back again and asked, "Alright, so…what's my deal? Why do I care so much about whether Kate gets busted or not?"

"Because she pays you well, for one," Torres said, putting out her cigarette, and leaning forward on her forearms. "And two, and probably most importantly, because you're in love with Rose, and know if you ever want to get an actual date with her, you've got to be on Kate's good side. Rose doesn't date anyone…ever…especially not customers because that'll ruin the illusion that she's in love with all of the men that droll over her. Think of Kate as her mother, basically."

Chuckling and shaking her head, Fowler said, "Sounds more like a madam, if you read me."

"Yea, that's what the all the women up town call her. She's the madam and Rose is the whore, but it's not true. Kate's really protective of her…even though she uses her like an asset and basically treats her like property…which," Torres smirked, "I think will be important to find out why exactly, and why Rose puts up with that…especially since she's not allowed to go out unescorted."

"Who escorts her?"

"You do, hot rod," Torres smirked. "She goes out every day five hours before her performance and either shops for new clothes, gets her hair done, or goes to Lake Michigan and walks on the beach." Smiling more as Nick chuckled, B'Elanna said, "So, you see her every day, and never miss her final number. I think she's falling in love with you and wants to break away from Kate, but that's not really my angle here, but it could become a factor."

"What's your story?"

"I used to be a police reporter in New York," the chief began to explain, sitting back again and kicking up her feet, "but I got the axe and ended up out here eight years ago…got my P.I. license shortly thereafter and have been working the town ever since. I've never been married, but I've done a lot of time…if you read me." When Fowler chuckled and shook her head, Torres smiled and said, "My new client will be here pretty soon for an up front interview. His old man was a medical doctor and just took a header off the top of the hospital last week…and the cops said it was suicide, but," Torres reached for her cigarettes again, planning to smoke like crazy, just because she could, "my client doesn't think so. He was happily married for nearly forty years, had a successful career, a good savings set up, and a son, whose wife is expecting. But," she paused to light her smoke, "and I can tell you this because you know since you found the old man on the street, there was a suicide note in his pocket, and it looks like his handwriting. There's also a witness that saw him up on the roof the day before looking around…all by himself."

"What was he doing?" asked Fowler.

"No one knows," Torres answered. "The witness says he was just pacing back and forth…looked nervous or upset about something and then went back inside. The cops have closed the case because there's no evidence that it was a homicide, but my client is apparently all torn up about it and doesn't believe it. I think," she took a hit then blew it out, "that he doesn't care so much about that as he cares about the insurance money. His old man had a good nest egg, but nothing as much as his insurance policy will pay, but," she winked, clicking her tongue, "they don't pay for suicide." After a moment of contemplation, she went on, "Just by knowing the story and knowing I have to look into Kate's business, I know that the mob is probably somehow involved, but I don't know how yet. I let the computer make it up…and," she grinned, "you don't give two shits because you essentially protect them so you can have your whirlwind romance and bankroll your big plan to steal away Rose one of these days…that's if she really loves you. I don't know…you'll have to find that out, but just so you know," she finished, "if you take time to smell the roses again and Kate finds out…it could be trouble. I'd follow Rose's lead…she's a little more integral to the story."

"So, what's the story with you and Kate then?"

"It's kind of the same with Viv, but Kate doesn't fuck me over like Viv…although Viv and I get it on sometimes, rarely, but it's just sex and we just don't trust each other. Kate would turn on me," Torres shrugged, "if I got in her way of whatever it is that her mission is, which seems to be the only thing she's really true to, but I don't…so we're cool. She feeds me, gives me the word on the street when I ask, and in return I find out things for her from time to time and," she grinned, "I pay my tab the old-fashioned way since she isn't the marrying kind, so she says…and since she's always doing business, she doesn't get out much…and pretty much everyone knows not to treat her like anything other than the boss in her place. So, no one really gets her…although everyone flirts and asks why she doesn't let them take her out, but if they go too far, they're out for good, and since her place is the best place this side of town and she's really generous because she's got the side gig to compensate, people comply. She only let Viv back in because of Rose." After a moment as Fowler nodded and said she was following, B'Elanna went on, "From my point of view, it's a perfect set up…a roll in the hay once a week with a classy, slightly older woman, no strings attached, which is what my character is all about…no strings. I'm a forever, down on my luck bachelor…and that's how I plan to stay because I don't get along with most women outside the bedroom…except for Viv and Kate, but Kate's really the only woman I love…in my own strange loveless way. I care more about her than anyone, I guess." Shaking her head after blowing out the smoke from her lungs, B'Elanna explained, "I can't really speak from her point of view…I only read some of your point of view information because I figured you'd need it." When Fowler flipped her off, Torres smiled and finished, "I'm not sure what she's doing with me…if it's just pity and a good lay, or if she really has feelings for me…I don't know, but," she smirked, "you heard her…she likes the arrangement."

Smirking right back at her best friend, the commander said, "I don't think she was acting, T…tab or not…she was into that ride."

"What…how do you know that?" Torres asked hurriedly, furrowing her brow.

"Know what?" questioned Nick, uncertain, then added, sitting up and pointing with her thumb over her shoulder, "Girl, don't tell me you actually think she was just acting…you see that walk? I mean damn…hot damn, sister," Fowler laughed sitting back again.

Sitting forward, really impressed, B'Elanna said, "Jesus, Nick…you can really tell that much from her walk?"

Confused, Fowler quirked the side of her mouth and said, "Okay, now you're scarin' me. You know she's crazy about you…right? I mean," she smiled, "the woman's got it in a bad way for you, fool."

B'Elanna shook her head and said, "Fowler, what the fuck are you talking about?"

"Torres, don't play me…I ain't in the mood…"

Glancing around out of habit, B'Elanna leaned forward more and whispered, "It really shows that much?"

"That she loves you? Hello..."

B'Elanna rolled her eyes and snapped, "No, idiot…that she was riding me?"

Bursting out in rowdy laughter and slapping her leg, Nicole finally caught on and explained as Torres pushed her feet and demanded to know just "What the fuck" was so funny, "No, T…relax. It doesn't show in the walk…although it explains the hitch and the look more," she smirked, sitting back, still chuckling and shaking her head. When B'Elanna sat down in a huff, but still seemed unsettled because she didn't understand, Fowler cleared her throat, pointed to the bedroom door and informed, "I heard that racket the two of you were makin', but honestly," she smiled and wiped her nose, "I thought it was you who was goin' to town…so to speak." Shaking her head as Torres sighed in frustration at herself, Nicole added, "I'm sorry…I didn't mean an actual…ride," then started cracking up again, although she really wasn't all that surprised because what she remembered from 'her' encounter with the redhead a month ago, she'd certainly been 'excitable.'

"Shit," Torres muttered, embarrassed, which never was a welcomed emotion. Sitting back and snatching up her cigarettes again, B'Elanna said, trying to play it off as Nicole wiped her teary eyes and shook her head, still chuckling, "Well, I don't call her cowgirl for nothing." As Fowler burst out laughing again and begged Torres to stop while she was ahead and that she was killing her, B'Elanna spat, "Nick, get the fuck outta my office already!" Then standing and pointing with her unlit cigarette, she said, "And if you say one word to anyone about this…I swear to Kahless, I'll kill you."

Chuckling and covering her mouth, wiping her eyes again, Nicole nodded and managed, "You have my word…I promise, I'll never say anything." Then standing, she leaned forward on the desk and asked, surprised since she'd never heard B'Elanna say so, "She really lets you call her cowgirl?"

B'Elanna sat back down and said, smug, lighting her cigarette, "That's right, hot rod…like you said," she grinned, "she's into me."

"There ain't no doubtin' that, my sister," Fowler came back as she turned and started away. Then stopping by the door, she asked over her shoulder, before she faced the Klingon again, "Where am I supposed to go anyway?"

"To the precinct. It's on the corner of 91^st and Jane Way…just go inside and play along…the characters will all introduce themselves and tell you what to do...just pay attention."

Nodding, Nicole said, "Right," then pulled out her club, pointed to Torres and said before she left, "And by the way," smiling and tipping up her hat, "about the racket and the ride…damn, T…I mean hot damn." And as she walked down the hallway swinging her club, Nicole crowed in her traditional cattle-driving, rattling voice, "Yeeeeehaaaawwww!" just to tease her best friend and show B'Elanna that she was also impressed.

"It's open," Torres said as she kicked her feet down, grabbed her whiskey glass and set in on the floor under her desk. Then standing up and stubbing out her cigarette as a fairly tall, middle-aged Caucasian man with brown hair and a mustache entered her office, B'Elanna said, "Mister Kennedy, I presume…you can throw your jacket on the hook," pointing to the coat rack near the door.

"Thank you, Detective," said Richard Kennedy.

Coming around the desk as Kennedy hung up his black trench coat and brown Fedora, revealing a nicely tailored brown suit, the chief extended her hand once he was finished and said, "Call me Murphy…why don't you have a seat." As Kennedy nodded and started for her desk, B'Elanna asked, "Can I get you a drink?"

"I'll pass," Richard answered. "I've got to meet my wife afterwards for a late lunch."

Nodding, B'Elanna went over to her main file cabinet, opened and asked as she thumbed through and located Kennedy's file, "How is she…your wife?" When Kennedy didn't say anything, Torres looked over her shoulder and added, "The baby…everything okay?"

Furrowing his brow, Kennedy asked, "How did you know about that?"

Smirking and turning back to her file cabinet, she said as she pulled out the file and slid closed the drawer, "I'm a detective, Mac…it's my job." Not looking at Richard as she went over to the desk and thumbed through the file, Torres asked when he didn't say anything, "Everything okay…you seem tense?" Then closing the file up and looking him square in the eye, trying to size him up, B'Elanna remarked, "You sure you don't wanna drink?"

Kennedy sighed and said, "I'm sorry, all of this just," shaking his head, "I just don't know how I feel about it."

"Understandable," Torres came back and sat down. Opening her drawer and pulling out her small notebook, she rifled around for a pen, mumbling, "Where the fuck's my pen." Then looking up as Kennedy raised his eyebrows, she said, "Sorry…it's been a day." Resisting the urge to slam her drawer since it wouldn't do her any good if she didn't get this case, Torres closed it and asked, "You got one?"

Nodding, Kennedy reached into his jacket pocket, pulled it out and queried while he handed it over, "How long is this going to take?"

B'Elanna took the pen and responded as she used both hands and carefully positioned the device into her right hand, "Shouldn't be too long." Then noticing that the pen had writing on it that read 'European Folklore Exhibit Opening: Natural History Museum 8:00pm, April 29, 1955' Torres looked over at her files and asked, seemingly absent, "Are you in a hurry to meet your wife?" as she double-checked that date, which was the date his father had allegedly thrown himself off the hospital. Time of death had occurred around 10:00pm that evening according to the coroner, and his son had a rock solid alibi: he was home with his lovely wife on the other side of town. B'Elanna knew that ordinarily she wouldn't make too much of the coincidence since she figured the pens were distributed all over town to promote the event, but since this was a holonovel, and she swore to herself that she'd requested the computer make a desk with all the necessities, including a pen, she figured that meant it was important.

"No," Richard came back. "I'm just not sure this is necessary anymore." When B'Elanna looked up at him, he sighed and said, holding up his hands, "My family's taking this really hard, Becky's expecting…and I'm just worried about the extra stress on them. I think maybe I should just let it go…I mean," he shrugged, "why would the police close the case if they weren't sure? The note was in his handwriting."

"Mind if I smoke?" asked Torres as she snatched up her cigarettes and reached into her pocket for her lighter, subtly slipping the pen inside and grabbing the softpack of smokes, hoping he'd forget about it. When he shook his head negatively, B'Elanna lit up, offered him one, which he took and said as she kicked her feet up, having a feeling he was going to back out, and that was part of the plot, which meant she'd be working the case on her own curiosity, and without any money…as usual, "Have you ever worked in Homicide, Mister Kennedy?"

"No," Kennedy shook his head defensively.

"Well, I have," Torres came back, lying, "and it's a busy job…the extinction of mankind…so," she puffed, then added as she blew out the smoke, "any time a case seems cut and dry, they close it as fast as they can, so they can work on trying to find out who whacked some broad down by the docks." When Kennedy shifted uncomfortably at that, B'Elanna went on, "Yes, the note was in his handwriting, but he also had a bruise on his left temple. According to the coroner's report," she flipped the piece of paper over to her client, "he landed with his face turned to the right." When Richard looked up at him like he didn't know what significance that was, the chief asked, "If someone was pointing a gun to your head, would you write a note? Most people, Mac," B'Elanna sat up and leaned on her forearms, "would do just about anything if they had a gun pointed to their head."

Handing Torres back the report, Richard asked, "Then why haven't the police looked into that?"

"Because he could have gotten that bruise a hundred other ways…and nothing really suggests anything different," Torres answered, partially telling the truth, but not explaining everything as far as maybe there was someone on the force that didn't want the case reopened. Then sitting back again and crossing her legs, B'Elanna asked, "Why have you suddenly changed your mind? If you don't mind me asking…I mean," she smiled, "I have put some hours into this, and I only take one case at time…so, I think you owe me at least that much. I just turned down a client this morning, in fact." Another lie.

Kennedy sighed, took a hit off of his cigarette and said, "It's my mother. I'm afraid," he shook his head, "that if she finds out about this, which she will if it's true, she'll think poorly of me…Becky too."

"I thought your wife knew about this?"

"No," Kennedy shook his head. "No, I haven't told anyone."

"Then why are they taking this so hard?"

Angered, Kennedy looked up and said, "Because my father is dead, Detective Murphy…why do you think?"

Believing him, B'Elanna sat forward after a beat and asked, "Don't you think your mother deserves to know that someone killed her husband rather than letting her think he one day decided to throw his life away and leave her alone by jumping off a five-story building?"

Kennedy put out his cigarette quickly and said, standing, "I can decide what's best for my mother, and she'll do better, not to mention feel safer the quicker all of this just goes away, Detective…all of us will, and I just want him to rest in peace. My parents are from a different era, and my father handled all of the business. She's just an old housewife…all she knows about the mob is that Al Capone was a crook…and that's how I'd like to keep it. Thank you for your assistance, but I won't be requiring your services." Turning and starting away, he added while Torres just let him talk since he was giving her plenty of information just rattling away nervously, "You seem like an okay fellow, so I'll be sure to pass your name along if I hear about anyone looking for a private investigator. I'm sorry if I've put you out…I hope the retainer I wired to you before will help compensate until your next case comes along. Good day, Murphy."

"See ya, Dick," Torres muttered as Richard left and walked down the hallway to the left. Then sighing as she picked up her glass from the floor and took a sip, B'Elanna pondered the situation, certain that Kennedy wouldn't have requested her services no matter what she said because the program was set up that as soon as she made a critical error that couldn't be overcome, the simulation would end.

In that case, B'Elanna had a back up plan that would run just a simulation of Kate's bar so they all could continue to just get together and have a good time until their pooled holodeck time was over, but that really was the last thing Torres wanted to happen because she knew she probably wouldn't enjoy herself if she didn't manage to at least get close to cracking this case. She was prepared to lose toward the end where she knew it would get really complicated, but she certainly wasn't ready for that to happen so soon…and thankfully, she was the only one who could make such a fatal mistake because all of the other characters, although important, were just secondary.

Setting down her empty glass and getting to her feet, B'Elanna pulled out the pen, twirled it around in her fingers like one of Fowler's drum sticks and contemplated her next move. Then making a decision, she pulled a set off keys from her pocket, opened the locked drawer to her desk, and took out a green, metal box. Opening that with another key, she took out her revolver and stuck it in the back of her pants at the small of her back after checking to make sure it had bullets in it. Closing that up and putting it away, she grabbed her pocket book from the same drawer, then locked everything back up. After snagging off a small piece of tape and holding it carefully between her teeth, and putting away her case file, familiar enough with the info within it that she didn't need to bring it with her since she also had her little notebook that had the most important details written in it, Torres stopped by her coat rack before she left, and put on her trenchcoat, slipping her pocketbook in the inside pocket before she stepped out of her office and locked the door. As a security measure since she knew this wasn't the place to take risks, she looked both ways to make sure no one was spying her, then reached up to the doorframe, having to stand on her tip toes. Sticking the piece of tape into the corner and rubbing it in so that it was invisible, which would let her know if anyone had been in her office while she was away, B'Elanna smirked at her cleverness, having read of that trick in a detective story she'd read as a teenager, then turned and made for the staircase.

Stopping at the lobby where a pretty and petite blonde sat at the desk chewing gum and reading a magazine, Torres tipped her hat up, smiled and said, "Hey, kid."

"Oh, Mister Murphy!" the girl squealed at the same time, startled by the detective. Giggling and holding her hand to her white blouse at her sternum, the receptionist finally smirked at said, clearly flirting, "You must be some detective, Mister Murphy…I didn't see you at all."

Torres smiled in glee, thinking this story was just the coolest thing ever and said, "Sorry, if I scared you, doll," and was about to make her request when the woman leaned forward, showing off her cleavage while doing so, and popped a bubble with her gum, after she asked, "Can I get you something, Mister Murphy?"

Keeping herself from laughing out loud or coming on too strong just for the hell of it, Torres leaned in close to the woman, smiled her crazy grin and whispered as she drew her finger across the woman's chin quickly, "I'll just take my messages for now."

Giggling again and backing away, the blonde turned around and stood while she went to Murphy's box, saying, "You haven't received anything while I've been here…but I'll double check." After opening the small wooden door on the box and looking inside, the receptionist pulled out an envelope and said, turning around, "Here's something…must have come in before my shift." Handing the parcel to the detective, she sat halfway on the desk and turned to her then said, "Was there anything else you needed?" Looking around quickly, she leaned forward more and whispered, "My coffee break's in ten minutes."

Curious since she could never be certain who would give her valuable information as she looked over the purple letter envelope that just said 'Murphy' on it, but felt like it had something fairly heavy inside, B'Elanna stuck it into her pocket as she asked, "Well, what did you have in mind?" When the young woman smiled and then whispered, crossing her legs and purposefully pulling up the hem of her skirt to her mid-thigh, "Did you want to show me your office again?" Torres played it off cool, even if she was rather surprised and said, "I can't this time, kid…I was just on my way out." Although, then thinking about it, she realized she shouldn't be so shocked because she'd chosen an 'adult' storyline, which allowed for shadier characters, and more provocative as well as 'dangerous' scenes.

"Oh, but Mister Murphy," the woman pouted, "it will only take a few minutes…and today's my last day before I go on holiday." Smiling again, she said, "Please…I just love your office…it's so big and impressive," then finished in a whisper, "I'll be quiet this time. I promise."

Indulging herself, unable to help it, Torres leaned forward on the upper counter and asked, "I got knocked on the head the other day…so my memory's not so hot…what happened last time?"

Smirking, the woman leaned forward and said, "Why don't you just let me stimulate your memory by showing you?"

"You make a hell of an argument, doll," B'Elanna said shaking her head, "but in order to keep my big office," she kept herself from chuckling devilishly, thinking being 'the man' definitely had its advantages in these types of stories, especially when they were typically accessed by male heterosexuals, "I have to keep my clients." When the woman sighed and pouted again, sitting down in her chair, Torres smiled as she walked away and said, "Thanks for the offer though…come see me when you get back from your vacation." Checking back over her shoulder as the female smiled at the final offer, popped her gum and picked up her magazine, B'Elanna smiled brightly as she walked out of the door and remarked to herself, "God, I love this town…"

Noticing the tall, slim body of her youngest lover standing on the edge of the sidewalk up the street a ways, raising her hand to her lips and whistling as Nicole Fowler had taught her, and how she'd observed several other people do in order to hail a taxi cab, Torres looked both ways, put her salvaged and beat up black '51 Mercury into gear, gunned the engine as she popped the clutch and zoomed across the intersection, running the red light she was stopped at, and causing several cars to swerve and slam on their breaks. Laughing as she looked into the rearview mirror while the motorists shook their fists at her, some of them calling her by name, Torres put her hand over the seat and quickly changed lanes, cutting off the taxi cab that was starting for Seven of Nine, and stopped near the curb, not doing a terrible job in brining her vehicle to a stop without jarring herself forward. Then reaching across and rolling down the window, Torres smiled as Seven cocked her eyebrow and said, "Hiya, Viv…can I give ya a ride?"

Seven of Nine smirked as she pulled open the door and climbed in, saying, "I was under the impression that you already obtained your ride, Murphy?"

Laughing, Torres said, "Good one," then asked seriously as the door closed and the taxi zoomed past her, honking, which she ignored, "Where are you headed?"

While she looked around the inside of the automobile, having never been in one, and not having known B'Elanna knew how to operate one, Seven answered, "My destination is the Natural History Museum of Chicago."

Putting her car into gear, Torres smiled and said, giving herself a pat on the back in her head since she figured that meant she was on the right trail, "Must be your lucky day, ace…that's where I'm headed." Then pulling out into traffic, lurching forward a couple of times as she continued to get the hang of driving, she allowed, "Sorry…it sticks a little," as Seven placed her hand on the dash and looked over at her, frowning. Once they were in traffic and in third gear, the ride now smoother, B'Elanna asked, "Having fun?"

Finally sitting back and relaxing some, Seven smirked and replied, "I was." Then looking around again, she remarked, "I was not aware that you knew how to operate this device."

"Tom taught me," B'Elanna explained, then made fun of herself, "and operate isn't exact," as they came to another jarring stop and Seven braced herself once more.

"Indeed."

On the move again, B'Elanna asked, reaching into her pocket to pull out her smokes once the traffic was moving freely, "What's the scoop at the museum?"

As B'Elanna lit the cigarette and rolled down the window, Seven rolled her eyes, shaking her head at B'Elanna's continued fascination with smoking, but refrained from saying anything negative since this was only a holoprogram, and the 'cigarettes' couldn't hurt her lover's body, although she knew there was a psychological factor that had to be taken into account. Playing her part well as she had studied and practiced with Torres extensively in the last month, Seven replied, "My destination is merely the 'museum'…there is no 'story.'"

Blowing the smoke from her lungs, Torres put her arm on the back of the seat, rubbed Seven's back, urged her to sit closer and said, driving with one hand, "Yea right…you don't go anywhere unless there's a possible story." When Seven looked over her shoulder and cleared her throat, Torres smiled, withdrew her hand, and said, "So, what's up?" testing as to the extent Seven would stick to her character.

"Your time," Seven returned when she braced herself again as Torres stopped the car at the light. "Perhaps I should walk?"

"What, you think you can do better, doll?" shot back the Klingon. When Seven cocked her eyebrow in her typical 'I am Borg' fashion, Torres huffed and said as they started forward again and prepared to turn right, "No way, ace…you don't know the traffic rules, and the last thing I need is to total my wheels or get a ticket. I don't have enough money to pay for that right now."

"I am not surprised, Murphy," Seven of Nine said as she sat back. "Perhaps if you did not utilize all of your 'money' at Ms. Kate's, you could 'afford' a sufficient vehicle?" When B'Elanna flipped her off, but puckered her lips and blew her a kiss at the same time, Seven smirked, then asked, "How is the 'Kennedy' case proceeding?"

"Who's Kennedy?" asked Torres.

"Richard Kennedy, Junior…his father terminated his own existence fifteen days ago…he is your 'client,'" Seven said cool and arrogant. "'Ring a bell?'"

"I still don't know what you're talking about…I think maybe you need a vacation."

"I saw the individual enter your office this afternoon."

Snapping her head toward Seven, B'Elanna asked, "What the hell are you doing spying on me anyway?"

Seven raised her eyebrows and clipped back, "I do not believe 'spying' includes making note an individual entering your office building while I am consuming nutrition at the 'café' across the 'street.'" Lying efficiently, Seven of Nine added, "I merely recognized him from the report I made on the 'case.'" When Torres smirked at her and nodded her approval for the excuse, Seven bobbed her head back, then asked again, smirking, "How 'the hell' is your 'case' progressing?"

After laughing, Torres said, "Good…good," telling half-truths, understanding now, and appreciating that Seven wasn't planning to get out of character in the least. Since she figured that Fowler and Samantha would probably be the worst offenders of that, and possibly Kathryn as well since she'd spent so little time with them in the last two months, B'Elanna was decidedly grateful the Borg was indulging her fully and doing her part to make this a real 'vacation' from their lives as much as possible. Stopping again and doing so without the abruptness, B'Elanna took a hit off her smoke, then added, trying to get the reporter to open up a little so they could team up while at the museum, since Seven had a press pass, and was a popular woman, so most people would talk to her if she requested it, "I've got a lead at the museum. So, I thought I'd check it out before I go down to the precinct and look into some backgrounds."

Raising her eyebrow as they pulled up into the parking lot of the huge pillared building that was the Natural History Museum of Chicago, Seven of Nine remarked, "It is peculiar that you continue to be without adequate monetary funds when your 'case' is progressing well…especially considering Kennedy is a prominent 'lawyer.'"

Turning off the car, B'Elanna reminded, "They pay after I solve the case, hot shot…and," she added, lying, as she opened the door and stepped out, Seven doing the same on the other side, "the guy's kind of got a lot of other expenses right now…and a baby on the way…so the retainer he wired to me wasn't anything to go to Vegas with." When Seven furrowed her brow, Torres said, "Nevermind…it's not important. What is important," she paused while she dropped her cigarette and put it out with her foot, "is that I need to break this case. So, you wanna double-up on this one or what?"

"What is in it for me?" asked Seven as they started toward the building.

"The usual…could be a hellova story…I mean big, Viv."

"What is the 'angle?" quested the blonde when they reached the long series of stone steps.

Smiling, Torres shook her head and said, "Mmmntmm…not until you get me in to talk to the head curator, and you can't break the story until the day after tomorrow if I find something." When Seven raised her eyebrow, B'Elanna informed, "There's no one else workin' this…so you'll get it first, I guarantee it."

"Very well," Seven replied, "However, I will attend the meeting."

Nodding, B'Elanna said as she put her hands into her pants pocket and opened up her arm, gesturing that Seven should take it, "Deal." When the blonde slipped her arm inside and they started toward the door to the enormous building, Torres smiled to herself, certain Seven would break the story immediately, which was just what she was hoping for.

Torres leaned toward the passenger side window as Seven of Nine got out of the car out in front of the office of the Chicago Tribune and said, "The day after tomorrow, ace…I need some time to do this is discreetly or Kennedy's gonna be all over my ass."

"I will comply," Seven nodded, then shut the door and started to her place of business, nodding at the door man, who tipped his hat and opened it for the paper's most prominent field reporter.

Smiling, certain the Borg had taken the bait, B'Elanna put her car back into gear, checked over her shoulder and started down the street, needing to get some information from her source at the police station before the story broke that it was possible Doctor Richard Kennedy, Senior didn't jump off the hospital unassisted…or at least, without good motivation to end his life through coercion, rather than severe depression or lunacy.

During her meeting with the head curator at the museum, B'Elanna and Seven had found out that Richard Kennedy, Junior had been at the Exhibit's opening gala…and furthermore, he'd been a special guest of one of the museum's historians, who was a rather beautiful woman, named Doctor Elsa Synder, an Austrian with attitude as long as her legs, who was working in the States as a guest of the museum's European Folklore Exhibit since there was a lot of interest in the area currently since World War II was still a strong memory in most people's minds, even ten years later.

After interviewing Doctor Synder, who'd immediately given Seven the cold shoulder, most likely because she felt she was being given some serious competition in the 'blonde bombshell' department, they'd found out that she'd met Richard on a train ride from New York to Chicago, and ever since then, which was nine months ago, they'd kept in communication and developed a nice friendship. Torres didn't ask the obvious question since the lovely doctor had mentioned his wife by name, and she didn't want to tip her hand in case something sinister was going on there. When Elsa had asked as to the purpose of the questions, B'Elanna had lied expertly and said she was just doing follow up work for the police department as a side job. Since she had a detective's license, it wasn't unheard of, and she figured as long as she didn't come off as too antsy for answers, there wouldn't be a problem. B'Elanna made sure to ask about her work and pretend to be interested, which she believed had been convincing since the good doctor had taken her on a short tour of the exhibit.

The only thing that really made her suspicious was that Kennedy had never said anything about the gala, and even though Elsa had said he'd left around 9:00pm to go home to his wife, which she'd said she'd expected, and was actually surprised he had attended since his wife, Becky was having a great deal of sickness due to her first pregnancy, B'Elanna found it funny that he never said anything about that. The police hadn't questioned him on his alibi because they never considered him or anyone a suspect, but when Murphy—according to the story—had asked him over the phone during their first interview where he'd been, all he'd said was that he'd been at home with his wife because she wasn't feeling well.

Pulling up in front of the police station and doing her best to parallel-park, B'Elanna turned off her motor and reached into her inner pocket to pull out the envelope she'd received, in which she found a key, and a note, knowing the item was significant because it read:

She had no idea as to who would know she was working this case, or who would tip her off in such a manner, but she hoped that if she figured out just what was significant about the key she was given, and just what it opened, she'd figure out who was her mysterious source, who apparently, from the background the computer had worked up on her, helped her out quite a lot, and always in a similar fashion. Then getting out of her car and tucking the letter and envelope into her pocket, she climbed the stairs and entered the police station.

"Goddammit, Murph!" said a cranky, loud male voice from the side where the main desk was in the bustling police lobby. As Torres turned her head and tensed on instinct, the cop said, "How many times do I hafta tell ya…no parking in front of the precinct! Squad cars only!"

Glancing at the officer's badge, B'Elanna sighed and said, "Gimme a break, O'Brien....I couldn't find a spot anywhere else. I just need to talk to the captain…I'll be fast." When the heavy-set and balding man started to turn red as he held a half-eaten donut in his hand, Torres looked at him, smiled and said, "Have you lost weight, Mac?" When the guy stuttered and looked down at himself, Torres turned and added, using her skills as an ex-Maquis for all they were worth to breeze past and roll with the punches, so to speak, "Lookin' hunky, my friend…I'll put a good word in for ya with Richardson."

Torres checked the floor display quickly as she passed to see on what floor Captain Richardson's office was, then trotted up to the fourth floor. Turning the corner and noticing immediately the tall, formidable and familiar form of her best friend at the other end of the hall, B'Elanna snuck back behind the corner for a moment, wanting to observe Nick in action before she was spotted, curious as to if Fowler would lose her smoothness when she was pretending to be someone else. When she heard some commotion, a gasp and then a subtle giggle, that was definitely not Fowler's rowdy laugh, and most certainly belonged to that of a female, B'Elanna snickered to herself, then reached into one of her many coat pockets.

Pulling out a mirror, she held it out around the corner so she could see, and smiled as Fowler bent down and picked up a stack of papers that it looked like the woman had dropped, probably from running into the 'giant' or the other way around. As Nicole apologized sincerely and took all the blame while the redhead—who was the secretary Torres had expected Samantha to pick as her character—just knelt down with her and laughed, telling her not to worry about it, B'Elanna shook her head and mumbled, "Fowler, you're such a sucker sometimes..."

Smiling more as they both stood up, Torres covered her hand over her mouth to keep from laughing out loud as the woman held her papers to her chest, pushed up her glasses and said, "Thank you for catching me, Sergeant…I'm terribly sorry. I didn't hurt you, did I?" smiling up at the tall commander, clearly charmed.

Fowler smiled right back, shaking her head and said, "Not at all, Miss," as she clasped her hands behind her back.

"Well," the woman said after a moment, "um…thank you again, Sergeant Fowler. Um," she giggled slightly, starting to walk away, but backwards toward Torres' position, "well, I better get these to the captain. I'll see you around?"

"If I'm fortunate," Nick came back, which caused Torres to roll her eyes as she watched, loving every moment of her voyeurism.

Torres watched for a beat longer as the woman sighed blissfully, then turned around and scurried away, glancing over her shoulder once, passing B'Elanna by the stairwell opening without even seeing her. She was able to catch Fowler tip her hat at the woman, watch her walk away for a beat, shaking her head and smiling before she had to pull the mirror away and press herself against the wall so the assistant didn't notice her while she passed. Once the redhead had disappeared around the other corner, B'Elanna poked her head around to make sure Nicole wasn't around to spy her, since she wasn't ready yet to talk to Fowler and she didn't want to break her friend's stride since it seemed she was playing along fine on her own, then took off in the direction of the redhead, having purposefully programmed the secretary as a redheaded beauty since the character was supposed to have a crush on Fowler, and she figured Nicole would appreciate that. B'Elanna honestly felt it was the least she could do for her friend, who was really only playing along for Samantha's benefit, Torres knew just by knowing Nick. She certainly didn't think there was anything wrong with giving everyone a little eye-candy while they played…just to make things that much more enjoyable, so that's what she'd done...for everyone.

B'Elanna, Seven and Fowler would notice that wherever they went, there was always at least one really attractive woman around, and since Sam typically only liked men, and Janeway didn't have a preference, and they would spend most of their time in Kate's bar, the Klingon was sure to request that each night there be at least one dashing male at the restaurant that they could admire, or possibly interact with if the computer allowed it. Wildman's would most likely be a gentlemen who would just sit and make eyes at her while she sang, but Kathryn's could be any number of people since she was a very important character and probably would have to interact with more people than anyone considering her occupation, which B'Elanna knew Janeway could handle easily since she was an old hat at holonovels, as well as a rather accomplished diplomat.

Coming to an intersection and looking both ways, B'Elanna listened for a moment, then started to the right when she heard the woman's voice answer a ringing phone, saying, "Captain Richardson's office," and then a fairly deep male voice say right after that, "Rachel, if that's Bando again, tell her I said I'm busy, dammit!" before he slammed his office door. Cursing under her breath at that, figuring that meant Seven was already hot on the case and she would need to move fast, Torres knocked on the wall as the secretary sighed and said, "No, Miss Bando, the captain is extremely busy right now…coming down here isn't going to help. Miss Bando, he said no…no, it's not irrelevant…the captain said no…no, Miss Bando, not today. Goodbye."

Sighing, Rachel said, "Detective Murphy," as she started straightening the papers on her desk, trying to put them back in order, "the captain doesn't want to talk to anyone right now…especially you."

Nodding, B'Elanna stepped into the office anyway and said, "Okay, but can you do me a quick favor?" When the office manager sighed and said, "What?" Torres grinned deviously inside, but asked straight-faced, "Can you tell me where Nick's desk is…I forgot?"

"Nick who?" asked Rachel, absently, as she tried to rearrange her papers.

"Fowler…Nick Fowler…he's on this floor, I think."

Looking up quickly and smiling, the redhead asked, "You know Sergeant Fowler?"

"Yeah," B'Elanna bobbed her head. "His beat is right around my office…I thought you knew him?"

Shaking her head quickly, Rachel cleared her throat and said, "No…I mean I know of him, but I don't really know him." Then thinking about that for a moment, she pushed her glasses up and asked, "Why would you think I know him?" Not giving Torres a chance to answer, she smiled and asked, excited, "Has he mentioned me?"

"Unless the captain has another redheaded secretary…yea," B'Elanna lied, "he's mentioned you."

"Really?" Rachel asked, shocked, but clearly giddy. Coming around the desk, she whispered, "What did he say?"

Putting her arm around the redhead, B'Elanna whispered, "Okay, it's like this. If I tell you that, I'm breaking a trust between men…get it?" When Rachel nodded hurriedly, then pushed up her black framed glasses that were decorated with small rhinestones on the pointed edge which gave them a very feline look, Torres went on, having a great time already, "So, Nick's a big man…and a cop…and I don't need him on my bad side. Understand?"

"Of course, Mister Murphy…I won't tell. What did he say?"

"Alright," Torres sighed, "I can see that this means a lot to you, but I need a favor of you first."

"Sure, sure," Rachel came back hurriedly, nodding her head and pushing up her glasses again, "anything…what?"

"I need to talk to the captain right now."

Sighing, Rachel looked over her shoulder, then whispered, "Mister Murphy, he's really cranky today…and now the press is hounding him. He really dislikes that woman reporter…she's been bothering him for weeks now…can't it wait?" When Torres shook her head negatively, the redhead looked over her shoulder again then nodded and said, "Okay, okay…I'll do my best. What did he say about me?"

"Get me in first and then I'll tell you."

After a moment of hesitation, Rachel said, "Okay, wait here." Then looking down at herself, she bunched up the creases in her bright red skirt and adjusted it so it was off center. Finally sighing and whispering, "This better be worth it, Murphy," she unbuttoned the top button of her blouse and pulled it open subtly, before she reached up and made sure small pieces of her tidy bun hand sprung loose, then turned around as B'Elanna looked at her strangely, curious as to what she was thinking, and walked up to the door. Knocking on it as Torres gave her a thumb's up, Rachel opened it and said, "Captain, Sir, I need to speak with you a moment…"

As the captain let her in, B'Elanna stayed out of sight, but tip-toed over to the edge of the door and listened in, not bothering with her mirror routine this time since if the cranky captain caught her spying on him, he'd probably do more than throw her out of the precinct.

"What is it, Rachel?" asked the nearly all grey-haired captain as he looked up from his paperwork, hunched over his desk. When his devoted secretary of five years didn't say anything right away and just came over to the front of the desk, the captain asked, frowning, which caused the long scar on his cheek to deepen, noticing she didn't look nearly as put together as she typically did, "Something wrong, dear?" Although he was rugged and weathered, he wasn't unattractive, especially since his tanned skin offset his lighter, short and slightly spiky hair, and he was nicely dressed as well as handsomely built. He wasn't currently wearing his suit coat, so the shoulder harness for his gun, which was present was clearly visible over his light blue shirt, that was offset with a navy tie and matching trousers.

Gesturing that the captain should move closer, Rachel leaned over in front of him and whispered, "Sir, I'm terribly sorry to do this to you, but I'm not feeling well." Grabbing her shirt and flapping the front in a make believe effort to cool herself, she sighed and said, sounding dreadfully uncomfortable, "I keep getting dizzy…it's so warm in here right now." Bringing the back of her other hand to her forehead, she informed, "I feel like I'm going to faint."

The captain stood at that, clearly concerned and said, whispering, grabbing her hand that was fanning her shirt and displaying her bosom far too much for his liking, and stopping her from continuing her movement, "Honey, don't show yourself to the world…it's not proper for a lady." Then bringing his hand to her forehead, he said louder, "You feel a little warm…why don't you sit down and I'll get you some ice water…do you want the window open?"

"Oh, no thank you, Captain," Rachel came back quickly, grabbing his hand and taking it in hers. Patting it affectionately, she smiled a fake painful grin and said, "I think I just need to get outside for a few minutes…it's such a nice day, I'm sure it'll help. I'm just feeling at little stir crazy. I dropped all my papers," she sighed, shaking her head, then let go of his hand and started fretting, "and everything's just a dreadful mess…and I worked so hard on making it nice…and I know you're terribly busy, but," fanning her shirt again, "I just feel awful, Captain…I'm terribly sorry."

Coming around to the front of his desk and putting his arm around his assistant, sitting on the edge since he was quite a bit taller than she, the captain said, "It's quite alright, Rachel. Go ahead and take a walk if you think it will help, and don't worry about the papers," he smiled and rubbed her back, "it'll be a while before I can get to them anyway. You just relax…you've just been working too hard. You need to keep up your strength…maybe have something to eat if you don't think it will upset you more."

Rachel sighed and said, nodding, "That's a good idea…I think maybe I forgot to eat lunch today."

Chuckling and rubbing her back, the captain said, "Why don't you just take the rest of the day off and enjoy the sunshine…maybe get a little sun? You're awfully pale this year," then reached in front and adjusted her shirt do it wasn't hanging open as much.

"Oh no, I couldn't do that, Sir," Rachel said quickly, not wanting to lose the hours on her paycheck. "I just need a few minutes..."

Leaning over and whispering, he said, "Go on ahead…don't worry, I can take care of everything. And," she smiled as Rachel began to protest, "don't worry about your time card, I'll punch out for you before I leave." Sincerely, the captain added as the secretary looked shocked, "I'm sorry if I've been pushing you too hard, dear…so let me make it up to you. You know," he rubbed her cheek affectionately in a fatherly manner since he was rather fond of his assistant and thought of her as like a daughter considering he'd never married, nor had any children, "I don't like seeing you like this. It's not good for a young lady…you've got to take care of yourself."

Thrilled to being getting a half day off with pay, Rachel kept up her act well, but planned to leave as soon as possible and said, sighing and wiping her forehead with the back of her hand, "Okay, Captain…thank you." Then smiling over at him, she leaned forward, kissed his cheek and said, "I don't know what I would do without you, Sir."

Chuckling and nodding, Richardson patted her back and said, "Just go on and enjoy the sunshine, and I'll see you tomorrow."

"Okay," Rachel nodded and started for the door, then reported, speaking with more attitude since she knew the captain didn't like Vivian, "Oh, and I told that Bando woman not to call or come down today." Then grabbing the door and pulling it closed, she said, "I'll just leave a note on the door so people know you're in and that they should knock."

"Not bad," Torres whispered, impressed and forgetting she was speaking to a hologram that wasn't really 'acting' as Rachel stepped out and closed the door, then smiled at her.

"Thanks," Rachel came back as she went over to her desk and wrote out a note, explaining, whispering, "He's in a good mood now that he feels he's taking care of me…so if you just go in there in a few minutes, he probably won't throw you out." After tapping the note to the door and grabbing her bag, she pulled B'Elanna out of the front office into the hallway, looked around then said, fixing her shirt and skirt to a less haphazard appearance, no doubt in case Fowler came walking by, "Okay, Murphy…what did he say? I want to know every word."

"He said…and I quote," Torres smiled, recalling something she'd heard Nick say to Sam a week or so ago, "that you're the finest woman to ever grace these halls…and," she went on plainly as Rachel's face lit up, "if things don't work out with Rose, you'd be the first girl he'd look at."

Frowning quickly, Rachel snipped, "Rose who?"

"Rose McEntyre."

"You mean that tramp," Rachel said in a raspy, agitated whisper, "the nightclub singer!" When Torres nodded and smiled, the redhead huffed and said, shaking her head and fretting again, "Oh, I can't believe this…of all the women he could have, he picks that trollop." Scoffing again and placing her hands on her hips, Rachel spat, "What's he see in her anyway…other than the obvious," pointing at her own chest, "everyone knows she's a whore?" Before B'Elanna could answer, Rachel shook her head and sighed, her demeanor suddenly softening, "That's so sad…no wonder he's so soft spoken. He must just think he doesn't deserve any better than that trash." Then turning to Torres, who was raising her eyebrows in surprise, Rachel put her hands on the brunette's shoulders, smiled and said, "Well, I'll just have to fix that…Thanks, Murphy…maybe you're not really as bad as the captain says you are."

As Rachel turned and started away, B'Elanna shook her head and said, "Uh, Rachel…wait…what are you going to fix?"

Stopping at the corner and smiling, Rachel pushed up her glasses and informed, "I'm just going to show him that he's much too good for trash…bye, bye…"

"Oh shit," B'Elanna sighed, as she looked down and rubbed her forehead, since that wasn't the response she was expecting, and figured that meant that Fowler was now going to have to put up with Miss Rachel popping up all over the place. Then thinking about that for a minute, B'Elanna finally smirked, then chuckled to herself, now decidedly unhappy Nicole wasn't her partner since she figured it might be rather fun to watch Fowler try to fend off the younger woman's advances. Next shaking her head and putting that behind her, reminding herself she didn't have time to worry about what had already been done and figuring she hadn't royally screwed something up because the simulation was still going, B'Elanna walked back into the captain's office.

Knocking on the door as she opened it, smiling, Torres said, "Hey, Cap'n…got a minute?" and kept right on going into his office. Closing the door behind her as the captain looked up, sighed and said, "No, Murph…now get the hell out," B'Elanna ignored him, pulled out her cigarettes and said, "I saw Rachel in the hallway…she didn't look so hot. She okay?"

Richardson sighed as he stood and went over to the window to open it since he didn't like smoking, and said, "She'll be fine…just needs to stop workin' herself into a fit." The captain sighed and shook his head as he pulled opened the window, looked down at the street and watched Rachel cross it then stop and look into the window of a dress shop, "She's a hell of an assistant that I'd hate to lose, but hell if know why that sweet girl keeps on here." Looking over his shoulder at Torres, who was sitting down in front of the desk, he said, "There's been a lot of bad news happening lately…the whole towns goin' to hell in the hand-basket…world's not far behind it, but I guess," the captain said as he came back to his desk, "that you know that since you're leadin' the pack."

Smiling crookedly, Torres blew the smoke from her lungs and said, "You're getting cynical and soft in your old age, Captain…this town's better than ever."

"What the hell do you want this time, Murphy?"

B'Elanna scooted her chair forward so she could reach the ashtray the captain set out for her before he sat at his desk and kicked his feet up, asking, "Whatda know about Richard Kennedy?"

"He's dead…I thought you read the paper…"

"Junior, Kennedy's son," Torres came back. "What's his story?"

Taking a deep breath, the captain questioned, "What's in it for me?" Pointing to the window, he reminded, "My secretary's gone for the day, so that means I'm busy…and ain't got free time for twenty questions…you read me?"

Not figuring the captain was asking for a bribe, per se, Torres took a hit off her smoke and said, "Alright, deal…what is it you want?"

"Well, you can start by tellin' that leggy, blonde, reporter friend you've got to stop callin' my damn office even five flippin' minutes."

B'Elanna smiled in pride for Seven while she explained, "Sorry, Captain…she doesn't listen to me. But," Torres raised her eyebrows and sat forward, "what if I tell you that I've got a lead on the Kennedy case that just might be the biggest story this town's seen in years." Pointing at him quickly with her cigarette hand as she sat back, she finished, "You let me do the footwork and get some good press, and I'll make sure you get the collar."

"Murphy," the captain started, "Kennedy was a crazy, old loon, who launched himself off a five-story building…there ain't no collar to get, and I ain't got time for your conspiracy theories. Some of us have real cases to solve. Now," he kicked his feet down, picked up his pen, turned back to his work, and finished, "if that's all, don't let the door hit ya on the way out."

"Five minutes, Richardson," B'Elanna replied seriously. "Just give me five minutes. If you still think there's nothing to look into, then I'll leave."

"No, you'll leave when I tell you," Richardson said sternly, looking up from his work. "I might be old as Moses in your eyes, but I can still kick your scrawny butt and toss you in a cell to stew for the night."

Sighing and putting out her cigarette, Torres said, "Alright, don't get your panties in a twist…I'm leaving," as she thought quickly as to what to use to persuade him. Then starting toward the door, she smiled to herself and remarked as she started to turn around toward him, reaching for the handle, "Give my regards to Rachel…and tell her I'll come by and see her soon."

"Mike," the captain stood up at that, "now I'm only gonna tell you this once, so you listen up. I will make it my personal quest to run your two-timin' ass outta this town if I hear anything about you botherin' her."

B'Elanna held up her hands and said, "Would you relax already…Christ, I'm not interested in Rachel. You know me, Captain," Torres smiled impishly, "I don't like the marrying kind…besides," she smirked as she leaned up against the door and crossed her arms, "I've already got more women than I can handle."

Sitting back down, the captain said, "So long as we're clear…you just stay away from her, and while you're at it," the captain added, leaning back, "why don't you just stay away from me because I am really tired of seeing your sorry butt."

"Just tell Rachel that I talked to Nick, and," Torres gambled and turned to leave, grabbing the door again and opening it, "he says that she's a real doll."

"Hold up," the captain came back, "Nick who?"

Over her shoulder, Torres said, "Don't worry…she'll understand."

"Murphy, don't test me," Richardson said as he stood up and started for the door while Torres slowly walked away. "Nick who?"

Turning around, B'Elanna smiled and said, "Quid pro quo, Captain." When he said, "Quid pro what?" Torres sighed and reiterated, "This for that…you help me, I'll help you." Then before the much larger man could either throw her against the wall or say anything, Torres asked, "Why do you care so much anyway…she's just a secretary?"

"Alright, Murphy," the captain said, turning and going back into his office. "You've got five minutes, but first…you tell me who this Nick fellow is."

Chuckling and shutting the door, Torres said, "Captain, I know you think I've got shit for brains, but I'm not that stupid. I go first and then I tell you who Rachel's in love with."

The captain sat down, and said, "No, you'll tell me who this Nick is first since you can't get that Bando woman to stop botherin' me."

"Fine," Torres gave in, figuring the captain was a man of his word. "Sergeant Nick Fowler…his beat's in my neighborhood."

Sighing, the captain shook his head and said, "Of all the people in this city…damn."

"What?" B'Elanna came back, curious if the captain new something about Fowler that no one was supposed to know…or something that maybe even she didn't know. "Nick's a good guy…isn't he?"

Richardson looked up and said, "Murphy, let me tell you something about police work…real police work." Leaning forward on his desk, the captain said, "It ain't like bein' a P.I…especially when you walk the beat, and especially in your side of town. And that ain't no kinda life for a girl like Rachel." He sat back again, crossed his arm and kicked up his feet, finishing, "Why do you think I never married…because I'm not gonna put no woman of mine through that shit…waitin' up all night just to find out if I made it back to the station alive. Beat cops are mean ambrés…they see all the dirty business that makes up this god-forsaken town…and they see it up close and personal."

Nodding, Torres said, "Okay, yea…so, do you want me to tell him to lay off?" not pushing for more for fear if she did the captain might get suspicious and look into Fowler's 'work' a little more.

"No," responded the captain, "I'll do it."

Jumping in quickly before she forced poor Nick to get a lecture from an over-protective boss, who felt as though his sweet secretary was his to watch over, Torres said, "He's a friend of mine…I'll talk to him."

"Murphy," the captain barked, "I said I'll talk to the boy…now say what's on your mind?"

"Alright, alright," Torres replied, holding up her hands. Then reaching into her pocket, she pulled out the key she was given, flipped it to the captain and said, "That was given to me today…or at least I picked it up today." Before the older man asked, B'Elanna explained, "I don't know who it's from…they're just a source, but a damn good one. Every time I've gotten a lead from them, they've been right on."

The captain tossed the key back and said, "Looks like an old store room key to me…go on."

Pulling out her notepad and pen, B'Elanna said as she wrote that down and then flipped through her notes, "After Kennedy…the dad…ate the pavement, Junior called me…three days after, the day you all closed the case. He said he didn't believe that it was suicide and wanted me to look into it." Shaking her head, Torres said, "He didn't have anything to go on other than the fact that he couldn't figure out why his old man would suddenly decide life wasn't worth living. Personally," the chief added as she sat back and pulled out her cigarettes, "I think he's looking to get his hands on the insurance money first and foremost. I checked into the policy, and it's a big one…nearly five-hundred grand."

While the captain whistled at that number, Torres lit her smoke and continued, "So, I called him in for an interview face to face today, and basically, he ran scared. Now," tossing her pen to the captain, "I lifted this from him, and after checking it out, I found out that he was a special guest of Doctor Elsa Synder's, the Austrian historian," she moved her hands in an hourglass figure, "who's working at the museum. The Doc says they met on a train from New York and have been friend's ever since…she also mentioned his wife by name, so I'm not sure if there's more to it or not…although," B'Elanna smirked as the captain threw the pen back, "he's got to be tempted…she's definitely a looker."

"I think I know the one you're talking about," the captain said as he stood up and went over to the side of his office where a coffee pot was. Pouring himself a cup, he asked, "Blonde…Aryan, I guess is what they call it. Speaks with an accent…like a Nazi or somethin'?"

"Yea…that's her…she's hard to miss."

The captain nodded as he came back to his desk, "She was down here a while ago…and all the lobby boys were makin' a stink tryin' to help her. The phone was ringing off the hook, so I went down to see why no one was answering it."

"Why was she here?"

"Something about immigration," the captain said, sitting back and raising his feet, then taking a sizeable drink of his warm beverage. "She was applying for citizenship…so she needed a police clearance to show she hadn't committed any crimes while she's been here." After taking a sip, he remarked, "Pretty standard stuff."

"Do you know when that was?"

Thinking for a minute, the captain said, "Mmm…it was cold, she was wearing a fur hat thing and a long jacket…so I'd say December or January…I can't be sure."

After writing that down, B'Elanna asked, "Any idea how long it takes to become a citizen?"

"Couple years sometimes…it's a pretty big process if you aren't married, but," the captain added, "if she's working for the museum, that'll help since I'm sure they probably sponsor her."

Torres nodded at that, then went on, "Anyway, when I asked Junior where he was when Daddy jumped, he said he was home with his wife…who come to find out is expecting. Seemed legit enough, so I didn't think anything of it until I saw the pen. Now, Elsa says he left around 9:00pm and said he needed to get home to be with the little woman, and time of death is listed at or around 10:00pm. So, since she said that he drove his car, taking into account that most of the block around the museum was barricaded to make room for the exhibit's opening night, I'd say it would take him almost an hour to get to his home, which is on the far west side. With Michigan Ave still under construction…maybe a little less, maybe a little more…I don't go out that way very often."

"What's your point?"

"My point is that he never mentioned that…nothing…not even, 'I had just gotten home from the museum' or anything. He made it sound like he'd been there the whole time," Torres said, taking a hit off her smoke and then ashing into the tray. "When I asked him how his wife was and if everything was okay with the baby, he got real twitchy since he hadn't told me that…like he was nervous that I was just doing standard background work on him. When he split…it made me wonder why. He says he doesn't want to put his family through this kind of thing, but I’m not sure that's it." Shaking her head, she held up her hands and said, "I'm not saying I think he whacked his old man…I'm just wondering that if someone did whack his old man and found out that he'd hired an investigator, maybe they were threatening him?"

The captain took a drink of his coffee then said, nodding, "Well, that's true…but," he held up his finger, "I looked over the case myself, and nothing leads me to believe that anyone pushed that guy off that building. Especially when an eye-witness puts him up there the day before in the middle of the afternoon, looking around and basically acting strange. I think he was either planning to jump then, and chickened out, or was just checking things out and making up his mind." Then thinking for a moment, the captain set his coffee down and said, "Murphy, if the guy walked on you, why the hell are you down here botherin' me?"

"Because I've got a feeling there's more to this case, Captain, " the Klingon explained quickly, "and things have been slow for me this year…so, if I can break the story, it just might get me out of the poor house."

Shaking his head, the captain sat back and said, "There ain't no case, Murph…I think you should cut your losses and think about gettin' a real job." Checking his watch, he said, "Your five minutes are up." Then picking up the phone quickly as Torres sighed, and put out her cigarette, figuring she'd got at least a little information to go on so that the story wouldn't end, the captain dialed the front desk and said, "O'Brien, did Fowler go on his beat yet?…Then tell him I need to speak with him ASAP…Yea, he's here…What!…10-4." Looking up and slamming down his phone, the captain said, "Now get your ass and your piece of shit car outta here before I impound the both of you!"

Torres got up from her chair at that and said, "See ya, Cap'n," and then quickly made tracks for the hallway, wanting to get to Nicole before the captain did and give her a heads up.

After tapping on the Homicide captain's office door that looked to be made out of oak with a deep auburn finish added to it, Nicole Fowler opened it when she was granted entrance and said, as usual while she stepped inside, "You wanted to see me, Captain?"

"Yes," Richardson came back, looking up from his pile of paper work and setting his pen down while Nicole shut the door and stood straight and stiff in front of it, although her stance wasn't quite as attentive as she gave for her real captain, but she figured she better continue to play her part well considering what B'Elanna had told her before the detective scurried away reporting that she had some leads to track down. Getting up from his desk and snatching up his coffee cup, he said, "Have a seat," while he migrated to the end of the long counter behind him that was full of books, files, and nick knacks.

While he refilled his half-full cup of coffee, he asked, "You married, Sergeant?"

"No, Sir," returned Fowler easily, not feeling as nervous as she figured she would since she knew where this was going, but hadn't figured a way out of it yet that wouldn't set the captain off or make him think she was a bad cop. Since she'd had plenty of time to sit at her desk and pretend to do paperwork, Fowler had taken that time to read over her character's background and motives since the information for each character was available at everyone's 'home base' in case they felt the need to look at it.

"You lookin' for a wife?"

While the captain migrated back to his desk, Fowler scratched the back of her neck and lied, since she knew her character was looking for a wife, although not in the redhead, "No, Captain…not particularly. Uh, what's this about?"

"I'll ask the questions, son," the captain came right back as he kicked up his feet and sat back. When Nick raised her eyebrows, then nodded and said, "Yes, Sir," trying to stifle her attitude and her desire to laugh at being called 'son,' Richardson came back after taking a sip of his coffee and sizing Fowler up, "You know my assistant, Rachel?"

Fowler bobbed her head once and said, "Yes, Captain…we've bumped into each other a few times."

"Mike Murphy," the captain said, certainly not concerned about protecting the detective since he thought that the private investigator was a louse as well as a pain in the butt, "tells me you've takin' and liking to her." When Fowler didn't say anything, the captain said, "Well…have you or haven't you, boy…speak up?"

Fowler wiped her nose at the 'boy' insult, one she'd used before herself, reigning in her irritation since she'd never been fond of anyone thinking she was out to do wrong by any woman, holonovel or not, and said, "Well…honestly, no…not really, Captain." After a beat when the captain didn't respond, Fowler added, "I mean, she's a lovely woman…"

"She ain't a woman," the captain replied, cutting him off and sitting forward. "She's a girl…how old are you, boy?"

"Thirty-eight," Fowler answered automatically, forgetting that her character was supposed to only be in his early thirties.

Richardson set down his coffee and stood at that, saying as he leaned forward on his desk with his hands, "Now you listen to me, Roger Ramjet…Rachel has been my assistant since she was a child outta school. She ain't got no family left, so she depends on me to look out for her welfare…you read me?"

Resisting the urge to rise and stand toe to toe with the equally tall captain, which is what she would have done if this were real-life, Captain or not, Nicole nodded and said, "I believe so, Sir."

"Stand up and be a man, son," the captain came back, not liking Fowler's apparently flippant response.

Inwardly cussing out B'Elanna, and vowing to never again let her have full reign over any holonovel they were to play, Fowler wiped her nose yet again as she stood up, then asked, "Is this better, Captain?"

"Boy, don't test me today," Richardson warned as Fowler stood and kept her hands behind her back. Coming around his desk quickly, he said as Nicole turned her body to face him, the commander uncertain as to if the captain was going to attempt to start a physical altercation and wanting to be prepared to defend herself since she knew the protocols were set to allow for minor injuries like busted lips and black eyes, "I don't like you, Sergeant…but I do respect you. You walk the beat in a tough part of town and do your duty to serve and protect the people of this city, but," he warned as he moved in close to Nicole, pointing with his finger close to both of their faces, "if I so much as see or hear that you're keepin' on deceiving Rachel, I will have your ass in a sling so fast it'll make your head spin." Before Nicole could respond, he went on, "She deserves a proper husband who'll take care of her and be home for her…not some beat cop who's almost old enough to be her daddy. Now I realize," the captain backed away some and reached for his coffee, "that Rachel is one of the prettiest girls in town…and I realize that she can't help but have eyes for you because she doesn't get out enough...I understand the situation...been there myself before, but you've got to do the right thing here, son…and tell her the truth."

"Just so we're clear, Sir," Fowler came back easily, "what exactly is the truth?"

"That you're not in love with her, and don't ever want to get married," the captain replied quickly, understanding Fowler's question and glad he'd asked it since he figured that meant Nicole understood the point he was making. "Now I know you probably don't want to break her heart since you don't strike me as the type now that we've talked, but," he added, going back to his desk, "she's just being fanciful, I'm sure and she'll get over it soon enough as soon as she finds a nice boy her own age…who ain't a cop."

"Aye, Captain," Nick said out of habit.

Looking up at the tall brunette as he sat down, the captain quirked his mouth and asked, "You in Navy, son?"

Quickly, Fowler realized what she said, nodded and said, "Uh…yes, Captain…the reserves, I mean."

"War's over, Fowler...and this ain't no boat! Get it right!" the captain cracked, feeling cranky again as he saw that the light on his phone was blinking, meaning he had a call. Picking up the phone, swearing under his breath and pushing the button, he said, "Richardson!…Goddammit, O'Brien! Can't you do your job without me baby-sittin' your big ass! Now, why did you let her past the front door? Just because she's got legs clean up to her neck and tits as big as your fat head, don't mean she can go wherever she likes!" Holding his hand to the receiver, he said to Fowler, "You're dismissed, and remember what I said, Sergeant."

Nodding, Fowler put her hat back on and said, "Yes, Sir," then quickly turned and left. As she shut the door and sighed, saying, "Torres, I'm gonna whoop your tail for this," she heard the distinct sound of high heels clicking purposefully down the hall headed her way. Turning her head as Seven of Nine came around the corner, Fowler smirked and said while she approached her as the blonde raised her eyebrows, then nodded, "I should have known you were what all the fuss is about?"

When Seven merely smirked and moved past her, heading straight for the captain's office, Fowler stopped to watch for a moment while the Borg opened the door and proceeded inside without requesting permission. As the captain stood up and yelled, slamming the phone down, "Dammit, Bando…just because you've got a press pass doesn't give you the right to come barging into my office! Now get out!" and Seven of Nine said just before she shut the door, "I am required to speak with you…resistance is futile," Fowler chuckled to herself, shaking her head and was now sorry she'd been dismissed since she'd honestly like to see the blonde in action. Then checking her watch, Nicole allowed, "Shit," as she realized she was supposed to meet Rose in less than two minutes and Kate's bar, K Street, was almost a kilometer away…and something told her that if she was late, Ms. Kate wouldn't look too highly upon that.

Running down the steps, saying her excuse me's and pardons to the people she'd forced to stop and stand against the wall, Nicole came to a grinding halt as she almost mowed down yet another attractive secretary, not having missed that it seemed all of the women in this simulation were gorgeous, no matter what their age…and certain Torres had done that on purpose.

Fowler grabbed her shoulders before she toppled backward and said, "Shit…sorry, Ma'am…I'm sorry."

When the greying woman huffed at first, then looked up to her, smiled in delight, and said, but her tone and expression was without Rachel's girliness, and definitely being that of a mature woman, not far removed from Kathryn's personality, "Oh, Sergeant Fowler…well, it's quiet alright. Thank you," Nicole resisted the urge to sigh, figuring she already had enough problems with Rachel, so she merely said, "My apologies, Ma'am…if you'll excuse me," then quickly left the woman's side and started for the door at a half jog.

"Fowler!" said O'Brien as he put down the phone. "Where are you going?"

Stopping at the doorway, Nicole turned to the pudgy desk jockey and said, "Uh, I've got to get to the east side." Then lying quickly, she explained, "I always like to start an hour early."

O'Brien nodded in understanding since that seemed to be the truth and said, "Well, aren't you gonna take your horse?" When Fowler blinked and didn't say anything, the cop said, "You okay, Nick?"

"Right, right…fine," Fowler laughed nervously, shaking her head, not recalling reading she was a mounted officer. Then scratching the back of her neck as she looked around, trying to figure out where she would get her horse in the middle of a police station in the city, Fowler finally asked, "Yea…my horse…uh, where's it at today?"

Laughing and shaking his head, O'Brien gestured over his shoulder to the back door and said, "She's out back, Nick…you sure you're okay?"

Fowler nodded as she walked quickly toward the back door and said, "Yea, yea…I just don't like to be late…thanks, O'Brien."

"Anytime, partner," O'Brien laughed, teasing Fowler about her southern accent and the fact that Fowler had called him that earlier. Then whistling, he said, "Hey, Nick…you see that reporter on your way down?" When Fowler stopped at the door and nodded, he smiled and asked, "You think I've gotta chance with a woman like that?"

Sighing, Fowler said, "O'Brien, that woman eats folks like us for breakfast…trust me." When O'Brien smiled at that and mumbled, "I know…what a dame," Fowler chuckled, shaking her head and muttering, "Clueless," as she stepped out the back door and looked around. Smirking as she saw the horse waiting for her, all saddled and ready to ride, tied up loosely to the fence post, Nicole shook her head and said, "Horse, what are you doing here all dressed up?" figuring she should have guessed that B'Elanna would program her trusty horse in this scenario since that was the only aspect of her former holodeck get-away program that she'd saved since she planned to include the animal in the one she was planning to build with Samantha.

As she stepped up to the animal, that recognized her and huffed, Fowler pet her long head a few times, saying, "Sorry about the saddle…it wasn't my doin'," then noticed a note tapped to the leather seat. Pulling it off while she untied the reigns, she read:

Laughing and sticking the note into her pocket, recalling the Halloween party on the holodeck where she'd taken Seven out of the old spooky house they'd partied in, and subsequently everyone else followed to watch, and taught the Borg how to use her whip, which was just another non-technical weapon Nicole knew how to wield, Fowler stuck her foot in the holster and quickly mounted the horse. Patting her head as she tugged on the reigns and turned the animal toward the gate, Nick smiled as she saw that it was plenty low enough to jump, so she turned the horse around and got it to move backwards a few paces so they could have enough of a running started. Then slapping the horse's neck affectionately, Fowler said, "Okay, girl…you ready?" and when the horse huffed again at her, Fowler smiled, kicked the horse while slapping the reigns and said, rowdy, "H'ya!"

As they came flying over the fence into the sidewalk, Fowler managed, "Oops," then "I'm terribly sorry, Ma'am," as she held onto the saddle with once hand, tipped her hat with the other to a woman who screamed and threw up her arms while papers went flying everywhere, which caused the horse to rear up in surprise. Kicking the horse again once they come back down on all four legs, Fowler commanded immediately, "Gettiup, Jessie…H'ya!"

Looking to her left down the street as she stood out in front of her bar with a broom and swept some of the fallen blooms from the nearby trees off her steps when she heard several horns honk, Kathryn smiled and then laughed out loud as Fowler came flying around the nearest corner. Recognizing the horse immediately as the same one she and Nicole had ridden on their last eventful trip to the holodeck together, Janeway said over her shoulder as Nick slowed the animal and just trotted her way, speaking loudly to be heard, "Rose, your escort's here." Then turning back to Fowler, who smiled at her and tipped her hat, Janeway tried her best not to chuckle and said instead, but didn't sound as harsh as she would have, "You're five minutes late, Sergeant."

As Rose stepped into the doorway, burst out laughing and said, "Oh good god," not missing the whip looped around the saddle, Nicole smiled over at the blonde and then said as she turned the horse the other way around, "My apologies, Ma'am…Jessie's not used to traffic."

Stepping up to the horse and tentatively petting his head, not feeling as uncomfortable around them, Kathryn said quietly as the animal huffed at her slightly, "Hello again…remember me?" Then looking up to Nick, who was looking down and scratching the back of her neck in nervousness, unable to make eye-contact, the captain understanding that her second officer continued to feel less than totally comfortable sometimes in her presence when she was reminded of the fact that they'd been intimate for several hours nearly a month ago when Fowler was inhabiting Torres' body due to a transporter accident, Janeway resisted the urge to sigh or clear her throat since she didn't regret it, even if she didn't like the moments of awkwardness that still plagued them, and said, "Why don't you park your horse in the back…she'll be fine while you're out."

When Fowler nodded, turned the horse around and then rode it to the back, Wildman sighed softly as Janeway just looked down for a moment before she resumed her sweeping, and felt the need to say, in a whisper so no one would hear them, as she came up next to the redhead, "Don't worry about it, Captain…she just has a guilty-conscious by nature." As Janeway looked over to her, slightly surprised that Samantha had caught that quick exchange, Wildman smiled and said, "She'll get over it soon enough…she thinks too highly of you to let it ruin your friendship."

Sighing and shaking her head, Kathryn allowed quietly, "Thank you, Miss Wildman…I hope so." Since Samantha and B'Elanna seemed perfectly fine since the incident where Fowler had first attempted to mate with the blonde, in Torres' body, to subdue the effects of the pon farr, and actually seemed to get along quite a bit better now, Janeway didn't make any further comment and truly just hoped that Wildman's influence in that matter would assist Fowler. All in all, Kathryn wasn't surprised considering what a kind and polite person the commander was, but she'd be lying if she said she'd thought, considering Seven and Torres took the whole thing in huge, amazingly understanding strides, never once making her feel like she'd been unfaithful, and Kathryn refused to act any differently around the commander, Fowler would be over any guilty feelings by now. But, even if that moment hadn't just occurred, she'd already known Nick hadn't since Fowler never said anything to her anymore that could in anyway be construed as sexually suggestive or flirtatious, and considering Janeway knew Nicole pretty well, she knew that was purposeful since Nick Fowler was the biggest flirt she'd ever met…even bigger than Chakotay and Torres…although, she was much, much smoother, in the good captain's opinion because she was terribly polite and rarely overt, unless she was purposefully trying to tease the redhead about something that had to do with B'Elanna.

"Oh, I'm certain," Wildman smiled and whispered, not entirely sure actually but feeling the need to reassure at least one of them, while two females passed them on the sidewalk, whispering and snickering to each other. Ignoring them completely, she explained in the same tone, "If there's one thing that Nick can't resist for long, other than dinner," she giggled once, "it's being nice to a female." As Kathryn expelled the air from her chest and looked over to her, chuckling, Samantha finished, actually putting her arm around the smaller and older female just for a moment and squeezing her lightly, "Especially when they're her captain and friend…she just can't help herself." She then snickered as Fowler came around the corner as she dropped her arm, "I think it's in the chromosomes…at least," she whispered as Nick smiled at the pedestrians, who waved to her while she passed and tipped her hat, "that's my theory."

Not giving Janeway a chance to respond, Samantha walked toward Fowler and said, smirking, "I'm not surprised that every woman in this thing is drop dead gorgeous. Did she owe you a favor or something?"

"I don't know what you're talkin' about, Miss Rose," Nick said, two steps away from her. "You know I've only got eyes for you."

Clearing her throat, Kathryn said as she turned toward the door, "Just make sure it's only your eyes, Sergeant. Rose," Janeway stopped before she went inside and turned toward them, "don't be late this time…and stay away from Miss Bando. I'm getting tired of her hanging around. She's not good people, honey…you've got to trust me."

"Yes, Ms. Kate," Samantha nodded as she turned her head to the door. Then smiling and turning back to Fowler, she reported, "God, she's so good at this…you should have seen her earlier learning how to work the bar, and chatting up the mailman like she's known him for years." When Fowler smiled and chuckled, Samantha sighed and said, whispering, "Hmm, but I don't like not being able to kiss you any more." Snickering as she placed her hand on Fowler's stomach and leaned in close, she said, "Can't you just go in there and tell her you're going to marry me or something…"

Taking Wildman's hand and putting it on her arm as she started them forward, knowing just where she was going to take the blonde, Fowler said, "No, Miss Rose…Murphy tells me she's got a big ole gun in there and ain't afraid to use it…we've got to bide our time." Then looking down at Samantha, who was out of her sexy dress, and wearing something much more subdued since her dress was supposed to be for her performance tonight, Fowler said, "You look real nice…as always." Then shaking her head, Fowler whispered, leaning down some, "Woman, what you do for a skirt and top just ain't natural…it's downright criminal. I think I should take you downtown now and get it over with."

Samantha rested her head for a moment against Fowler's arm, then asked, quietly, "Can we just be ourselves while we're alone right now? We're just supposed to walk around and be seen together."

"You read my mind…thanks," Nicole came back. "All this stuff really isn't my thing…although," she smiled modestly, "it's always nice to ride my horse."

Giggling and shaking her head, Wildman said, "Fowler, you have to be the cutest thing there ever was." When she started to turn the corner, but Nicole stopped her and nodded with her head to keep going straight, Samantha followed her, then asked, "What's this way?"

"The beach," Nick reported, looking down at her. "It's only a lake, but it's a big one…looks just like the ocean."

Wildman sighed as she smiled, looked up to Nicole and asked, "You really remember that I love the ocean?"

"Of course," Fowler came back surely, like it would be terrible for her to forget. Bringing her other hand around and putting it on Sam's where it was hooked through her arm, Nick reminded, "On the beach was the first time I'd talked to you alone since that night on Deep Space Nine." Looking over at her, she informed, whispering and shaking her head, "Darlin' you have no idea how much I wanted to ask you to dance that night."

Smirking, Samantha asked, "So why didn't you?"

Hoping this wouldn't bring the conversation down, Fowler said, "Well, truthfully, I was about to ask when your husband showed up and stole you away from me."

Samantha blinked and stopped them, turning completely toward Fowler, and said, "What?" Shaking her head, she started to smile as she questioned, "You really wanted to dance with me that night…the first night?"

Smiling, Fowler gestured that they should continue so they wouldn't run out of time since it was a good walk to the beach and said, "Honestly, Samantha, and I'm just being honest, but I wanted to do more than dance with you, but," she looked over to the blonde, "I would have settled for that."

When Wildman slowed and brought her hand to her mouth prior to laughing, Fowler stopped and asked, smiling and chuckling lightly since whenever Samantha laughed she found it hard not to join in, "What…what's so funny?" Then pulling her closer, Fowler said, laughing as well, "Woman, you stop laughin' at me. I couldn't help but fall all over you …that dress was somethin' else…in fact, I'm not sure which one I like better." Speaking easily, she followed up on the next breath, "The one today shows a lot more skin, but," she sighed happily, smiling, "I don't know…there's something to be said for a dress that clings to every inch of you in red…it was definitely a winner."

Wildman pulled her hand away at that, looked up and asked, "You really liked that dress?" suddenly straight-faced.

Quirking the side of her mouth, Fowler said, "Uh, yea…Sam, not to be crude, but it was hot…I mean smokin'." Nick snickered for a moment and said, "Couldn't you tell…I couldn't keep my eyes off you?"

Wildman burst out laughing again, holding her hand to her mouth, then reported as she pulled Fowler along with her so people wouldn't watch them too closely, "Oh god, this is too funny." Pulling herself together, she looked over and up at Fowler, and explained, "I never liked that dress, but Greskrendtregk loved it…so I wore it for him since he promised to be there." Explaining further since she was certain Nick would ask, she said, "I always thought I looked like a big balloon or something in all red and that tight."

"Take my word for it, you didn't look like a balloon, Sam…at least," Fowler smirked down at the scientist, "I've yet to see one that nice…ever."

"God," Wildman said, still finding this whole situation so strange. Over to the commander, she reported, "Nick, all this time I thought you'd just been nice to me since that's how you are." When Fowler blinked, confused, Samantha explained, stepping closer and grabbing Fowler's arm tighter, smirking, "I was the one falling all over myself…for goodness sakes," she smiled, "I used a bad line on you just to find out your name." As Nick looked away, thought about it and then started laughing, having never known that was a line, Samantha joined in and said, "If he hadn't shown up I would have asked you to dance…and my word, it's probably a good thing he did because I think I would have gone anywhere with you after that...you're just as charming now as you were then...."

Looking over to Samantha, pleased by that, Nicole said, coy, "Well, my, my, Miss Sam…I do believe you have surprised me on this here fine day."

"You mean you really had no idea…none…that I wanted you?"

Fowler cleared her throat mildly and reported after she wiped her nose, "Honey, if I'd have known that, it would have taken me a lot less than seven years to ask you out." Looking back down to her, she smiled her trademark flirtatious grin and drawled, "And that ain't no foolin', lady. Although," she said more seriously, "I guess none of us were really ready until now…so it all worked out right."

Sighing and pulling Fowler closer, Samantha rested her head on her shoulder and whispered after a minute, "In case you didn't know, I'm glad it worked out this way." Sighing again, uncertain if she should say this, but feeling the need, she added, even softer, "I've never been happier than I am here with you…not even close." When Fowler just remained silent, Wildman said, "I just want you to know that…you don't have to say anything. I know you love me now…and that's all that matters to me."

Nicole stopped their forward progress, turned toward Sam in the middle of the sidewalk and said, bringing her hand to her shoulder and neck region, "I do love you, Samantha...I do."

"I know you do you…I know." When Fowler bent down more and looked like she was going to kiss her, Wildman put her hand to her chest and whispered, "Nick, what about…Kate? There's someone over there," looking to the corner.

"I'll handle it," Fowler smiled, then kissed Samantha purposefully, but soft, until the blonde responded, at which time it became much more passionate…so much so that several cars honked their horns as they drove past and the young man selling news papers on the corner whistled.

As she pulled away and Samantha smiled up at her, slightly flushed, Fowler whispered before they started walking again, "That's what I wanted to do from the first time I saw you…just so we're square now." Then taking Samantha's hand, she ushered her past the corner, then drew out her billy club and said to the young guy, pointing at him with it, "If you're smart…you'll forget you ever saw that." When the paperboy didn't say anything and just smoked his cigarette, Fowler cracked with her voice, towering over him, and grabbing it out of his mouth, "Answer, son!"

"Yes, yes, Sergeant…I didn't see you kiss Miss Rose," the paperboy came back, taking off his golf hat out of respect and holding it to his chest, bunching it up in nervousness.

Sticking her club back into the loop, and stomping out the cigarette, Fowler patted the short boy's white blonde head and said, "Good answer…thanks, kid."

"Son?" asked Wildman as Fowler smiled and walked back up to her.

Holding out her arm as Samantha slipped hers back inside, Fowler whispered, "I learned that it from the captain," but didn't elaborate as to which captain she was speaking, since she didn't feel like being teased about the Rachel incident, and was certain Wildman would torment her for days about that.

Once they'd reached the beach and Samantha slipped off her shoes so she could walk in the sand, Fowler asked as she stood near, no longer arm in arm since they weren't walking on the street anymore, after taking a few moments just to look around and enjoy the view, and delight herself in watching Sam just be herself and smile as she stayed silent as she slipped into her own mind, "I've been thinkin'…maybe instead of buildin' another house in the country, I should start totally fresh and build one on the beach." When Samantha looked over at her, confused for a moment, Fowler explained, "The holoprogram I told you about."

"Oh, right," Wildman said, shielding her eyes from the sun with her free hand as she looked over and up at Fowler. "Well," she smiled, "if that's what you want…sure, but I think you should build whatever you like best though. It's your get-away. I don't think there's anything wrong with making another one in the country…maybe make it in the mountains instead…?"

"Well, you see," Nicole started evenly as she knelt and then sat in the sand so Sam didn't have to squint up at her, "I was thinking that maybe this time it could be…well, our get-away…just yours and mine." As Wildman grew totally silent and just stared down at her, Fowler said, "I thought maybe we could build it together…if that's something that you're interested in…?"

"You want to build a house with me?"

"Well," Fowler chuckled, rather nervous, "it's not a real house, Sam…but yea, I thought it might be nice to have a vacation spot that's just for the two of us…that we can go to at any ole time. No friends, no people, no kids...although, I don't mind if Naomi comes with us sometimes, of course, but just for us whenever we need to get away…for a few hours or a day." When Sam turned around and took a three steps away from her, Fowler jumped to her feet quickly and said, "Hey there, it's okay if you don't want to…I mean it."

Stepping up to the blonde as she hung her head and brought her hand to her mouth, Fowler tentatively put her hands on her shoulder and said, "Sam…lord, honey, I'm sorry I brought this up now…just being here made me think…" When Samantha laughed once, but didn't say anything, Nicole sighed as she heard her lover sniffle, then saw her reach up and wipe her eyes, and finally said as she wrapped her arms around her and whispered, "I'm sorry…I'll shut up," then laughing just once, she added, "And I'll stop apologizing too…maybe…I tend to be worse than an old dog."

After a few moments, Fowler gained some of her confidence back and said, turning them slighting and pointing out to the shore beyond them, "We could have a whole cove to ourselves, and a big ole cliff on one side…and really deep water right below it so we could jump off." When Samantha giggled and pressed her head over toward hers, Fowler rested her head near her temple and went on, "And we could have a great big ole beach house…just off the shore…"

Snickering, Wildman whispered, "Big…why does everything have to be big? Why can't it be small and cute?"

"Well, I'm a big girl, darlin'," Fowler whispered back, then kissed her cheek, and said, "Okay, for you I'll compromise and build a small…and cute," she squeezed her lightly, "house…but, we got to have a big ole porch then…I gotta have that."

"Deal," Wildman smiled.

"And then we can make the other side of the beach go on forever so we can take ole Jessie out and ride through the surf." When Samantha smiled grander and informed Fowler that she liked that idea very much, Nicole kissed her ear, then whispered as she remained there and started kissing her neck softly, "And we can have a fire pit near the house…and right after supper we can bring blankets out and get cozy underneath the stars. Mmm," she whispered more as Samantha hummed her approval, "and then if I'm real fortunate, I can make love to you right there out in the open by the fire."

"I really love how your mind works," informed the blonde as she got the chills.

"Then later on I could take you back inside to our bedroom that overlooks the water and has huge windows that make up the whole outside wall…and there I'd do it all over again…as many times as you wanted, I'd love you, Samantha...all the way 'til the sun came up if you wanted."

Resting her head back, Wildman whispered, not afraid to admit that she loved the attention that the commander paid her constantly, "God, Fowler…please tell me that I'm not dreaming you."

Fowler smiled as she stood up straight, wrapped her arms around Wildman's upper chest tightly and said as she kissed the top of the head, "The only one dreamin' is me, Sam…but I don't ever plan to wake, so we're fine."

Relaxing back against Nicole's chest, she asked, turning her head some to the side, "So, my hillbilly friend, when are we going to build this beach get-away?" Before Fowler could answer, Wildman noticed someone waving at them, so she subtly pulled away as she asked, not recognizing the woman, "Do you know who that is?"

"Awww…hell," Fowler allowed as Rachel, the redhead, walked happily toward them in a white dress with small black poke-a-dots, a wide-brimmed, stylish white hat and black and white high heels, which she was carrying. While Rachel smiled brightly and called out her name, Fowler whispered quickly as Wildman smirked at her, noticing the very attractive figure--although she was slightly top-heavy--and the red hair, and informed, "I'll handle this…and explain when she's gone."

"Let me guess…the secretary?" Wildman whispered as she turned and started for the shore, chuckling since she'd read the character's script and didn't pick it because she'd wanted to play closely with the captain in an effort to get to know her better, as well as because she really did look up to the scientist turned captain, although probably not quite as much as her daughter did, but Janeway was pretty much Naomi's all-around hero, so that was tough to beat.

As Rachel approached, Fowler smiled evenly and said, purposefully, "Uh, hi there…um," snapping her fingers several times, she finally sighed and said, "dang, what's your name again?"

Smiling, the redhead held onto her hat as the wind picked up and said, unaffected that her would-be love had forgotten her name, "Rachel…Rachel Briggs. My, isn't this funny meeting you here like this…and on such a nice day."

"Yea, yea," Fowler said absently, looking over her shoulder to where Samantha was smiling and kicking her feet in the water softly, "it sure is funny. Listen…Miss Briggs, I don't…"

"Rachel," she corrected, "please call me, Rachel, Sergeant Fowler…Miss Briggs sounds too impersonal."

"Okay, Rachel…um, I don't mean to be rude, but I'm kind of busy right now…with Miss Rose." Clearing her throat, she said as Rachel looked around her and scowled at the blonde, "She's a popular singer, you see, and I need to make sure no one bothers her while she takes some time to enjoy the day. I'm sure you can understand."

"Yes, popular…so I've heard…although it wasn't because of her voice," Rachel said with spite while she continued to size up the blonde. Then looking back to Fowler, she smiled and said, "My word, you sure are tall, Sergeant Fowler…it's hard to look up at you without my shoes on. By the way, thank you so much for catching me today…you must have incredible reflexes…I don't even think I knew what was happening until I was in your arms."

As Fowler scratched the back of her neck again and seemed terribly uncomfortable, Wildman decided it was time to save her girlfriend since she knew that Fowler just didn't have the heart to tell an apparently sweet women to take a hike directly, even a hologram. So, walking up to them and slipping her arm that was holding her shoes around the back of Fowler's waist, Samantha smiled as she pulled open the button of Fowler's shirt near her waist, eased her hand inside and said, "Hi…who are you and when are you leaving?"

Straightening immediately and becoming arrogant and put off, the redhead reported, "I am speaking with Sergeant Fowler if you don't mind."

"As a matter of fact," Samantha came back, rubbing Fowler's stomach languidly, "I do mind…Missy," she smiled to herself, knowing she was having too much fun acting in a manner she normally wouldn't. "So, why don't take your new dress and cheap old shoes, and get out of here before I tell my friend that you work at K Street at night…upstairs."

Not giving in yet, Rachel crossed her arms as Fowler just fell silent and watched Samantha in action, "And just which of your 'friends' would that be?"

"My best friend…Vivian Bando…you know," Sam smiled, "the lead field reporter for the Tribune."

"You wouldn't dare…"

"Oh sweetie," Wildman pulled away from Fowler and stood in front of her with her hands on her hips, "I would."

"I should have known you two knew each other considering she's just as rotten as you are."

Shaking her head, Wildman took another step toward Rachel and said with attitude, "No, she screws," which caused the redhead's mouth to fall open, "people for stories and acclaim…I do it just because I like to."

Huffing, Rachel looked up at Fowler and said, "You're not going to let her talk to me that way, are you?"

"It's a free country," Fowler said, shrugging and crossing her arms over her chest, certainly not going to stop Samantha since Nicole was rather enjoying this little cat fight over her, and she wasn't afraid to admit that. "I can't stop her."

"Well, that's right…it is a free country, and," Rachel sneered at Sam, "thank the lord above for that." Stepping up to Samantha, Rachel said, whispering, looking up slightly since Wildman was taller than she, "I'm on to you, Rose McEntyre…and you don't scare me one bit. Captain Richardson in Homicide is a personal friend of mine, and if he hears one thing about you spreading your dirty lies about me, he'll run both you and your boss right on out of this town. He doesn't like trash…especially trashy women." Pushing past Rose and walking up to Fowler, Rachel smiled and said, "I know you're too much of a gentlemen to ever bad mouth a lady…so I'll do it for you. She is a filthy tramp who's too good for a man like you…she'll just break your heart, but I would never do that." Turning quickly and leaving, Rachel said over her shoulder, "I'll see you later, Sergeant Fowler…and you just remember what I said, Rose."

"Well, shoot dang," Nicole allowed, bringing her fist to her mouth and chortling as Samantha rolled her eyes and shook her head, "I think I finally met someone even more stubborn than Kate." Then smiling over to Samantha, Fowler said, tipping her hat, "Well, thank you kindly anyway, darlin', but somethin' tells me she's programmed to keep on fightin' for me." As Wildman sighed and shook her head, Fowler went over to her, picked her up quickly but her bottom, and said as Sam smiled and wrapped her arms around her neck, "New dress…cheap, old shoes…damn woman, that was mean…I mean snake mean."

Smirking, Wildman whispered, "Well, it was true…didn't you see those old shoes?"

Fowler pecked Sam's lips quickly, set her down and said, "I'm not much of a shoe kind of girl." Then taking her free hand and walking her back over to the water, Fowler said, "Thank you, though…I've never had to have a woman go to bat for me like that…that was kind of nice…although," Fowler smirked over at her, "I could do without the whore bit."

"Well," Samantha smirked back over at her, "I was just doing my duty to protect my assets, Sergeant Fowler." Smiling and pulling Nicole close to her, Samantha said, sexy, "A woman like me needs a man like you in her life…didn't you know?" As Fowler gave her a rather goofy grin, but rolled her eyes, Wildman continued in the same manner, letting her fingers push into her pants as she held Fowler at the waist by her pants and belt, "Now, where were we…"

Jingling the keys and change in her pockets as she walked slowly along 87^th Street, having parked her car a block away just to make sure she wasn't being followed by anyone, especially a mobster, Torres whistled to herself as she passed several shops and pretended to admire some of the suits in the windows before she reached for the door to the locksmith shop she was heading for. When she noticed a familiar figure with her back to the door waving to the clerk and pushing against the door with her bottom, B'Elanna smiled as she quickly opened the door, then reached out with one hand and supported the slight form of Kathryn Janeway. As the redhead gasped slightly in surprise and immediately turned around, B'Elanna kept her hand on her waist as Janeway held her purse to her chest and said, "Fancy meeting you here, Ms. Kate."

Smirking as she glanced down at the Klingon's hand, she said when Torres chuckled and took it away, "Well, hello again, Mister Murphy. Are you trying to give me a heart-attack or just getting overly presumptuous…again?

Torres smiled and said, "Neither since I thought you had eyes in the back of your head, doll." Looking around the shop, B'Elanna asked, curious as to what Janeway's character would need with a locksmith, "You didn't get locked out of your place did you? You know," Torres whispered, placing her hand against the doorframe to keep her from leaving and moving in close, flirting, "if you needed me to pick your lock…all you had to do was come by my office. I'd cut you a break."

Kathryn smirked again at the double entendré and said, "Well, that's awfully generous, but…and not that it's any of your business, Detective, but I'm missing a key to my office, so I thought I'd better get the locks changed before there's trouble."

"Well, what's your key look like…maybe I've seen it?"

"It's a key, Murphy," the captain sighed, acting annoyed before she seemed too happy to see the detective. "It's small, it's brassy…it's a key, and I'm not hiring you to find it." Looking over her shoulder at the elder clerk, who wasn't paying them any attention, Janeway said, "Thank you again for putting a rush on this, Mister West…be sure to tell your boys to have a light dinner and I'll feed them supper for their help."

"Will do, Ms. Kate," West came back, nodding. "They'll appreciate that, I'm sure."

Ducking under B'Elanna's hand, Janeway said as she walked away, "Always a pleasure, Murphy."

Torres let the door close and said as the bell above her head rang steadily twice, pulling out the key she'd be given, almost certain now that it was probably Kate's missing office key, B'Elanna said as she came up to the counter in the small, junk cluttered shop and set it down, "Can you make a copy of this for me?"

As West nodded and picked it up, informing her that it would cost him a dollar-fifty, Torres reached into her pocket and pulled out some change as she asked, "Take a look at that, will ya? You've made any other copies of a key like that lately?"

"Murphy, I thought I told you that the business of my customers is their business, not mine," West came back as he set the key into the press and started to cut a copy. "If you've got a writ of some kind, then let's see it…otherwise, don't come lookin' here for answers."

Sighing, B'Elanna let it go since she didn't have enough money to bribe him and figured she could probably find out another way once she went to K Street and snooped around, saying as she set out six quarters onto the counter, "Yea, alright, Pops." Then pulling out her cigarettes, she lit one up and asked, "When are your men going to Kate's tonight?" Before the locksmith could answer, Torres explained, "I don't mean to sound nosey, but I was thinking about having dinner there and I'd rather not show up when Kate's too busy to talk. I need her help with my bank ledger…it's all shot to hell again." That actually was true, as far as her bank book being off, and considering everyone knew Kate ran her restaurant pretty much single handedly, it was easy to assume she was good with book keeping.

"They'll be there at eight," West informed as he stopped the machine and pulled out the key, then blew on it to remove any shavings. Wiping it with his apron, he returned to the counter, handed both keys to the detective and said, "Was there anything else?"

"That'll do it…thanks," replied B'Elanna as she snatched up the keys. Walking out of the shop, she stuck one in her pocket, then leaned down to look like she was scratching her ankle and slipped the other one into her shoe. Then checking her watch, Torres cursed under her breath, then took off running for her car, knowing if she wasn't quick, Kate would finish her errands and get back to her place before she had adequate time to poke around. Considering Rose was still supposed to be out and about with Fowler for almost another hour, and the wait and cooking staff would be long behind them, she knew this was the only opportunity she'd have to get into K Street without being spied.

Jumping into her car and turning the ignition after pumping the gas, Torres yelled, smacking the steering wheel, "Oh, you bitch…don't you die on me now!" when the car chugged but didn't roar to life, but when the engine finally did turn over and start humming, she smiled, patted the dash board and said, "Good girl."

Pulling out onto the street, B'Elanna yelped, "Whoa! Shit!" as the car shook and backfired loudly. Jumpy, looking over her shoulder at the large plume of black smoke that came out of it, B'Elanna sighed as she pulled to a stop, and muttered, "That can't be good," before she made another right and twitched when the car backfired again. "Definitely not good."

Coughing and throwing her cigarette out the window as the cab of the car started to fill with smoke from her car, Torres did her best to drive straight while she reached over and rolled down the other window. As she pulled up to the curb a few blocks up the road from K Street and the car backfired again, the Klingon clenched her teeth and scowled at the noise and mumbled, "So much for stealth," while she shut off the engine.

After looking about and kicking at the tires of her car as she'd seen Tom do once, just trying to look like she wasn't any where for any reason in case someone in a local shop was paying attention to her, she shook her head at her car then took off down the avenue toward Kate's bar. Going around the back quickly, B'Elanna came to a stop and cursed, "Dammit," as she saw Fowler's horse tied up to the fire escape in the back of the old narrow four-story, red brick building that had been converted into a bar/restaurant that used to be a motel, but now the only bedrooms available were the ones that Kate and Rose lived in. There were rumors that there were other rooms available to 'rent,' which helped propagate the 'whore house' theory, but Torres knew better. Then relaxing as she realized that Fowler probably just left her horse while she took Samantha out on her daily walk around town, B'Elanna quickly made her way toward the back door. Trying the lock first, she looked up at the fire escape when the door didn't budge, but then pulled out her lock picking tools when none of the windows on the upper floors looked open.

Kneeling in front of the door, she glanced over her shoulder a few times and next tried the key she'd been given. Smiling as it slipped into the door easily, although didn't open it, she figured that meant she was at least on the right track and that one of the doors in this building would open with that key. Then quickly, she turned back to her tools, worked her magic, and within minutes the door was unlocking with a soft series of clicks. Sticking everything back in her pockets, she reached back for her gun as she proceeded inside, but didn't pull it out, only readied herself in case someone had already beat her to this lead, or was possibly waiting for her.

After quietly closing the door but leaving it unlocked in case she needed to make a fast get away, Torres paused for a moment to listen carefully, then said loudly when she didn't hear anything, "Kate, did you know the back door's unlocked?...You here, doll?"

When still nothing was heard in the least, B'Elanna relaxed, but still kept her hand on her gun as she proceeded through the dim, main hallway, and checked the kitchen first by going through the employee's entrance door. Stopping near a counter in the large room that was tiled with large black and white checkers and filled with large, stainless steel appliances and counters, where there was a half-eaten peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Torres picked it up, took a small bite, then scrunched her face and said, "Ew, Raspberry," which told her that it was Kathryn's, and that she probably left in a hurry, or had been distracted, since although the redhead didn't usually finish all of her food, she usually cleaned up after herself when at all possible.

Once she was through the kitchen's silver, double swinging doors, making sure to take a look through the circular windows on them to see if anyone was in the other room, she proceeded into the main sitting area that was full of nicely, white-clothed tables, a small stage with grand piano in the corner and a long wooden bar on the far wall where the front door was. The lighting in the room was off, and even though the sunshades were pulled, some sunlight was permeating through, which gave the dark wooded interior a deep rosy hue that was definitely easy on the Klingon's eyes. There were approximately twenty tables with chairs and about another twenty booths around two of the walls, and each table contained a large votive candle in a crimson glass, as well as nice salt and pepper shakers. Considering the area in which this establishment was nestled, the accomodations where fairly upscale, at least visually, and the appeal was easy to see. The food and atmosphere was fairly common, but it was spotless, classy, although the wood and the fairly small space gave it a cozy, home-grown feeling. The first floor had a large addition added on to it to accomodate for the restaurant, and that ensured that all of the business activity occurred on the first floor only...except for the secret room, but B'Elanna knew that was supposedly in the basement where there were no windows, and where there was some kind of hidden entrance into.

Noticing the cash register at the bar, B'Elanna looked around out of habit, then quickly went over to it and punched it open, saying, "Sorry, Kate…I'll make it up to you," and hurriedly took two tens out so she had a little something to bargain with since down on her luck P.I. was ringing more true now than ever after her quick stop at the bank before the locksmith where she'd found out that there was a problem with the wire Kennedy had sent, and her account and she was overdrawn by twelve dollars.

That being done, she went down the same main, but narrow hallway that ran from the back of the building all the way to the front. After stepping into each of the single bathrooms that were off the hall to make sure no one was hiding out, she noticed that there was a tapestry hanging over the back wall of the men's bathroom. Pulling it aside and smiling as she noticed the seam, she whispered to herself, "So here's where you get in…not bad," since it was clearly a handless door, but one that if someone who didn't know what it was, would think it was just being covered by the rug for aesthetic purposes. Since there wasn't a key and no way to open it, she figured there must be a secret knock or something of that nature that a doorperson would be listening for, so she left that alone and went back out into the hallway.

Stepping over the cord that blocked off the staircase at the end of the narrow hallway that read 'K Street Staff Only Please' Torres proceeded up to the second level of the building. That floor looked to be the main storing facility and since none of the doors were locked, she didn't bother to check it out too much since the two rooms up there were full of boxes and containers of dry goods, decorations and glassware…and pretty much everything that was needed to run a successful restaurant that wasn't perishable or office material. Onto the third floor, after checking the single large room that was up there, B'Elanna was able to determine that that was Rose's quarters since there was a very princess style bed, a large vanity mirror with lights, an enormous walk-in closet full of fancy dresses and shoes, and an equally impressive bathroom. Since she was fairly certain it was Kate's things that would turn something up, she didn't waste any more time there and proceeded up to the fourth floor, where there was a door at the top of the stairway.

Trying her key first and frowning when it didn't open the locked door, B'Elanna once again picked the lock and then very quietly proceeded inside, making sure to lock this door behind her however, certain if Kate came home and found her door unlocked, she'd know something was up. Since there was a window that lead out to the fire escape, she quickly devised a plan that if she heard someone coming up the stairs, she'd just hide under the bed until the coast was clear, and then escape out the window once she was alone in the room again.

Kate's room was much more simple than Rose's, which again didn't surprise Torres, since she'd let the computer create most of the scenery after she plugged in what she wanted and what the character's personalities were. The colors were drab and plain, and nothing like the elegance and extravagance of the blonde's. The bed was just a twin, and there weren't any of the nice things that Rose had like a vanity mirror or elegant dressers and night stands. She had a single nightstand near her bed, which only held a clock as well as a picture, and looked to be strudy enough to only hold that. Curious, Torres went over to the dark, shabby wood construct and picked up the picture, then said, "Hmm," as it showed an old black and white photo of a young and handsome man in a police officer's uniform, and well as a fairly recent picture of Rose, that the computer had clearly produced from Samantha's Starfleet profile. Noticing something strange about the picture of Rose, and that there wasn't glass over it like the other one, she pushed on it and slide it out to take a look at the back of it. When a series of pictures came out with it, B'Elanna took a seat on the bed quickly and thumbed through them, then said, "Maybe Rose really is her daughter?" since the pictures were from latest to earliest, and they went all the way back to a baby picture, the computer having fairly easily aged the pictues appropriately so they all looked like Sam. Then quickly putting them back together and setting the frame in its original place, she mumbled, "But what does that mean?" Then looking at the man and scrunching her nose just at the thought of Kathryn having a child with a man, she said, "And who the hell are you, Air Mac?"

Smiling to herself and flipping off the picture of the officer, Torres said, "She's my cowgirl…don't forget it," then quickly started into the bathroom. Smiling to herself at the large, old-fashioned, footed tub she had programmed purposefully for Janeway, certain the redhead would enjoy taking the time this evening to relax in it since the busiest people in this scenario were herself and Seven, who was there to pretty much work against her and make things tough for her until she could figure out how to win her loyalty for this case, B'Elanna poked into the medicine cabinet and smiled wider when she saw a bottle of valium that was prescribed for Ms. Kate, not surprised that the full name wasn't listed since this was a mystery story and it seemed that the redhead went to great lengths to keep her full name secret. When she turned the label further and saw that the doctor's name was R. Kennedy, M.D. Torres chewed on her upper lip absently as she tried to make the connection, beyond the obvious that she knew Kate was involved with the mob, and knew the good doctor was too somehow from what his son as said in his nervousness during their interview. The only thing she could think of currently was she used him so her full name was kept a secret, which continued to make the chief believe that it was very possible her last name was McEntyre and that's why she went to such great lengths to hide it. Although, she couldn't figure out why it would be so bad, other than perhaps bad for business, if people knew Kate was Rose's mother. Then raising her eyebrows when she read the rest of the label that described the medicine as being a muscle relaxant for anxiety, Torres put the bottle back and then shut the cabinet, wondering if maybe Kate wasn't as stable of a character as she thought she was.

Opening the door off the bathroom that led into the closet, Torres sighed, shutting off the light and said to herself, "Where the hell is your office, Red?" since this was the last room to check, but just before she closed the door, something caught her eye and she snapped her head over to it. Smiling as she saw that on the floor on the back wall there was a soft light seeping through, B'Elanna turned on the closet light again, pushed over some hanging clothes and said, "Bingo," when a narrow doorway with a doorknob appeared…that looked just like some kind of store room…recalling what Richardson had said. Once again pulling out her key and inserting it into the slot, she said a prayer as she turned it, then hissed softly, but enthused, "Yesssss," as it unlocked and pushed open.

When she came face to face with Seven of Nine, who was sitting at Kate's desk in the sizaeable office that took up nearly a quarter of the floor, but was fairly empty, reading a journal in the windowless room with a tiny flashlight, Torres said, "What the hell are you doing here?"

Not bothering to look up from her reading, Seven said, "Close the door and remain silent," since she'd heard Torres' previous call to Kate when she'd entered the building, which was why she hadn't tried to escape considering she and Murphy regularly teamed up to crack cases, when they weren't busy trying to outdo the other one. Since Seven was fairly certain she was going to require Torres' help in 'getting the story' herself, at least all of it, she knew it was time to 'spill it.'

Walking out and closing the closet door, then moving the clothes back in place before she closed the office door, B'Elanna whispered, confused, "You mean to tell me that you're my informant?"

Seven of Nine looked up at that, cocked her eyebrow and stated, "I was not aware that you had an informant." When Torres furrowed her brow as she started for her, the Borg informed, "I am merely 'snooping.'"

"How'd you get in here without the key?"

"I 'picked' the lock as you showed me how," Seven reported, then closed up the journal she was now done reading.

As Seven started to put all of the papers she'd been rifling through away, Torres came up to her and said, "Okay, ace…don't screw with me. I know you found something. What is it?"

Using the line she'd heard Sam use on Fowler in the stairwell, but modifying it for this occasion, Seven returned as she worked efficiently, "If I were 'screwing' you, Murphy…you would know it." When Torres just fell silent at that and blinked, then smirked at her, Seven stood, smirked back and then said, "Very well, I will share this information with you…however, I believe we should…"

When Seven stopped mid-sentence and looked toward the ground, Torres looked as well, then listened closely since she figured that meant the partially cybernetic woman had detected something with her super-human hearing. As the blonde furrowed her brow for a moment, B'Elanna whispered, "You hear something?"

Nodding, Seven utilized their Elite Force hand signals to inform her she detected two individuals and they were proceeding this way. Then after a beat, the Borg sighed and whispered, "It is Rose and Sergeant Fowler." After another second, she smirked and said, "Rose wishes to show the sergeant her room before Kate returns…they are kissing and Rose is 'giggling' as they climb the stairs. We should be able to move past them undetected as long as you do not 'stomp,'" the Borg teased.

"Christ," B'Elanna sighed, "don't those two ever come up for air?" Then nodding, she said, "Okay, I think we should go out the fire escape…those stairs creak too much."

"Agreed," Seven said as she snatched up her high heels that were next to the desk and started toward the door on the balls of her feet.

Once they were both out of the room and Torres had relocked the door and straightened the clothes, they proceeded very carefully to the windows in Kate's bedroom. B'Elanna let Seven open the one they would climb out of because she could judge the amount of force required better to keep them from making too much noise. When they'd gotten the window halfway parted and it creaked fairly soundly, both of them froze until Seven nodded and whispered, "They are still kissing…however, I believe they are in the room directly below us. We could be detected as we descend. The 'curtains' are not drawn." Then after another beat, Seven said, "I can jump from the top of this building safely with the current safety protocols engaged. At that point, you can jump and I will 'catch' you."

Not liking that plan, B'Elanna said, "No, you go ahead and jump…that's too much weight for you to try and stop from that height. I'll just climb down. If they spot me, I'll just threaten to tell Kate they were fucking around…I don't think they'll say anything."

"Very well," Seven replied then climbed out onto the fire escape.

Torres watched, always impressed by her very own super-hero of a girlfriend, as Seven climbed onto the railing of the fire escape, showed off her incredible balance by staying standing on the small bar for a few seconds, then jumped down on the side, just out of view of the window and near the horse. Climbing out as quickly as possible while the horse huffed and sounded agitated, Torres looked over the side to see Seven standing next to the animal with her shoes on and her hands behind her back, looking at it strangely. Snickering to herself as Seven looked up and gave her a thumbs up, then turned her attention back to the horse and the various 'things' it had adhered to it, then finally reached out and tentatively touched the animal, Torres carefully closed the bedroom window and then started her decent down the fire escape ladder.

When she got to the third story and looked into the window, unable to help herself and also needing to know if she'd been spied, B'Elanna smiled devilishly as she saw Fowler, laying mostly on top of Samantha, who's shirt and bra were flung open, look up and over to her as she held Sam's right breast in her hand and her large nipple between her lips, while her other hand was working it's way underneath her skirt that was fairly well hiked up. Since Sam was currently kissing Fowler's bare shoulder while she undid the button and zipper on her lover's pants, the blonde wasn't aware that B'Elanna was in the window. Before Nicole could react other than to grow wide-eyed and remove her mouth from the blonde's chest, Torres brought her finger to her lips to tell her to be quiet, then winked at her and gave her an OK sign before she continued downward. Once she got to the second story, and stopped smiling at the rather nice view she'd been granted of the xenobiologist's fair bosom, Torres whispered, knowing Seven would hear her, "I'm comin' down," then quickly pressed away from the ladder and just let herself fall.

Since the safeties were on at almost full, the impact was barely anything to take notice of, so when she pushed herself to her feet completely, she said, knowing Seven wouldn't mind her saying so, especially since Wildman had touched her body intimately when Fowler had attempted to mate with her during the transporter accident, "Well, now I know what Sam's tits look like...nice."

Understanding the term and concurring, Seven replied, "You are correct…this time," smirking, then leaned down and kissed B'Elanna's mouth quickly, whispering afterward, only breaking character for a moment, "I am glad we have 'teamed-up' again."

B'Elanna smiled, then swatted Seven's bottom as she passed and said, "Me too, hot lips…come on, let's get outta here and go to my office so we can talk."

As she started her car and pulled out, making the short trip back to her office, Torres said, waving her hand as the machine bellowed again and black smoke came out of the tail pipe, which caused Seven to duck her head and then look back, wide-eyed, "It's just a little backfire…happens all the time."

Stopping at her office door and fumbling with her keys, B'Elanna looked up into the corner of the door as she turned the lock to make sure the tape she stuck to it was still in place. When she noticed that the tape was now in the door seam, which meant someone had opened the door and then closed it without noticing the security measure, Torres reached back for her gun, brought her hand to her lips to silence Seven as the Borg furrowed her brow in confusion. As she pulled out her revolver and cocked it, she gestured that Seven should lean down and whispered, "Someone's been in here…I put tape on the door to let me know. Just stay behind me and be prepared to call the cops."

When Seven nodded and followed orders, then proceeded behind her, Torres looked around after they slipped through the door, opening it just enough to get inside to keep it from creaking, then gestured with her hands that Seven should go over by the desk while she went to the bedroom where the door was now closed, and she definitely recalled it being open when she'd left. Since there weren't papers or anything lying around like it had been ransacked, she wasn't sure what was going on. Once Seven came over to the desk and stood by the phone, Torres nodded at her as she stood in front of the doorway, then pulled back and kicked it in solidly, holding her weapon out in front of her and yelling, "F.B.I! Freeze and put your hands up!" just because she'd always wanted to say that since the first time she'd watched the X-Files.

"Ahhh!!" screamed the blonde from the lobby where she was lying naked, under the covers on Torres' bed. Sitting up immediately and raising her hands, the sheet falling away to display her chest as B'Elanna looked at her, bewildered, the woman said, "Oh, Mister Murphy…don't shoot! It's just me...Claudia...from the lobby, Mister Murphy!"

Sighing, Torres said, flipping on the lights, "Kahless, what the hell are you doing here?" as she put away her gun and Seven started toward the bedroom, marching with determination.

Claudia pulled the sheets over her exposed torso as Seven came into view, raised her eyebrows, smirked at B'Elanna and then turned around and went back over to the desk, and explained, "Mister Murphy…oh, I'm so sorry. I just wanted to surprise you since my train was delayed. Please don't be angry…I'm terribly sorry. I didn't know you were bringing company. You don't usually bring company on Tuesday night."

"Alright, alright…just do me a favor and put your clothes on for Christ sakes," Torres said, taking off her hat and wiping her forehead. "How the hell did you get in here?"

As she got out of the bed and started to dress quickly, clearly shaken and terribly embarrassed, Claudia said, "I just used the key from the lobby like I always do."

"Oh, right," B'Elanna said, then looked out the doorway to Seven, who looked clearly amused, scowled at her blonde lover and mouthed, "I swear…I don't know." Then turning back to Claudia, who was merely just throwing herself together enough to get out, B'Elanna said, "Listen…Claudia…there's some bad shit happening right now. So, for the time being you shouldn't come in here unless I'm with you…okay?"

Nodding quickly as she approached Torres, she said, "Yes, of course, Mister Murphy…I'm terribly sorry. I'll just go and let you see to your business." Kissing Torres quickly on the lips as she passed, which caught the chief of guard, Claudia said as she held her shoes to her chest along with her bag and undergarments, keeping her shirt closed, looking at Seven, "I'm terribly sorry, Miss Bando…good day."

As Claudia scurried out the door and took off down the hallway, B'Elanna sighed and said as she went over to her coat rack and took off her jacket and Fedora, "Kahless, did you see that…I need a drink."

Standing to get Torres her drink, Seven smirked, "I was not aware that you were a special agent as well. I believe," she smiled over at Torres, who sighed, and then snickered at herself as she approached, "Scully would have been impressed."

Coming up to Seven, Torres wrapped her arms around her and said, "Yea…I've always wanted to do that…just once." Then kissing the back of Seven's neck, she added, "I swear to Kahless…I don't know who she is."

The Borg turned around, handed B'Elanna her drink, then grabbed her club soda with lemon and said, smirking as she walked over to Torres' desk, taking a seat in the front chair, "That was Claudia from the 'lobby.' You typically 'nail' her once a week…but not on 'Tuesday' since that is Ms. Kate's day."

B'Elanna smirked as she walked back to her desk, kicked off her shoes and said, "You really do have the dirt on everyone…don't you?"

"That is correct," Seven said before she took a sip of the soda, and then giggled slightly as she tended to do whenever she drank a carbonated beverage, but usually only on the first sip anymore. Then crinkling her nose and wiping it with her hand at the tickling sensation as B'Elanna smiled and chuckled mildly at the cuteness of a Borg giggling, Seven remarked, cocking her eyebrow at Torres as she sat down, "Do not laugh at me, Murphy. I have information that you require."

Nodding as she picked up her phone, Torres said, holding up her hand, "Just let me check my messages real quick…I'm expecting some info to come in." After dialing her private phone messaging service, B'Elanna said, "Murphy here…any messages for me?…Okay…hold on," setting the phone down, she reached into her pocket and pulled out her pen, then snatched up a scrap piece of paper from the top of her desk, sat down and said, "Okay, go," once she had the pen situated properly in her hand. As she wrote down the pertinent information, she asked afterward, "Was that all?…Okay, thanks...bye," then hung up the phone.

Taking a sip of her drink and then reaching for her cigarette, Torres said, "That was a message from a source…seems Doc Synder got turned down for her citizenship request for 'National Security' reasons…probably because she's Austrian and worked in Germany during some of the Nazi occupation, and things are still iffy with that stuff right now." After lighting her smoke, Torres puffed on it, then said, "Um, looks like she and Junior have been spotted together a lot recently…and my source says he's got a source that says they were spotted making out in the back of a taxi one night not too long ago." Looking up to Seven as she snatched up her drink and sat back, she asked, "What did you get on them?"

"Nothing further," Seven reported. "What do you believe the relevance of this data is?"

B'Elanna sipped on her drink for a moment, then said, "Well, if I had to say…I'd guess that Elsa's trying to get married to Junior so she can get citizenship…that's pretty much the only way that's going to work now, and since she's already been turned down, they're gonna look into it, so she needs a man that is clearly in love with her and wants to marry her. I'm not sure if she really loves Junior, but I'd bet that he's in love with her…especially considering how jumpy he got when he found out that I knew his wife was pregnant. Something tells me that wasn't planned, and possibly he was planning on leaving her, but now he's torn between the hot Austrian, and doing the right thing." Torres smoked for a few moments, then shook her head and said, "I don't care what century you're in…it's just not cool to leave a woman who's carrying your child. It's still considered crappy…even today…although," she added, "it's rare anymore that someone gets knocked up without planning to do so. Although, it does happen...like with Sam..."

"'Define 'knocked up,'" requested the Borg.

"Pregnant," Torres said then followed, "but don't use that term. It's really crass, and Red would kill me if she heard you say that…it's worse than nailed."

Raising her eyebrows and finally nodding, Seven informed, "I will comply." After she took a sip of her drink, Seven questioned, "Then you believe 'Junior' terminated his father?"

"Mmm…I don't know. I don't think so," Torres said, "but I think someone might be blackmailing him and keeping him from looking into the death further by threatening to go to wifey-poo about his affair with Elsa. Considering he's a lawyer and everyone thinks his dad went one flew over the cuckoos' nest…that could really kill his career in this day and age, especially since she's a foreigner and can't get citizenship. She might as well be a Nazi the way these people are." After a few beats, a drink and a hit off her cigarette, B'Elanna went on, "I'm still leaning toward a mob hit since he slipped when we were talking and said he didn't want his mom to know anything about the mob…and we hadn't even talked about that, but," she sighed and kicked up her feet, "I haven't been able to get anything on that yet other than that. What did you get at Kate's?"

Setting down her drink and standing, always preferring to do so when she recited data, especially when it was lengthy, Seven began, "I have been gathering information on her for several weeks. This is the third time I have entered her private office." Placing her hands behind her back, Seven informed, "She is Rose's biological mother." When Torres nodded, having expected that, the Borg informed, "Captain Richardson is Rose's biological father."

"What!" Torres reared forward, spilling some of her drink on her shirt. "Shit," she said as she looked down then stood up.

While Torres put out her cigarette, unsnapped her suspenders and unbuttoned her soiled shirt, leaving her in a white tanktop, Seven explained, "They are both from St. Louis. When the captain was twenty-eight years of age and Kate was eighteen years of age, they were engaged to be married." As Torres tossed her shirt down to the floor, snatched up her drink and just stood and listened, the Borg continued the tale, "Apparently, during this time, the captain was involved with a task force of sorts, and during a raid on a 'mob' operated facility, he was severely wounded, which is how he received the imperfection on his face. Shortly thereafter he 'broke-off' the engagement because he did not wish for Kate to be the 'wife' of a 'cop.'"

As Torres shook her head and said under her breath, "So that's why he's so protective of Rachel," Seven filed that away to her memory files and continued, "From her log, I learned that she was 'knocked up,'" Seven smirked, having to use that term just once in Torres' company to see B'Elanna grin and shake her head, "on the only occasion they ever copulated. Apparently, Captain Richardson was moderately intoxicated, which caused his lack of inhibitions considering before that, he had been a 'perfect gentlemen' and only 'courted' her. She was not disagreeable to the encounter…although, she states in much later entries that she was not surprised to learn that he developed a 'drinking problem.'"

"The captain's a drunk?" asked Torres, shocked.

"No," Seven of Nine answered. "He sought treatment and now 'does not touch the stuff.'" When B'Elanna nodded at that, Seven continued, "After Kate bore her offspring, she was forced, in a sense, to give 'custody' to her parents and was 'shunned' by them and required to leave the city. At that time she migrated to Cleveland, where she worked as a 'waitress' and attended university. She had an 'undergraduate' degree in small-business management. When her parent's were terminated in a 'car accident' seven years ago, Kate returned to look after Rose. Rose believes she is an 'adopted' child, and considers Kate her 'aunt' and not a 'sister' considering the difference in age, but from conversations I have had with Rose, Ms. Kate demands that Rose utilize that designation for 'business' purposes so that no one knows they are 'kin.'"

"So, Richardson doesn't know Rose is his daughter…right?"

"Correct," Seven said, unwinding her hands as Torres sat down and pulled out another cigarette, picking up her drink and taking a sip.

After lighting her smoke, Torres asked, "So, what's the deal…I mean, Richardson's got to know Kate's in town?"

"He does," Seven stated, then followed when she knew B'Elanna would asked, "however, they do not carry on a romantic relationship. Kate's logs are detailed and I do not get the 'impression' that she 'lies' in them." When Torres nodded, the blonde said as the brunette kicked her feet up again, "It is similar to a love/hate relationship as you have described it. She has never married, and you are currently the only individual she copulates with." Again before B'Elanna could ask, Seven said, "She had not stated that she loves you…at least, not in the same manner she loved the captain. She is clearly fond of you and relates to you, however. She considers you a similar individual as herself."

"So, what's she doing then…why did she come to Chicago?"

"I am uncertain," Seven of Nine stated. "She is cryptic in her entries about this matter, and I am not certain what her plan is…other than to 'save' enough funds to purchase a large dwelling in the 'country' for herself and Rose to live comfortably for the rest of their existence. She also wishes to 'open her doors' for other females who are 'with child' but without a suitable partner."

Snapping her fingers, Torres said, "I knew it was some do-gooder thing." Then sitting forward, she said, "Okay, ace…so what's she doing rubbing elbows with the mob…especially," B'Elanna shook her head and reached for her drink, "when the mob is what screwed up her marriage with the captain…well, in a sense?"

"I am uncertain," the Borg stated again, "however, I believe she is working for the police department. Today, when I spoke with Captain Richardson and informed him I was aware that he used to be engaged to her and that she harbors known criminals in her establishment, he became irate and warned me to 'butt-out' of police business."

Impressed, B'Elanna asked, "You really said that to him?" When Seven cocked her eyebrow and smirked, Torres smiled and said, "Not bad, hot shot…okay…so what else?"

"I am merely speculating, but I believe that she is preparing to gather the 'mob' in her establishment so that the police can hold a 'raid' and apprehend them. In a sense," Seven allowed, "I believe she is seeking revenge on Chicago's mob for what occurred with the captain."

"But how did she get involved in this…how did she hook up again with Richardson?"

"She was arrested for 'organized gambling,'" Seven of Nine stated. "At that time, she became aware that the captain and she were once again dwelling in the same city. This was several years ago. All 'charges' were dropped shortly thereafter and there is no official record. I have 'checked it out.'"

"So, you think they cut a deal," Torres began, standing up after flicking the end of her cigarette in the ashtray and walking around with her drink. "If she worked to get the mob…I mean at least some of the big shots, they would give her immunity." Then shaking her head, B'Elanna said, "I don't know, ace…that's serious business and Richardson's really protective. I don't think he'd let her do that."

"I do not believe she gave him a choice," Seven of Nine came back. "I believe she came here with a purpose to seek revenge, was then prematurely apprehended, and informed the captain that she planned to do this 'with' or 'without' his assistance. I believe his protectiveness plays a factor, but in the sense that he assists her so that he can be a part of it and 'look out' for her by making it 'official police business.' However, as far as I have been able to detect, only he and possibly the chief of police are aware of the arrangement."

"I wonder if Nick knows?" Torres muttered, then snapped her fingers and said, "Or, I wonder if that's why Richardson got so uppity about Rachel and Nick…because he knows that Nick's a dirty cop…well, kind of, I mean," she paused for a moment and took a sip of her whiskey while she paced, "he's not really dirty. He just saves all the money Kate pays him so he can steal Rose away…or maybe to cover his ass if he's found out. Or even better," she snapped her fingers, "Nick's on the inside with this whole bust thing. I think Nick's a good guy…in fact, I'm sure of it, and he's really not that important, I guess."

Finding it curious that Torres was referring to the commander as 'him,' Seven didn't bother to comment and said instead, "I believe you are correct, and I am certain that Rose is in love with Sergeant Fowler…Kate believes so as well, however," Seven informed, "she is not entirely pleased by that considering she was once in love with a similar 'cop' and the situation turned out poorly. Although, I do not believe she considers Nick Fowler 'dirty,' only 'useable,' and 'pays' her instead of giving the 'money' directly to Rose. She is clearly 'torn' in this regard. She wishes the 'best' for Rose, but does not wish to lose her now that she has reclaimed her. Kate's biggest regret in 'life' is 'giving up' Rose…and she is uncertain she will ever be able to inform Rose that she is her biological mother for fear Rose will become angry and leave her. However, she continues to use her to propagate her personal vengeance…thus she is slowly alienating her. She is a peculiar and contradictory individual."

Torres spun around, looked at Seven and asked, "How much of this story have you broken?"

"Nothing," Seven informed. "Considering the connections to the 'mofia,' I believed it is best for me to gather more information before it becomes public knowledge and our attempts to uncover the 'truth' are foiled."

Sighing, B'Elanna nodded and said, "Thank god…the last thing we need is a drive by shooting or a car bomb. Not that I don't like dodging bullets," she smirked, "but right now we've got too much to worry about…especially now that it seems Junior is just an innocent bystander. Okay," she nodded, then went back over to her desk, "I think definitely a mob hit on Kennedy…no doubt about it now. I went to the hospital today, and apparently, the doc was in the habit of going onto the roof to relax after losing a patient since they all said he'd been getting real emotional in the last year…and he'd lost a patient he'd had to admit the day before he died. I didn't get the feeling the patient was important…she was just an old woman…but it seems to me that the theory that he'd been up there the day before planning to jump and chickened out doesn't jive anymore. I think he was just upset about the old woman…maybe nervous about his wife and his ties to the mob…I don't know?" After a few moments, she shook her head and said, "I'm not sure where Kate ties into this…other than her place is the place to go to find the local crime bosses and Daddy-O was her doctor…so now," Torres smiled, "we've got to get busy and look into the old dead guy…find out what his story is exactly…and where that ties in."

"How do you believe we should go about that?"

Picking up her phone, Torres said as she flipped through her rolodex, "We call Junior and do a little blackmailing of our own." Then thinking of something quickly and putting her finger on the receiver, B'Elanna said, "And just so I know…this story's bigger than riding Kate right out of town…right?"

Smirking, Seven said as she picked up her drink, "Perhaps…"

As Seven of Nine took up residence in her bedroom, Torres insisting that the blonde stay as a witness, when in truth she didn't trust her to just break the story about Kate and Rose in an attempt to ruin the redhead, B'Elanna, now wearing a clean blue shirt, sat at her desk with her feet up and said, "It's open," as a tall figure appeared before her door and knocked on it. Keeping the drawer to her desk slightly ajar where her revolver rested, just in case 'Junior' got jumpy and tried to end her fun by 'killing' her, B'Elanna understanding that she had to be extra cautious now since she was starting to enter 'dangerous' territory, Torres smiled as Kennedy appeared and said, "Hiya, Dick."

When Kennedy reached into his coat pocket as she shut the door, Torres barked, "Keep your fuckin' hands were I can see them!"

"I'm just getting my pocket book," Kennedy informed, pulling his hand out. "Name your price, Murphy. I'll pay whatever it takes. I just don't want any trouble."

"Neither do I, Junior," Torres came back, sitting up straight and keeping her hand near the drawer. "And I don't want your fake money since your check bounced and already screwed up my account. I only want information… so just keep your hands where I can see them and have a seat before I get edgy."

"Why are you doing this to me if there's no money in it for you?" asked Kennedy, coming toward the desk but not sitting down. "I can get you cash...over twenty-grand and I can get it tonight."

Standing up, B'Elanna snapped, "I said I don't want your money, and I'll ask the questions…now sit your ass down." When Kennedy did so, Torres sat down slowly as well and said, "If you tell me the truth, I'll keep you and the hot Austrian outta this…no one has to know."

"How can you say that?" Kennedy came back, reaching across the table for Torres' smokes.

Flipping her lighter to him, B'Elanna said, "Because something tells me this is big-time shit, Air Mac, and you screwing an Austrian babe isn't so big-time."

Kennedy snapped closed the lighter and said, "Her name is Elsa…and I happen to be in love with her, so if you wouldn't mind, Murphy!" slamming down the lighter on the table.

"Right," Torres came back, reaching across and picking it up. "So, who's blackmailing you?"

"You mean other than you?"

"Yea, Dick…other than me."

Puffing on his cigarette nervously, Kennedy sighed, shaking his head and said, "Honestly, I don't know, but I think it's the mob…it seems like stuff they'd do. They called my house a few times…made Becky nervous by asking her questions about me but not saying who they were…and I got a note at my office downtown."

"What did it say?"

Reaching into his pocket, Kennedy said, when Torres warned him, "I've got it right here…I don't even know how to shoot a gun, alright? I was in high school during the war."

"Yea, alright," Torres said, but kept her hand poised on her drawer.

As he pulled out the note, he set it on the detective's desk, then asked, looking over to the cabinet, "Can I get a drink this time?"

While she snatched up the folded note, Torres said, "Help yourself," then read:

Raising her eyebrows, B'Elanna allowed, "Subtle…when did you get this?"

"The morning you called me," Kennedy informed as he poured himself a shot, then threw it back, then poured another one. "It was sitting on my desk in an envelope. I was the first one in that morning…so they had to have been in my office.

Setting the note to the side, planning to keep it, B'Elanna asked, "What color was the envelope?"

"It was white…and it just had my name on it," answered the nervous gentlemen before he puffed on his cigarette and sat back down, his hands shaking visibly. Pointing at the letter, he said, "It was typed too."

Since her clues always came in purple envelopes and had actual handwriting, she didn't think her source was the source of this note, so she asked, "Any idea…honestly…why your father was killed?"

Shaking his head, Kennedy said, "Not really. The only thing recently that seemed strange was that he'd get calls at all hours of the night and have to leave right away to go to work. It was like he was working in the ER again, but he was a general practitioner…so it didn't make a lot of sense. He hadn't done emergency medicine in years...over fifteen. He said it was just extra work he was doing for the hospital to help out while they were short staffed, but when I talked to some of the doctors and nurses that were at his funeral and asked them if they wanted me to call my father's friend in Detroit who was an retired ER doctor and see if he wanted to come down and help out until their staffing situation was better, they didn't know what I was talking about."

"Why the hell didn't you tell me this stuff before?"

"I didn't really think of it, and," Kennedy sighed, "I just thought that meant that dad really had gone crazy. Look," he said, setting down his drink, "I admit it okay…me and my old man weren't on the best of terms, and I wanted his insurance money so I could move to Austria with Elsa. All I needed was a little doubt and they would have paid half…but I didn't kill him…I'd never kill anybody. It wasn't until this that I knew something was up."

"No one's saying you did…so relax," Torres came back then picked up her pack of smokes and lit one for herself. "Any idea what your father was doing all those times he went out?"

"No," Kennedy came back, "but he always took his medical bag with him, and one early evening he'd been called while we were all over having dinner, he came back a few hours later with some blood on his sport coat…so I always assumed he was at the hospital."

Thinking that over for a moment, B'Elanna questioned, "Your old man having any dealings with the mob…or anything you know about that they could use to blackmail him and make him work as their personal doctor?"

"No. I found some strange papers in his home office last night, but I didn't have time to really look before my mother came in. It didn't make any sense to me, anyway... it was just numbers and patient files...medical and financial stuff. The figures were large, though...so I assume he was in it for the money. I don't know why he'd ever get involved with that. I can't imagine he'd ever do it willingly, though...my family has never been strapped for cash. I don't know why they would pick him though...I don't know about anything Dad ever did that they could use against him...other than this."

When Kennedy shook his head negatively as he smoked and said that was all he'd seen, B'Elanna took a toke off her cigarette, then nodded up at him and asked, blowing the smoke from her lungs, "Why didn't you two get along?"

"Because he wanted me to be a doctor like him," said the son. "He disapproved of me becoming a defense lawyer…and threatened to stop paying for my schooling because he thinks we're all rat scum. So," Kennedy sighed and put out his cigarette, "when he did that, I married Becky," nodding, "because her father owns the firm I'm employed at now…and he paid for the rest of my school and then made me a partner." Shaking his head, he held up his hands and said, "I always liked her…I never planned on meeting Elsa…that just happened."

"Alright, so basically you used her for her father," Torres said anyway, then smiled as she kicked her feet back and said, uncaring, "and basically what goes around comes around…because I'd bet my QIS that Elsa's using you…and doesn't plan to go back to Nazi-land."

"What the fuck is a QIS?" asked Kennedy, becoming angry. When B'Elanna said it was a knife, a nice one, Kennedy said, "Listen, Murphy, I know you think you're a hot shot swingin' dick, but the truth is…you don't know dick about me and Elsa. We're in love and we're going to go back to Austria…just as soon as I make enough money. It won't be long now..."

"Well, what about her money…she's got to have some?"

"She's on a temp visa with the museum…they let her work, they pay her room and board, and that's about all she gets other than notoriety," Kennedy came back standing up and grabbing his drink. Tossing it back, he slammed it down and said, "That's all I know…are we done now…Mac?"

Smiling, Torres said, "Yea, we're done…just don't leave town for a few days, Junior…or all bets are off." Once Kennedy left and Seven of Nine stepped out of the bedroom, B'Elanna asked as she put out her cigarette and stood up, grabbing her gun and putting it behind into the back of her pants, "Did you catch all that?"

"Yes."

"Okay," she said, then downed her drink, "I think we can assume that Pops was working with the mob as their doctor. That makes sense…that keeps them out of the hospital…and that ties Kate into it by her also using him as her doctor to hide her identity. Any time there's a gunshot wound or something like that, the hospital staff has to report it to the police…just like our doc has to report injuries to the captain." Coming around the desk and starting for her coat rack, she checked her watch and said, "We've got two hours before things start picking up at Kate's…and I don't know about you, but," she smiled, "I'd really like to hear Sam sing. Nick says she's great."

"That is correct," Seven of Nine reported while Torres donned her trench coat and hat. "However," Seven reminded, "she does not sing 'rock.'"

Smiling and chuckling, B'Elanna said as she closed her office door and locked it, then reached up and fixed the piece of tape again, "Yea, I didn't figure she would…but," she smiled as she held out her arm for Seven, "I can get down with some moody jazz…especially," she smirked as Seven took her arm and they started walking, knowing that Wildman typically sang classical but had worked on a few more lounge entertainment style tunes for this event, "when the singer's wearing a killer dress…helps with the experience."

"Indeed," Seven of Nine replied as they started for the steps. As Torres smiled and they both laughed once, Seven asked while they walked down the stairs, "'Where to', Murphy?"

"Off to the see the Widow Kennedy," Torres smiled, "and time to play a little dress up of our own."

With her hair in a haphazard bun and lounging very comfortably and peaceful in the bubble bath with a warm washcloth placed over her eyes, rather enjoying this holonovel since not only didn't she have to be the main character and figure everything out, it included two of her favorite things: playing a complicated woman and bubble baths, Kathryn smiled and sighed blissfully as she unceremoniously hung one of her legs over the edge of the bath as well as her arm, feeling some of her recent stresses and frustration melting away with the bubbles. Although she was still alone, and specifically not in the company of Torres and Seven, she knew they were close and undoubtedly having a good time, and since she would see them later, it wasn't bothering her. Janeway didn't bother to warn Fowler she was in the tub since she knew the water was deep enough and there were enough bubbles that she wasn't exposed, and frankly, the faster Nicole got over her anxiety around her, the better she thought they'd all be. Considering the commander had made love to her passionately, although in someone else's body, and had her mouth and hands over practically every inch of her for several long hours until they both nearly passed out from exhaustion, Kathryn honestly thought it was rather stupid to pretend Fowler didn't remember what she looked like disrobed, as well as a few other intimate things that most people didn't know. There was also the fact that prior to that, Kathryn had come to depend upon Fowler a great deal for support as well, and even though she felt supported professionally, personal matters, at least between them, were now extinct, so she didn't feel comfortable confiding in the brunette as she had before, albeit rarely, and that meant Chakotay was really the only one left since Tuvok spent a great deal of his personal time with Seven of Nine, and as much as she loved Tuvok, he wasn't always the best person to discuss matters of the heart with. It wasn't that she didn't like Chakotay. The complete opposite was true, but it was difficult on her to only have him as a personal outlet since she had grown so used to having many, and the commander also had his own life, his own friends aboard the ship, and he was also a very busy person too. She already worried she was taking up too much of his personal time...even though half of the time it was him coming over to look in on her, she knew, so she really wanted her female friend back to offset that, as well as to make sure Fowler was doing alright as well since she'd noticed a decided change in her mood since the transporter accident. She couldn't be sure if it was just Fowler reacting to her, but she felt there was more to it since she'd watched her interact with a few crewmembers one day when Nicole hadn't seen her, and although Nick hadn't been mean, she'd been less easy going than normal. She was also a lot more quiet, even on the Bridge when everyone was together just talking and working, so she doubted it was all about their 'issues,' whatever those were, she didn't know either, precisely.

When the footsteps stopped in the doorway and a deep male voice said, "We've gotta talk," Kathryn tore the washcloth from her face, wide-eyed and said, snapping, when she realized the character was that of her ex-finacé by the sizeable scar on his cheek, "Excuse me…but this is my bathroom! Now get the hell out!" as she threw her washcloth at him, using her free arm to cover her chest as she sat up slightly.

Catching the cloth, Richardson set it down on the edge of the tub as Kathryn drew her legs in but stayed in the water and glared at him, then turned around and said, "You don't have to get out…this will only take a minute." Glancing over his shoulder, he asked, turning back around, "Did you want a towel?"

Kathryn sighed and spat, "Well, since you've already ruined my relaxation…yes, please." As Richardson handed her the towel, then turned around and went into the other room, Janeway sighed as she stood and mumbled, "Well, at least he's polite enough not to watch," as she wrapped the towel around her body. Going into her closet and pulling on a thin, light blue robe, tying it tightly around her waist after toweling off lightly, Kathryn asked, speaking fairly loudly as she hung up her towel, "What's this about, Captain?"

Sighing, Richardson said as he came back into the bathroom, "Will you at least call me Jack…this ain't official business."

"If this isn't official business," Kathryn started, coarse as she stepped up to him, "then just what gives you the right to walk into my house, let alone," she boomed, "my bedroom!"

"That Bando woman came by to see me today," Richardson started, crossing his arms over his chest and standing in the doorway, speaking softly. "She knows about the two of us…our past."

Not surprised, Janeway asked, "How?"

"Hell if I know," he sighed, turning around and starting toward the other room, "she's got ears and sources all over the flippin' place…drives me crazy." Looking about, he asked, "Kate, why do you live like this and let that Rose use up all your hard earned money?"

"That's none of your business," Kathryn came right back, hoping to keep him away from her bed where she knew the pictures displayed there could possibly give her away. "Just how the hell did you get in here anyway?"

"The back door was unlocked, and I picked the lock up here," Richardson reported. Then turning around to her, he said, "No one saw me…everyone's running around setting up the tables."

Laughing sardonically, Janeway said, "You picked the lock…and here all this time I thought you were such a fine, upstanding officer. I should have known," she said with anger, enjoying herself as she reached down and picked up her clothes that were on the floor that she'd shed prior to her bath. "Captain Richardson, you've got two minutes to say what's on your mind before I call the real police and have you arrested for trespassing as well as breaking and entering…starting now." As the captain migrated over to the bed to have a seat since there weren't any other chairs around, Janeway barked, "I don't believe I gave you permission to sit!"

"Christ, woman," Richardson came back as he sat down, "you haven't changed a bit…still as…"

"Damn," Kathryn muttered under her breath as Richardson stopped speaking and looked over to the photo. When he smiled and said, "Well, I'll be damned," Janeway marched over to him, snatched it out of his hands and said, "Your time's up, Captain…leave…now!" in her most authoritative voice.

Looking up at Janeway as she opened her drawer on her nightstand, threw the picture in and shut it, her movements agitated, Richardson sighed and asked, "Why do you still have that?"

As a knock sounded on the door, Kathryn snapped, "So I can recall how much I despise you…yes, come in!"

"Ms. Kate," Samantha started tentatively as she opened the door, "is there a problem…?"

"Rose, honey," Kathryn said over her shoulder, not bothering to ask if Fowler was around since she was certain Nick would have come up instead, "go call the police right now and bring my gun."

"Yes, Ma'am," Wildman said out of habit, then turned and scurried down the steps.

"Are you gonna shoot me, Kate?" Richardson asked, still sitting and looking up at her, his voice subdued and depressed.

Turning back to him and placing her hands on her hips, Janeway answered, "I will if you don't get the hell out of here, Richardson. This is my place…and you've broken into it." Noticing his eyes trailing down her chest, she glanced down as she spoke, grabbed the upper half of her robe where a significant part of her sternum was exposed, pulled it closed and said, "I have every right to defend my property," fixing the tie so it held her robe together.

"I'm not here to hurt you," the captain reminded, "and you can only shoot me if you feel your life's in danger…now, that's the law."

"Oh, that's where you're wrong," Kathryn said with warning and malevolence. "I can do anything I damn well please…the law can't stop me from acting, only punish me when I've acted against it…and you've really got no room to talk since you've broken in here."

Standing up quickly, Richardson said, "Would you just listen to me for one damn minute, you hot-headed woman…I'm tryin' to do you a favor here."

"I don't recall requesting any favors from you, Captain," Janeway returned. Then pointing to the exit, she said, "The door's that way…use it…now!" When the captain sat back down and ran his fingers through his hair short, choppy hair, certainly not worried about the police because they tended to protect their own, Janeway sighed, pinched the bridge of her nose and said, "Fine…say what's on your mind…and make it fast."

"That Bando woman is out for blood, Kate," Richardson informed, "she's out for your blood…and I can't protect you from the press."

"I can handle Vivian Bando," Janeway returned. "Was there anything else?"

"I think we should consider delaying tomorrow's bust…there's too much going on, and I'm worried about you," Richardson said. "Murphy's been poking his nose around, and now that reporter…and there's always trouble when those two get together." The male captain looked back up at Janeway and said sincerely, "You know that last thing I want in life is to see you get hurt. Murphy's got a bug up his butt about old doc Kennedy being killed…and someone's gonna find out he's checkin' into it before we can pull this off."

"Murphy's a small-time detective, Jack…and Kennedy was coward, who couldn't ride it out," Janeway informed, confident and savvy. "I'm not Kennedy. I can handle myself. I'm not the child you left behind all those years ago…"

"No, you're a damned stubborn woman," said Richardson, standing up and hovering close to her. "I've got a bad feelin' about tonight, Kate…my sources all over the town are sayin' something's gonna go down soon…and it ain't what we've got planned. I think someone's onto you…I think Kennedy was a sign for you specifically…"

"All the more reason to do it now," Janeway replied, adamantly, raising her chin and stepping up directly to him, fearless and intimidating as ever. "I'm not going to back out just because you're scared…I've put my whole life into this…everything I have to stop these men, and I will not back down from them just because them and their enemies wouldn't think twice about ending my life."

"Lord have mercy," Richardson said as he grabbed Kathryn by her shoulders and shook her slightly, but not terribly rough, "would you just get off your high horse and think rationally for one damn minute! You're in too deep…it's time to get out and let me handle this." Cupping her face with one hand, he said as Kathryn glared at him and tried to push his arm away, as he drew her into his chest and held her close, "I'm sorry I left you, but I've never stopped loving you. I've never loved anyone else…and I can't let you do this because of what I did. I'll never forgive myself if you got hurt."

"Richardson," Janeway said low and even, raising her knee to his groin subtly, but purposeful, "you either get your hands off of me right now, or I will make certain you never father another child…are we clear?"

Busting through the door in her black evening gown with Kate's Colt .45 drawn and holding it steady with both hands, Samantha snapped, "You get your damned hands off her, Mister…right this instant!" When he didn't comply immediately, Wildman raised the gun, fired into the ceiling, brought it back down, taking two steps toward him as Kathryn just started at her, impressed, and warned, "Ms. Kate's the best shot I know and I've worked for her for a long time…so you either let her go, or I'll blow your head clean off your body. We've got rules at K Street about where you can put your hands…and you're breaking them."

Richardson let Kathryn go at that, held up his hands and said, "Alright, alright…just don't get yourself into a fit, Miss. I'm not here to hurt anyone."

Pointing the gun lower toward his crouch, having heard what Janeway had said to him just before she came in so she didn't think Kathryn would think she was terribly uncouth, and figuring it was best to just follow her captain's lead, Samantha said, "I don't really care why you're here, Mister…but you need to go…and I mean right now. The police are on their way and one of them is a personal friend of ours. He doesn't take kindly to the mistreatment of ladies…not at all, Mister."

"Goddamned crazy women," Richardson remarked as he started away, Samantha keeping him in her sights the entire time. "I'll be back, Kate…if I have to get a warrant to do it, I will, but I'm not gonna let you do this alone."

"You just go and get your warrant," Samantha said as she followed him to the door, "but don't come back until you do, or I will shoot you just because I don't like you." Once he'd gone, Wildman smiled, turned and said, "Well that was fun…I've never done that before."

Smiling and chuckling as she walked up to Wildman and took her gun, Kathryn said, "The lengths to which we go to amuse ourselves these days…I'm certain if there was a counselor on board he or she wouldn't approve." Then patting Samantha's shoulder, Kathryn said, "Good work, Lieutenant…thank you."

"Thank you, Captain," Wildman nodded before she asked, "What was all that about anyway?"

"That was Captain Richardson…from Homicide…he's an old boyfriend," Kathryn remarked as she went back over to her nightstand and set her gun down, but left the picture in the drawer since she was pretty certain Samantha didn't know her character was actually Ms. Kate's biological daughter.

"He was a cop. Oops," Wildman laughed, bringing her hand to her mouth. Then smiling as she went over to the captain's bathroom to check up on her appearance, Samantha remarked, "Well, at least he's handsome if you like the rugged type. Considering some of the men," she added as Janeway stepped back into the bathroom, "I've seen around…I'd say you lucked out. Although, he looks kind of old for you." When Kathryn chuckled, slipped off her robe and stepped back into the tub, laid down and put her washcloth back over her eyes, Wildman turned toward her, smiled and said as she picked up her robe and hung it on the hook behind the door, just catching a glimpse of Janeway's torso as she sank down under the cover of the bubbles, "Captain, I hope you don't mind me saying or take offense, but you're just the cutest thing…I wish I had your figure."

Janeway took her washcloth off her face, dumbfounded and said as she lifted her head, "You can't be serious?" since Kathryn had always felt she looked like a fourteen-year old boy compared to women like Wildman and Seven…even B'Elanna, who was just as shapely, just more compact and muscled.

"Oh, sure I am," Wildman informed, taking a seat on the toilet near the tub, chuckling. Shaking her head, she admitted, "I always wanted to be petite…maybe it's the grass is always greener on the other side phenomenon, but it's true." Sighing as she stood up and looked down at herself, she said openly, partially wanting to test just how much personal discussions the captain would allow from her since she really didn't know, "I swear, if my boobs get any bigger I'm worried I'm going to hurt someone one of these day. I don't know how Seven does it." As Kathryn started cackling, she continued, "I have one child and suddenly my days of going to a topless beach are history…just for the sheer fact of comfort…not to mention," she sighed, though smiling as Janeway continued to chuckle, "I've become so modest I can't even recall how in the world I used to do that."

Relaxing back into the water, stilling her chortle and smiling, closing her eyes but leaving the washcloth off, Janeway responded, "Well, thank you…coming from you, I'll take that as a compliment. And if it's any consolation," she lifted her head and gestured up and down to Samantha's dress, "I could never wear that…certainly not as nicely as you do…and I'm not talking about the modesty factor, I simply couldn't fill it out correctly." Leaning back again and closing her eyes, she finished, "And by the way," she smiled, "there's nothing wrong with modesty. I like modesty…women like us are necessary to offset women like Lanna. If we weren't around," she opened her eyes and smiled, "she'd be bored out of her mind since there wouldn't be anyone left from whom to get a good reaction."

Smiling as she looked in the mirror and fussed with her hair, definitely having a fun time being 'girly' with Janeway, Wildman said, "Don't forget Seven. She's just as bad as B'Elanna…just in a different, less obvious way…so she's actually more dangerous." To prove her point, she turned to the captain, pointed to her plunging neckline and said, "This was all her idea."

"I thought it was Nick's?" informed Janeway, shocked.

Samantha shook her head and said, "Oh no…not that Nick doesn't like it, but," she turned back to the mirror, "it's not really her style to make comments about what I should wear…she doesn't think it's her place. She always likes whatever it is I wear...it never matters." Looking back over to the captain, she giggled at the look on Janeway's face and said, "I'm serious, Captain…I asked her what she thought, and she said it was almost perfection, then did that thing she can do with her hand, told me to be still, and," she turned toward Janeway and drew her finger over the area Seven had cut as she said, "snip here, cut there…and suddenly I'm an official member of her hot babe Collective," she snickered, shaking her head and looking back to the mirror, snatching up a tube of lipstick from the counter, curious as to the color. "Then she marched me into the bathroom...in front of the mirror, informed me I was being too modest and that I was…sufficiently covered and that she was certain Nick would love it."

Janeway sighed, chuckling mildly and remarked as she settled back again, "You know, I used to only joke that Lanna was warping her mind…but I think now it's true." She then felt that need to add, "Although, she's right, you know…your dress is really beautiful…and," she smiled, "you're not the only person that's been marched into the bathroom before for a talking to by my darling Borg."

"Captain," Samantha started as she sat back down on the toilet, "can I ask your advise about a personal matter?"

Smiling and chuckling in endearment, Janeway said, "Dear, you're in my bathroom…I'm in the tub and you just told me Seven modified your dress to make it more revealing…you can call me Kathryn…and," she smirked, looking over at her, "you can ask me anything…although," she closed her eyes again, hung her leg over the tub and finished, "I tell you what I always tell your daughter...I can't guarantee that I'll have a good answer."

"Do you think it's too soon to ask Nick to marry me?" asked the greater than a decade younger blonde as she sat down on the toilet next to the bathtub.

Very surprised, but pleasantly so, the captain opened her eyes, looked over at Samantha and asked, seriously, but warm, "You're really ready for that?" Before Sam could answer, Kathryn said, "Not that I'm terribly surprised, but considering your circumstances, I know you've got to be extra cautious about those types of decisions."

Nodding, Wildman said she rested her elbow on the back of the commode, propping up her head and turned toward Janeway, "I'm ready because I really do love her that much. I can't imagine being with anyone else…male or female." Smiling, Samantha said, "She's the perfect mix of both for me…sometimes she'll do or say something and I'll forget she's a woman, but then she'll go and do something in the next instant that reminds me…and god," she smiled and closed her eyes for a moment, "she's just the sweetest thing…and funny…and my god, just damn sexy," she giggled, opening her eyes. "She makes me a lunatic…she's all I can think about sometimes." As Janeway smiled over at her, Wildman said softly, "I've never felt like that for anyone…not even close…and it's not just about sex," she clarified, "because I can just walk down the hall with her and feel the same way. She can walk into a room and not say a word to me other than smile and nod and I feel like I'm having a hot flash or something." Shaking her head, she said, "And we've been together for nearly four months now, and it just gets stronger every day. I didn't think that would be possible because I practically threw myself at her," she snickered, shaking her head and covering her eyes for a second, "the first time we were together." After a beat, she smiled and said, "You know what she told me today. She told me she wants to build a new holoprogram…like the one she used to have…but this one she wants to build on the beach because she knows I love the ocean." Sitting up straight and shaking her head, Wildman said, "I didn't know what to say to that…that she wanted to build something like that with me. I mean, I was thrilled, but," she sighed, "it just caught me by surprise since I guess I just always hold a little back. I don't know why I do that anymore…maybe I'm just waiting for the other shoe to fall," she finished, sighing.

After a few moments, Samantha looked at the captain and informed, "I guess I'm not really looking for advice, just a sounding board…I mean, I know there are a lot of things we have to talk about. I need to know what she thinks about children. I know she loves Naomi, and I think she'd probably adopt her in a heart-beat considering she's adopted, but I don't know if she wants more children."

"Do you want more children?"

Smiling over to the captain, Wildman resumed her laid back position and said, "Even though it probably means my boobs will just get bigger," she snickered, "yes, I do. I love Naomi to pieces, but I think I'd like to have a completely human child…one with her specifically…and one who won't grow up so darn fast on me." Smiling, she said, "I know, shocking for a xenobiologist to say…but it's true."

"Oh, I don't think there's anything shocking about that," Kathryn allowed as she put her head back and closed her eyes. "I think the same thing about Naomi too. I know soon she'll be too mature to take baths with me and let me pretend for a little while that I'm a mother. You'd think," she laughed, shaking her head, "that that's the last thing I'd want considering my position, but," she opened her eyes and looked at Sam, "it's not quite the same." Smirking and making fun of herself, she said, "I know it's hard to believe, but I don't allow most people into my bathroom…it's just not very captain-like," she chuckled, then raised her finger and shook it, "but one thing I've found out here is that there are always exceptions to the rules."

After a few moments when Samantha didn't say anything, Kathryn looked over at her, smiled and said, "You know, I think there's one thing you might consider taking into account."

"What's that?"

Smiling brighter, the captain informed, "I could be wrong, but Miss Fowler strikes me as the get down on one knee and propose marriage type. I'm not saying she's narrow-minded, but I think she'd honestly prefer to be the one to ask you rather than the other way around…I have a feeling that's rather important to her." Prior to Samantha saying anything, Janeway felt the need to add, "The same is true for Lanna…maybe not the totally traditional aspect of it considering our relationship makes that tough, but I know she really wants to be the one to ask, so I'm content to wait…and I think so is Seven…even if we didn't have extenuating circumstances right now."

Samantha nodded and said, "Oh, I'm sure you're right, but," she sighed, shaking her head, "she's so deliberate and contemplative sometimes. I'm just worried that if I wait, she'll just wait and wait for longer than I would want. I don't think I'm as patient as you are. I don't know," she shrugged, "I honestly never expected to be in this position with her. I mean, I was adamant that she tell me if she was looking for a wife because I wasn't looking to be one, but," she sighing happily, "she just had to go and be the most amazing person I've ever met and blow all that to hell, frankly."

Chuckling, Kathryn nodded and said, "Yes, they tend to so that, don't they?"

"I mean, I love her…and that makes me want to be committed to her and visa versa," Wildman said, then added, "and this isn't because she's a terrible flirt. I don't care about that because that makes her who she is and I love her personality. I don't have any fears about that…she's simply too honorable for me to feel like I'll ever have to worry about that. Really," she sighed, "for the sheer fact alone of how hard she fought that desire when she was going through pon farr for goodness sakes…that right there proves to me I'll never have to go down that road…even if she is so charming and has women like me," she laughed, "throwing themselves at her…even in this place." Shaking her head, she finished, "I can't explain it…but it's true. I feel it every day…the desire to tell her that I want to spend the rest of my life with her and no one else. I don't know, maybe I'm just looking for a something I can't have…a guarantee that she'll never leave…for whatever reason."

"Well," Janeway said softly, "like I said before, I'm not sure I can give you sound advise…simply because," she smiled brighter, "I think I'm rather selfishly biased, and I'd be lying if I said that marrying the two of you wouldn't be one of the highlights of my career…or something that I haven't been hoping for since you two found each other. I'm not sure I've ever seen a couple as perfectly suited for each other as the two of you…except for maybe Lanna and Seven these days." When Wildman smiled at that and looked down, Janeway waited for a moment, then offered, "But, if there is one piece of advise I give everyone…including your daughter…it's to just be honest, Samantha. You'll never be truly happy if you aren't, but I think you know that, and," she finished, very quiet, "I think you'll know when the time is right for the both of you. Just trust your instincts…and don't think I don't understand your desire for a guarantee, but I know that you know that they simply don't exist."

Nodding as she stood up, Samantha said, "Thank you, Cap," snapping her fingers, chuckling, "Kathryn. I'm not sure what I'm going to do yet, but I'll definitely think about what you've said." When the captain smiled and nodded and told her she was more than welcome, Wildman said, "Well, I'll let you finish your bath. I should warm up my fingers anyhow. Oh," she added, stopping in the doorway, "and by the way…just so you know, I can see why Seven calls you her universe and B'Elanna, of all the people," she snickered, "gets so happy every time she talks about you…you're very neat to be around. Thank you again."

Kathryn sighed and shook her head, then chuckled, pushing off her melancholy as she laid back and put her wash cloth back over her eyes, whispering to herself, "Neat and cute, huh? I think I can handle that."

"Okay," B'Elanna Torres whispered to Seven of Nine, whose hair was now in a ponytail and she was wearing a pair of glasses in an attempt to disguise herself and make her look less sophisticated, as they came around the side of the Kennedy house slowly after casing the entire area, the sun having just set so they were in relative darkness, and Torres had pulled out her black trench coat from the back of her car to assist, "you ready?" When Seven of Nine nodded, Torres added, "Gimme at least ten minutes…just keep her busy and out of that room…I'll make it fast."

"I will comply," Seven of Nine whispered, then gave her a thumb's up and started up the stairs to the front door of the large, yellow, suburban house. Straightening her jacket, then practicing her smile, Seven rang the doorbell, cleared her throat and focused on keeping her voice smooth, warm and 'human.' When a grey-haired woman poked her head around the curtains, the Borg smiled and waved at her pleasantly, and when the woman opened the door but kept the chain on it, and asked if she could help her, Seven began, "That is correct. My…name," she nodded, keeping herself from saying designation, "is Ema Nymton. I wish to speak with you."

"What's this about Miss Nymton?"

"I work for the 'CFD'…"

"The CFD?"

"The Chicago Fire Department."

"Is this about my husband?"

Nodding, Seven of Nine adjusted her 'script' quickly and said, "Yes…he arranged this consultation. However," she said, placing her hands behind her back, unable to help herself, "I have been unable to 'reach' him at his office. Is he present?" When Missus Kennedy closed the door on her, Seven raised her eyebrow and was about to reach for the doorbell again when the door opened completely.

"My husband's dead, Miss Nymton…he died on the twenty-ninth of last month," Kennedy said as she stepped up to the screen door, folding her pink cardigan sweater tightly over her frail chest what was clothed in a long, white nightgown. Then looking Seven up and down, she narrowed her eyes some and asked, "Have we met before…you look awfully familiar?"

Smiling, Seven of Nine nodded and answered as B'Elanna instructed her how if she said she recognized her from somewhere, "I believe we met at the hospital." Then reminding herself to stop smiling, Seven said, "I am 'sorry' to hear of your spouse's term…his death." She shook her head, sighed heavily and dramatically as she said, "I was not aware of that information."

"Thank you…it's alright," Kennedy said, shaking her head. "It came as a surprise to all of us. Um, what did you need again?"

"Your husband arranged for a consultation with me," the blonde informed immediately. "He recently informed our department that he was concerned about the devices in your 'kitchen'…with regards to 'fire' safety…and requested that I come to your dwelling, perform a 'quick' inspection and give you a consultation on how to adapt to meet the city's new 'fire' codes."

"Oh…I didn't know there were new fire codes," Kennedy said, shaking her head, "but I never paid much attention to that sort of thing. Dick handled all that business." Looking back up to Seven, she asked, "How long will this take…I’m not feeling well tonight?"

"Approximately ten minutes...Ma'am…I will only be a 'jiffy.'"

"Is this going to cost me any money, dear?" asked Kennedy quickly. "If so, I'm going to have to clear this with my son…he handles all our finances now."

"No," replied Seven quickly, then added when she felt she sounded too desperate, "Dick…already 'paid' the appropriate monetary sum. This is merely a personal consultation, I assure you."

"Alright," the older woman said, opening the screen door, "come on in, honey. Did you want me to take your coat? I like to keep the house warm because of my arthritis..."

"It is not necessary, but thank you," Seven of Nine said as she started for the kitchen. She then stopped, turned and requested, "Will you accompany me? I am 'afraid' I am not entirely familiar with the specifics of this dwelling."

"Sure…it's right this way," Kennedy reported as she passed by her and continued on, then added as she said over her shoulder, "My goodness, honey…you've got to be nearly six foot. Is your husband tall too?"

"I do not have a 'husband' nor do I have a spouse as of yet."

"No?" Kennedy came back as she turned on the kitchen light. "Well, that's a shame…pretty girl like you…seems to me you'd be the first one in your class to find a man. Don't the boys at the department ever ask to escort you?"

Seven of Nine forced herself not to sign, finding it irritating that everyone she'd encountered today either asked her if she was married, or assumed she was heterosexual, and answered as she approached the primary nutritional heating device, "My sexual orientation is not heterosexual."

"I don't follow…your what?" queried the old woman, not understanding a word Seven had spoke, other than sexual, but she didn't believe it appropriate to use that term.

"That data is irrelevant at this time," Seven came back, pulling the oven from the wall with ease.

"Oh, honey, I'll get the neighbor's boy…don't hurt…" Kennedy started, then stopped when the blonde didn't seem like she had to worry about injuring herself moving such a heavy piece of equipment. When Seven turned and knocked solidly on the wall three times, signaling to B'Elanna that she was in position to make a lot of noise and that Torres could open the window without fear, the old woman asked, "What's that for?"

Using the answer Torres had told her to use, Seven explained, "I am testing for 'air pockets' in the walls."

"Oh," Kennedy said, then asked, "Did we have any?"

Banging on the wall five more times as she detected the sound of B'Elanna opening the window in the other room, Seven of Nine stated, "I am uncertain as of yet…however, I do not believe so." Turning to the stove, she pointed to it and commanded, "Demonstrate the functionality of this device," then added quickly, smiling, "please…and thank you."

"Do what, honey?"

After a moment, Seven contemplated her words and requested, "Will you please activate this device? I do not know how to do so."

"You mean turn it on, dear?"

"That…yes."

"Well sure," Kennedy said as she went over to the gas stove and turned on the burner, then said, looking over to Seven, "Honey, I hope you don't mind a little womanly advise, but if you don't want to be an old-maid, you've got to learn how to cook. Didn't they teach you that in your school?"

Confused, Seven replied, 'going with the flow' as best she was able, "I am not from this quadrant…of the 'city.'" Then turning quickly back to the stove as the widow looked up at her with a dreadful look of uncertainty on her face, Seven said after she quickly pounded on the wall again, and requested, again doing just as Torres had told her, not feeling the need to improvise yet, as B'Elanna had suggested she try if she felt it was necessary, "Please observe the 'flame'…and inform me if the color changes to…purple." After banging on the wall for almost a minute, she stopped and asked as the old woman watched the fire closely, "Report."

Looking up, Kennedy said, "Well, honey…I think it did for just a few moments while you were bangin' real hard. Is that bad?"

"No," Seven said quickly as she turned the knob on the oven to the off position. "That is 'normal' behavior for this device." Noticing that there was a door on the front of the stove, she pulled it open, looked inside and questioned, trying her hand at improvising, "What is the…what is this?"

Laughing, finding the strange girl even more charming by the minute in a strange way, Kennedy said, "Honey, don't you know?"

Seven looked up as she knelt down and said, "I have forgotten its…name." Then looking quickly over the grey haired female, the Borg explained, "I am suffering from a temporary neurological condition due to an 'accident' at the 'station' that affects my ability to recall simple data." When the aged woman just blinked, Seven said, plainly, "I have 'amnesia.'"

"Oh good gracious," said the old woman, kneeling down next to her and placing her hand on her head. "You poor dear thing…what happened? Did you fall down the pipe that those boys slide on?"

Raising her eyebrows, Seven nodded and said, "That is correct." Then asked immediately following, "Explain this device…please."

"Well, that's an oven, dear," Kennedy said in a motherly tone, which was fairly condescending. "That's where you bake and roast things…like chickens and turkeys. You can make pies and cakes in there too…casseroles…why just about anything. Did you want me to turn it on?"

"Yes," Seven nodded.

Closing up the door, Kennedy turned the middle knob and explained, "These numbers here are the temperature inside. What temperature did you need?"

About to inform her that data was irrelevant, Seven changed her mind, looked at the knob and announced, "Three-hundred degrees Fahrenheit will suffice." Then checking the time in her brain as she stood, the Borg stated, "We should allow the 'oven' to remain functioning for the duration of this consultation." Turning then to the refrigerator, Seven of Nine grabbed that, improvising completely now, pulled it away from the wall as she'd done the oven, and said as she slipped behind it while the woman watched in awe and asked as she looked back to her, still near the back of the large appliance, "What is the 'age' of this device?"

"Um," Kennedy shook her head, then shook her fingers and said, "Oh, I think Dick got that one in '46…it was right after the war."

Nodding, Seven moved it back into place, looked at the door, opened it and said, "Then you will need to upgrade to a more current model to comply with the 'fire' codes." Raising her eyebrows when she saw what was inside, Seven reached in, pulled out a bottle of chocolate milk, and stated, "This is where you store your nutritional supplements." After taking a series of very large gulps of the milk, and smiling, she set what was left back inside, wiped off her mouth and reported to the dumbfounded woman, "I have a 'sweet tooth.' B'Elanna Torres often says I have two of them." Then closing up the door, she added, smiling and remembering to be polite, "Thank you for the offering."

Kennedy bobbed her head quickly, then shook her head and mumbled about the 'poor dear,' and finally asked, looking back up to her, "Who's B'El…who's that?"

"She is my partner."

"Oh, she works at the station too?"

Nodding, Seven said, "Yes."

The widow nodded and said, smiling, "Well, that must be nice for you. I'm sure there can't be many girls in such a place. Is she a consultant too?"

"She is the chief 'fire' safety engineer."

As her eyes became wider, Kennedy shook her head and said, "Well, I guess after the war, there's lots of girls doing the men's jobs…why," she smiled up at Seven, "the girl down the street, Lauren Shoemaker was workin' in the factory building airplanes and all sorts of things in the war." Then smiling more as Seven smiled at her and nodded in a fair amount of understanding since she'd research World War II prior to this adventure , Kennedy said, "Well, you've just been so helpful and smart…honey, I mean real sharp. What's your boss's name? I'd like to send him a letter to tell him what a fine job you're doing."

"Captain Kathryn Janeway."

"Did you say Kathryn?" When the former drone nodded, and continued to smile, the woman asked, flabbergasted, "Are you tellin' me that a woman is a captain in the fire department?"

As Seven of Nine heard Torres whisper, "Done," the Borg turned to the wall, pounded on it several times again, as she answered, "That is correct," then felt the need to add, since she was a rather proud girlfriend, "Kathryn is also one of my partners."

"Oh I see, you mean she's like your ladyfriend…and you do things together after work?" the old woman asked, starting to get the feel for the strange blonde's even stranger way of speaking, certain her 'accident' was the cause of all this strangeness.

"That is correct," Seven reported. Turning off the oven, Seven smiled, certain she would do no harm in indulging herself, so she said, since Kathryn Janeway continued to remain a favorite subject of conversation, especially with complete strangers that didn't know the dynamic redhead, "She is also my mentor, as well as," she included as she pushed the stove back into place after turning off the oven, the metal screeching across the floor loudly, "my lover." Standing up straight and placing her hands behind her back as the woman's mouth fell open, Seven stated, "She is my path."

"Um, did you say she was your…mother, honey?"

Smiling, Seven said, rather enjoying her 'small talk' with the holocharacter, "No, 'honey.' Our age differential is typically not great enough to allow for such a circumstance with humans, and it is not considered culturally appropriate to engage in sexual activity with 'kin.' I stated she was my lover…as in sexual partner." When the woman just blinked at her and seemed confused, Seven furrowed her brow and stated, hoping to clarify her apparent ambiguity, "We engage in non-reproductive, recreational copulation…or make love, as she refers to the ritual with our other partner, B'Elanna Torres." Then nodding as the woman closed her mouth, figuring that meant she understood, Seven placed her hands behind her back, smiled and said, "Thank you for your time and for the 'delightful' conversation. Your dwelling is sufficiently protected against fire hazards and no adaptation beyond upgrading your nutritional supplement storage container is required. No further consultations will be necessary." Starting toward the door, she stopped and added over her shoulder, recalling her data files as to something First Regal Devin had said that Kathryn had found 'eloquent,' "There is no need for escort, 'honey'…I recall the pathway. Goodnight."

Once she was outside of the house and the woman practically ran to the door and locked it securely behind her, Seven looked over her shoulder to the window as the widow poked her head through and looked at her, waved at the bewildered elder, and then started away from the house back toward Torres' car, which was parked a ways down the street.

Approaching the automobile, which was currently running, Seven opened the handle, slid inside and stated, "No problemo," as she took off the glasses. Next, she asked as Torres snickered and put her car into gear, wanting to get out of the neighborhood immediately in case Kennedy got suspicious and called the police, "Were you successful?"

"I think so," Torres said, then sighed when the vehicle backfired loudly, adding, "I found a tape recorder and a tape with some talking on it. I'm not sure who's on it, and a piece of paper with the words…knock once…say…three." Shrugging, she said, "I'm not sure what that is exactly, but it was in a box that was locked and hidden under a panel in the floor." Reaching into her coat pocket, she added, "I also found this," as she pulled out a pistol. "Why don't you put that in your skirt, behind your coat…in case we run into some trouble."

While Seven did that, Torres turned the corner, checked her watch and said, "We've still got a little time…let's go back to my office and check out this tape. Maybe it will give us something on why Kennedy was killed?"

Nodding, the Borg remained silent until they reached a more populated section of town, then said quickly as she spotted something that would further her agenda, now certain she had enough evidence on her own to 'win' the story herself, which she could do and was encouraged by Torres to do, although her 'winning' really just equated to her making it impossible for Torres to complete her objective successfully, "Stop!"

"Shit! What!" Torres said as she slammed on the breaks and brought the automobile to a screeching halt. As Seven jumped out of the car, ran toward the other side of the street, whistling and waving for a taxi that was stopped on the curb, B'Elanna yelled, "Viv! Wait!" However, it became apparent to her immediately that the Borg obviously had other objectives since Seven ran over to a taxi cab, hopped in and then took off in the other direction.

B'Elanna smirked at the Borg's cleverness as she turned back front and said, "You never change, Viv…and two can play that game, ace…"

Dressed once again in her cream skirt and tank top, with the sides of her hair pulled loosely behind her head and secured with a few sparkly silver clips where the ends curled around in intricate circles that were the style of the times, Kathryn Janeway unhooked the rope that corded off the stairs and stepped down onto the main floor. Securing the thick, crimson padded rope and turning around, Janeway nodded and smiled, saying, "Good evening," as she passed by a handsome man who was reaching for the handle on the door to the bathroom when he smiled and tipped his hat.

Making her way directly into the main restaurant area, smiling as she glanced around and saw that there was almost already a full house, she stepped up to the hostess station near the entrance as the young brunette, Karen, caught her eye and subtly requested her presence. Looking over her shoulder at the seating chart, she asked, "How are we doing on tables?"

"We're just gonna make it, but," the hostess paused, leaned down and whispered into her ear, "table thirty-eight's been there for over an hour, and he still hasn't ordered. If he doesn't hurry up, we're not gonna be able to squeeze everyone in before Miss Rose sings. Mister Baily has reservations, and I was expecting to use that table…it's his favorite one."

"When will he be here?" asked the captain

"Less than an hour, Ms. Kate…I'm sorry," she sighed, shaking her head, "I tried to get him to hurry along, but he's awful stubborn…I was worried if I bothered him too much more, he'd complain."

Looking over her shoulder to the general area, the redhead turned back to the hostess and asked, uncertain which table thirty-eight was and knowing these characters would answer any questions she had and not seem surprised by her lack of knowledge, "The handsome one with the goatee who's smoking?"

"Yes, that's him. I've never seen him before. I figured he'd just eat and then go, or I'd have asked him to sit at the bar. He's only had one drink too. I think he just wants to baby-sit it all night."

Nodding, Kathryn patted her back and said, "I'll handle it. If Baily shows up, let me know right away and I'll make room for him."

"Yes, Ms. Kate."

Easily, Janeway walked over to the bar and behind it, then reached for her apron and asked the bartender, "What's the gentleman at thirty-eight drinking?" While she tied the crisp green half-apron that said K Street in white lettering across the front, wrapping the cord around her waist and securing it at her navel, the bartender, Carter, told her he was drinking a Manhattan. Bobbing her head, she whispered, "Make me two please…use the best we've got."

"Yes, Ms. Kate."

Once the bartender whipped up the drinks and set them on the small, black round tray, Kathryn lifted it casually after he plopped a cherry in each of the glasses. Walking gracefully over toward the table, stopping for a moment at another one to inquire how the food was, and at yet another one when one of the men—who was also rather attractive, although the man at table thirty-eight was definitely the most dashing character she'd seen yet—smiled and requested the recipe for her 'famous' meatloaf, in which case she told him, "If I told you that, you'd never come back and see me," the captain finally made her way over to table thirty-eight.

Setting one of the drinks in front of him and snatching up his other one, Janeway said, smoky and sexy, not having a difficult time at all flirty with him since he was the most handsome man she'd seen in a very long time, "Have one on the house," then slide the tray onto the table, leaned on it facing him and asked, nodding with her chin to the chair adjacent to him, "Mind if I join you for a moment?" Looking about, she said quickly, when he raised his eyebrows, "I'm afraid we've got a full house tonight." Then turning back to him, she extended her hand and said, "I'm Kate…owner of K Street…and you are?"

Snatching up her hand and bringing it to his lips, he smiled and said, "A fortunate man." Then smiling and chuckling as Kathryn smirked at him, enjoying herself, he stood, pulled out a chair for her and said, "Harrison Jones…Doctor, actually…not medical though."

As Jones took a seat, Janeway asked after thanking him kindly, reaching for his cigarettes that were on the table, "Are you enjoying yourself tonight, Doctor Jones…do you mind?"

Pulling out his lighter and lighting the cigarette for the redhead, Harrison said, clearly flirting, "I am now." Then glancing around, he informed, "This is my first time here, unfortunately, but definitely not my last. Although, I'm just in town on business, but I come out this way every few months."

"Well, thank you, Doctor…I am fond of it," Janeway said before she took a sip of her drink. Forcing herself not to squint at the sweet and strong beverage, utilizing her diplomatic skills for all they were worth, Kathryn quickly took a hit off the cigarette to kill some of the flavor, then said, leaning in closer after she blew out the smoke, "I'm glad you're having a good time…it looks poorly on me if you don't." As they both chuckled, and she shrugged and then smiled at him, she glanced around again, next frowned and asked, "Hasn't someone brought you a menu?"

"Don't worry," he smiled over at her, "your staff's been terrific, I'm just happy to drink and relax right now."

After ashing her cigarette, she said, "Well, good…but," now flirting mildly, smiling, and leaning in closer, "aren't you hungry? Don't you want something to go with your drink?"

Chuckling and leaning forward toward her, Jones said, "As a married man, Kate…I probably shouldn't answer that truthfully in present company."

Janeway smirked at him, although inwardly disappointed since once she accomplished her objective, that meant she wouldn't feel right chatting him up and flirting mildly, and whispered as she leaned in closer and spoke near his ear, utilizing her 'vocal talents' to persuade, "Then why don't you come on up to my bar with me and keep me company…surely your wife wouldn't mind? Unfortunately, I can't stay here much longer…it's bad for business, I'm afraid, " certainly not concerned she was possibly enjoying his company too much since they were on vacation and Torres had told them all to indulge themselves and just have fun since she certainly planned to. Considering the pletheroa of beautiful women all around the city, she was enjoying this man's attractiveness, certain Torres probably had played a hand in that, which she thought was rather sweet of B'Elanna to do.

As Kathryn pulled away, raised her eyebrows and said, "Hmm?" as she put out her cigarette, Jones smiled and said, following suit, "On one condition…you call me Harrison, because my father is also Doctor Jones, and," he chortled, smiling, pushing his cigarettes toward her, "you share those with me. I've been trying to quit."

"The wife?" Kathryn asked. When she smiled, titled his head and said, "How'd you guess," Janeway slid the cigarettes off the table as she turned out of the seat and rose, then slipped them into the pocket of her apron, answering, "It's my lucky day." Snatching up the tray and placing her drink on it, not wanting any more because she thought it was "horrid," the captain whispered to him as they walked through the restaurant, "Why don't you have a seat at the end near the hallway…that's usually where I sit. I'll just be a moment."

Going behind the bar and setting down the drink, she smiled when the young bartender turned to her and whispered, "I know I say this every time, but you really are my hero, Ms. Kate." Patting his arm, Janeway said, "Thank you, Carter. Why don't you go make sure Rose has everything she needs, then help out in the kitchen for a while. I can take care of things up here until she's on."

"Yes, Ms. Kate."

Pouring herself a whiskey and soda, having played around in the bar enough during the day that she was getting the hang of it, Kathryn looked over to the hostess, who was smiling at her, winked, then traveled to the end of the bar, where Jones was grinning at her. Janeway pulled the pack of cigarettes from her apron, set them in front of him and asked, "You're sure I can't get you something else?" just before she took a sip of her preferred libation.

"Oh, no, I'm fine…thanks," Harrison replied as he snatched up his pack and pulled two out, stuck them in his mouth then lit them. Handing one to Kathryn, he informed as she took willingly and without trepidation, "This is the most fun I've had since I've been here…in town, I mean."

"What kind of business do you do?" When he smiled at her and shook his head, she smiled back and said, "What…it can't be that bad?" but the sexiness to her demeanor was gone now and she was just treating him like an enjoyable person she was interested in, but not sexually...at least not completely, since his attractiveness made it difficult for her own sexuality not to come out naturally.

"I'm a librarian…a historic librarian…and an archeologist," Harrison informed, then chuckled, "so, it can be that bad. It's not very exciting…although, it has its moments. Which," he smiled, raising his glass, "is why I'm here…for the 'K Street experience'." After he took a healthy sip, he went on, "According to the doorman…Ralph," he chuckled, "at my hotel, this the place to go on the east side for good entertainment."

Curious if there was more to this story, Janeway continued to speak with the man directly instead of seeing to the rest of the restaurant in hopes she'd get a sense of what was coming tonight, certain there would be something, and asked, "And what did…Ralph," she chuckled as well, mimicking his comedic tone, "tell you about the 'K Street experience?'"

"Well," Harrison smiled, "he certainly forgot to mention that it was owned by such a beautiful woman."

Leaning forward, Janeway whispered, "I thought you were a married man, Harrison?" certain now that this individual was important to the story, but not sure how to get that information out of him.

"Twelve years…wanna see the pictures of my kids?" he asked, smiling.

Resisting the urge to sigh and blow smoke into his face, put off by that, even if he was a hologram, Kathryn continued on easily and said, "I'm sure they're adorable, but I'll pass…thank you. So," she followed up quickly and smoothly, "what's a historic librarian doing in Chicago without his lovely wife and adorable children?"

"I'm on loan," he laughed, "to the Natural History Museum."

"Oh?"

"Mmmhmm," he nodded, sipping the rest of his drink. Setting it down, he went on, "They just opened up a new European Folklore exhibit…and needed some help with the literary aspect of the venture. It's my specialty…folklore and mythology." Then before Kathryn could respond other than smile and nod in appreciation for the amount of schooling something like that would take, he pulled out the cherry from his drink, popped it into his mouth, and requested, "Could I bother you for another Manhattan?"

Taking the opportunity to get away for a moment since now she knew he was important some how, but wanted a few moments to think it over to herself while she worked, Kathryn put out her cigarette, nodded and snatched up his glass. Sticking it into the bin, she grabbed a new one, filled it with ice, then utilized her sharp memory to add the bottles of liquor she'd watched the bartender use, taking a moment to look at them and memorize their names. After adding equal measures of bourbon and sweet vermouth to a decanter, she stirred it soundly, then poured it over the ice. Finally adding a cherry, she looked to her right just in time to see Seven of Nine step through the door, the Borg now returned to her normal appearance, having fixed her hair in the taxi ride. Sliding the glass down the bar toward Harrison, Kathryn eyed Seven as she scanned the bar then started toward her. Having a difficult time not smiling at the blonde, who she thought looked gorgeous in her tailored woman's suit, Janeway forced herself to say with attitude as Seven stopped near the bar in front of her, "Well, if it isn't my least favorite insect on the wall."

When Seven raised her eyebrows and took a seat directly in front of her, Kathryn gestured with her finger that the blonde should lean over, next whispered directly into her ear, "I love you and you're stunningly gorgeous…I'm sorry I'm going to have to be mean to you," then pulled away, and said, seriously and louder, "Are we quite clear now, Miss Bando?"

"My hearing is not impaired, Ms. Kate," the Borg snipped back. "Perhaps you could occupy the time in your unremarkable existence by serving me…promptly."

Having a hard time not smirking at Seven's bitchiness, Kate informed, "We don't sell decaf here, darling." although this time 'darling' didn't sound affectionate. "I'm sure there's a coffee shop in town...somewhere, though."

"How very astute, 'honey'…thank you for reminding me," Seven shot back one of the good captain's infamous lines that she was fond of using, especially with the Doctor. "I will have 'beer'…this time."

Turning around, Janeway said, "Alright," then picked up a mug and pulled on the tap, then asked over her shoulder, "Having a hard day making people's lives miserable? Or," she turned around and slammed the glass down, "are you just a drunk as well as a pain in the ass?"

Seven of Nine looked Janeway up and down, smirked and said, "I was not aware that you had an 'ass.'"

Leaning forward, having fun now and planning to make Seven pay for that comment, Kathryn smirked right back and said, "Perhaps your visual acuity is failing you too, love…that tends to happen when you drink too much." Then holding out her hand, she said, "That'll be a dollar."

"Put it on my 'tab.'"

"I don't run a tab for people I don't like," Kathryn returned, "Pay now…or you know the way out."

Sighing, Seven reached into her pocket, pulled out a five dollar bill, which was the last of her cash until she could go to the bank tomorrow, slammed it down and said, "I will require 'change.'"

Janeway picked it up, punched open the cash register, pulled out four ones, handed three back to Seven, slipped the spare one in her pocket as Seven scowled at her and said, "That's for the lip and if you don't like it," pointing over her shoulder as she returned to Harrison, "go back the way you came."

Picking up the pack of cigarettes, Kathryn smiled and said, purposefully smoking again because she knew Seven abhorred it, "Sorry about that…what were we talking about?"

Harrison smirked at her, lit her cigarette as Seven rolled her eyes and turned away from them, and remarked, "Tenacious and beautiful…and I bet," he winked, "you're sharp as a tac too."

"I've been called worse…thank you," Janeway said as she puffed on the cigarette then blew the smoke towards the ceiling. "What were you telling me?"

"I was telling you about my boring job," Harrison replied, his drink now half gone, "but I'd rather not talk about that anymore." Laughing, he shook his head and said, "It's boring."

"Alright," Janeway leaned on the bar closer to him, but still keeping a fair amount of distance, especially for someone who tended to get right up in people's faces when she spoke to them, and asked, "What do you want to talk about then?"

Harrison leaned in closer at that and whispered, "Why don't you tell me what you like to do after this place closes for the night? Or rather," he moved in even closer and continued in the same tone, "what you'd like to do after this place closes that involves only present company…and maybe a bottle wine…and definitely a private place…"

Slamming her beer down on the counter, not liking that some holocharacter was clearly 'hitting' on her lover, which for some reason seemed very different with the situation with Torres and Claudia from the lobby, Seven of Nine stated, "This beverage is unacceptable! I require…something else."

Again Kathryn had to keep herself from smirking, and instead she sighed, walked over to Seven and said, "What's wrong with it this time, Vivian?"

The Borg gestured that Kathryn should lean over, and when she did, she whispered into her ear, "Kathryn, that character is making sexual advances toward you," certain Janeway had missed that or she would have thrown him out of her bar.

Biting down on her lips to keep herself from laughing out loud, Janeway cleared her throat and said, "Thank you, my love, but I'm aware of that. Just trust me…I think he's important, but you know I love you for trying to protect me."

"Very well," Seven of Nine said, next added quickly, "I love you as well," then pulled back and stated, "'Fine.' I no longer require your inferior services."

Janeway closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose just to keep herself from cackling at Seven's cuteness, then sighing, shook her head and walked away, back to Harrison. Picking up her cigarette, she sighed, took a drink and then asked as Harrison sipped his, smiled and shook his head, "Are you finding this amusing?"

"Terribly, I'm afraid," Jones came back, setting down his drink, "but don't hold it against me…you make an awfully mean Manhattan, lady."

"Another?"

"I think I've had enough for now…I'd hate," he chuckled, "for my 'visual acuity' to deteriorate to the point that I couldn't see you clearly."

Smirking, Janeway asked, leaning forward, "Harrison, are you hitting on me?"

"I am if you're interested."

"You're awfully smooth for a married man," Kathryn said before she smoked. "Especially one that's been married for twelve years."

Shaking his head, he smiled at her and whispered, "It's all your fault, Kate…like I said, you make a mean Manhattan. I'm just a boring librarian."

"Then," Kathryn whispered, "maybe I should make you another one, hmm?" Then not giving him a chance to answer, she snatched up his glass, trying a new tactic completely, now hoping to get him drunk enough that he would run his mouth about whatever his importance to the story was. She wasn't certain, of course, if he was important, but she'd played enough holonovels in her day to have a pretty good feel of when someone was supposed to stand out, and when someone was supposed to just be in the background.

While she was mixing his drink and Seven turned back around and watched her out of curiosity, both of them looked over to the door as B'Elanna Torres came in and said, loudly, "Well, look who it is…my old pal, Viv!...Hiya, ace…needed a beer that bad, huh?"

Sighing, Janeway slid the drink down to Harrison and said, "Murphy, keep it down or take it outside."

Torres sat next to Seven, who looked a little surprised to see her so soon, took off her hat and said, "Sorry, doll." Pulling out her cigarettes, she asked, "Where's Rose?" as Kathryn turned around without prompting and poured her a beer.

"She'll be down soon," the captain reported, then turned around and whispered, "I think she's a little nervous…so do me a favor and play nice if you can."

"I always play nice…isn't that right, Viv?" Torres smirked over at the blonde. As Janeway left their side and went back over to Harrison, picking up her drink again and started talking to him, the captain's demeanor with him changing back to the sexual now to entice him to keep drinking and talking, Torres elbowed Seven and asked, whispering, "Who's the guy?" when Harrison took one of Kathryn's hands, kissed her knuckles again, then pulled her forward and whispered into her ear.

Leaning over, Seven whispered, "A character that wishes to 'get into her uniform.' However, she believes he is crucial to the story, so she continues to engage him in 'small talk'…although, he continues to draw the conversation back to his attraction to her."

"Typical. Sounds like a job for a detective," Torres said, snatching up her hat. She then swiveled off the chair, came over to them, sat down and said, "Mind if I sit…I'm Murphy," sticking out her hand. When the guy looked over at her, frowned then shook her hand roughly, Torres whacked him on the side of the arm with the back of her hand and said, "Haven't I see you somewhere before, Mac?"

Jumping into the conversation, Kathryn stated, "Murphy, be nice to Harrison. He doesn't live in Chicago, and I'd like him to come back the next time he's in town. He's only here on loan to the museum, and he's not looking for a detective…so go look for a job somewhere else."

Torres snapped her fingers, ignored Janeway, then puffed on her cigarette and said, lying since she didn't recognize him, "That's where I've seen you. I was just down there today. Hey…you know that Austrian Historian…Doctor Synder?" When Harrison said he wasn't sure, Torres smiled and said, "Sure…yea, you know…the Austrian…blonde, pale…talks with an accent?"

"Oh, right," Harrison nodded. "Yea…yea, I know him…well," he smiled, "I know of him. We don't work together much."

"Right…right," Torres came back, nodding. Then patting his back, he said, "Well, when you see him again, tell him Murphy said hello…he'll remember me. I don't get down there much…so in case I don't see him for a while…say hi for me. He helped me out today...nice guy." Then looking to the captain quickly while Harrison nodded that he would, B'Elanna put out her cigarette and asked, "Kate, can I steal you away for a minute before it gets too crazy in here?" Following up quickly, she said, "I'm having some car problems, and I need the number for your mechanic friend again."

Sighing, Kathryn allowed, "Well, I guess I should check on Rose anyway." Setting down her drink and smiling at Jones, she asked, placing her hand on his and rubbing the back with her thumb, "You'll be here when I get back, won't you?"

Harrison picked up his pack of cigarettes, smiled and said, "I've only got a few left."

Kathryn leaned over into his ear and whispered, sexy, "Then smoke slowly," then pulled away quickly, and said, sounding irritated, "Come on, Murphy…I don't have all night to be your directory service," next added, turning around and speaking loudly toward the hostess, "Karen, bring Carter back, honey…I'll be gone for a few minutes."

Torres waited until they were at the stairs to say, while she unhooked the rope, "You never miss anything…do you?"

"I don't follow."

Smiling, B'Elanna nodded and said, "I know…that's why you're so good at being the boss." As they started up the stairs, Torres asked seriously, "Are you having a good time? This isn't too much like work, is it?" Not giving her a chance to answer, the chief stopped them just before they reached the third level and said, serious and subdued, "You know…you can just do whatever you want, Red…the staff will run the place…you don't really have to work at the bar."

Kathryn smirked at B'Elanna, leaned forward, kissed her softly, then whispered, "I'm having a great time being a shady character, darling…don't worry about me." When Torres smiled, looked down and then nodded, sighing slightly, Kathryn smiled, kissed her cheek and added, resting her cheek against hers, "When did you become so sweet and when did I become such a sucker for you, huh?"

Suddenly feeling terribly emotional, which typically pissed her off since whenever she couldn't control her quick mood swings she became irritated at her own weakness, Torres latched onto Kathryn, hugged her fiercely, and said, "I don't know."

When Torres pushed her face to her neck and whispered, her voice breaking, "I miss this," tears immediately sprung into Kathryn's eyes, unbidden and said as she squeezed Torres tighter and said back, "Oh Lanna, I know…I miss it too...and you don't have to stay away..."

As she heard a door close up stairs and footsteps starting down slowly, Torres pulled away, sniffling, wiping her misty eyes and said, clearly frustrated, but still whispering, "I'm sorry…I'm fine." When Samantha Wildman turned the corner, stopped and said, "Hey," then added quickly as B'Elanna sniffled, wiping her nose and Janeway subtly did the same thing, turning to her side so her back was to the blonde, "I'm terribly sorry, Captain," and started back the other way, B'Elanna spoke up and said, "It's cool, Sam…I'm fine."

Looking over to Wildman as she turned around and asked if she was okay, B'Elanna nodded and then said, smiling, her eyes still slightly misty, "I'm fine…wow," she shook her head, "you look really great, Sam…I mean it." Trying to pull herself back together as Samantha smiled and nodded her thanks, Torres said, "Although, this means next year at Halloween, I don't want to hear about not being able to pull something off…because I'm not gonna buy it anymore, sweetheart."

Chuckling and patting Torres' shoulder as Kathryn turned around and snickered, Samantha said, "Okay, but I'm still not going to be the 'Tool Time' Tramp…and that's final," then turned to Janeway and said, "I'm ready whenever you are."

"Can you give us a few minutes…or do you need to start right away?"

Wildman smiled a little nervously and said, "I'll be alright. I'll just get some warm water from the kitchen," while she started back down the stairs, holding up the front of her dress so she wouldn't step on it. Then stopping after a few steps, she turned and asked, "Oh, would it be alright if Seven plays the piano for me at first? I know you're not supposed to like her…but," she sighed then smiled, "I haven't done this in years…so I think it will help me relax until I can do both…she helps me practice."

Blinking, Janeway asked, "She plays the piano?" When Wildman and Torres both nodded, Kathryn closed her mouth, then shook her head and said, speaking with one hand, "Oh…well, certainly…whatever you need to feel comfortable." Once Samantha nodded and then started back down the stairs, Kathryn pivoted, started back up to the third level and questioned, brushing off the piano topic since she could feel that knowledge already weighing heavily on her heart and she didn't want to take anything away from anyone's fun by becoming depressed, "What is it that you need to talk about?" Stopping at Rose's room and stepping inside, she asked, "Is this about Harrison?"

"Why are we in Rose's room?"

"I don't let anyone into my bedroom."

Sighing, Torres shut the door and said, "Time-out…you're upset about Seven." When Kathryn raised her hand to her forehead and scratched it lightly, but shook her head and said, "No, darling…I'm not upset," B'Elanna stepped up to her, pulled her hand away, and said as Kathryn looked at her face, "Don't lie, KJ…it doesn't work for you."

"Lanna," Janeway sighed, "I'm not lying…I think that's wonderful…"

"But…" However, when Kathryn refused to say anything, B'Elanna pulled her into her chest and whispered, "But that breaks your heart because you didn't know that…or get to see her learn…"

As Kathryn just rested her head on her shoulder and sighed, Torres rubbed her back and said, chuckling in endearment, "Baby, I'm not laughing at you…I promise, but, I think you're forgetting that the kid is good and can learn practically anything in five minutes." Pulling away and kissing the top of Kathryn's head, she whispered, "If it makes you feel better, I haven't seen her do it either. Tthat's her thing she does with Sam." When Janeway looked up at her, Torres smiled and said, "She does stuff all the time on her own now…so don't worry about it. She's okay."

"I know," Kathryn sighed then reached forward and hugged Torres again, resting her head on her shoulder. "I know there's nothing we can really do about it, but I can't help it…I hate it." After sighing again and staying quiet for a few moments, she added, shaking her head, "I just feel like I'm missing so much…that when this is all over…I'll barely recognize the two of you." Then sighing harder and pulling away, she shook her head and said, coarse, "I'm sorry…I'm just being selfish."

It being Torres' time to sigh, B'Elanna came back, "It's not selfish, Kathryn…why do you always have to say that?" Shaking her head and starting a fight with Janeway before she even realized what she was doing, Torres turned around, started pacing and said, frustrated, mostly at herself for becoming so emotional before right in the middle of the game, and also because she was trying to show Kathryn that she was strong enough to stick this out without breaking down, "Look how much you're giving up for us…for everyone, dammit! So, don't say that anymore…it's crap!" When Kathryn brought her hand to her mouth and started chuckling as she looked down and shook her head, Torres turned around, scowled and said, "What?"

Janeway dropped her hand as she slowly walked toward the chief, and said, "Lanna, we don't have time to have a play fight…Samantha's waiting. Although," she smirked, whispering, "don't think I don't miss those too." When B'Elanna finally smirked at her, then laughed once, shaking her head, Janeway stepped up to her, slipped her hands into the front of her pants, pulled her forward and said, "So pretend we called a truce and kiss me before I beat you to it."

"Aye, Cap'n," Torres smiled, then laid one on the redhead. Against her lips as they both sighed happily, Torres murmured, "I love you…we'll get through this."

"I believe you…I love you too," replied the captain. Then kissing her forehead once more, nuzzling her soft ridges, Janeway pulled away, took a few steps back, then said, clearing her throat, "Okay, what's up…since I’m assuming you of all people aren't having car problems?"

Smirking, Torres shoved her hands in her pockets to keep them away from the captain and said as she started pacing around Rose's room, stopping by the vanity mirror and looking at all the various beauty products strangely, "Actually I am, but that's not why I wanted to talk. He's lying to you. Doctor Synder's name is Elsa…and she's far too…remarkable," B'Elanna snickered, using her left hand to make a wavy motion so Janeway would get the point, as she continued to look at the objects, "to forget. Captain Richardson," looking up into the mirror at Janeway's reaction, curious as to how good of an actress she really was, "remembered her from nearly six months back, and he only saw her for a few seconds." Turning around, Torres said, "I don't know what he wants from you…but he could be trouble."

"Hmm," Janeway thought it over for a moment, then snapped and said while she started for the door, "I'll be back…and keep your nose out of Rose's things."

"Where are you going?"

"I've just got to get something from my room. I'll just be a minute."

Rubbing her forehead, B'Elanna sighed, then turned back to the mirror, shook her head at all of the products and mumbled, "What the hell do you do with all this shit?" When she saw that one of the small drawers to her right was slightly opened, Torres looked over her shoulder quickly, then hurriedly opened it, just curious, and raised her eyebrows. Then smirking, she said, "Well, lookie what I found," as she reached in a pulled out a purple envelope that looked identical to the ones she always received from her source. As she heard Kathryn coming back down the steps, she hurriedly stuffed the envelop into her pocket, closed the drawer back to its previous position and picked up a tube of lipstick, pretending to just be filling her time with exploration. Turning back around as Kathryn came back through the door and shut it, the Klingon asked, "What are you gonna do?"

"Drug him," Janeway said seriously, walking up to B'Elanna, holding out her hand and producing two white, nondescript pills. "Will you help me take him up stairs once he passes out…or," she smirked, "will I have to pay you first?"

Picking up one of the pills, Torres smiled and said, "You know me, Kate…I'll help you." As she set the pill back down, she smirked and said, "Valium…not bad, doll."

Furrowing her brow, Kathryn asked, "How do you know it's valium?"

"What is it then…aspirin?" Torres recovered expertly.

Thinking it over for a moment, fairly certain B'Elanna was lying since she didn't think the Klingon was nearly that savvy with history, Kathryn closed her fist, letting it go, and then said, "It doesn't matter…it'll do the trick. I'll put this in his next drink…I don't think he'll last long."

"What are you gonna do with him then?"

"Well just bring him up here, search him, then throw him in a taxi," Kathryn answered evenly. Turning around, she said, "Thank you, Murphy…I owe you one."

"I'm not done, Kate." When Janeway stopped, pivoted halfway and raised her eyebrows, B'Elanna started toward her and said, "I want into your place tonight."

Acting fairly put off, Kathryn snipped, "I told you, no one goes to my bedroom…not even you."

"Not that place," Torres whispered, standing close. "You know the one I'm talking about."

"No, I'm afraid I don't."

Smiling, Torres reached into her pocket and said, "Knock three times, say seven come eleven," and pulled out the piece of paper she'd found at Kennedy's house. Holding it up as Janeway narrowed her eyes, but smirked at her, B'Elanna said, "I'll get in anyway, but I'd rather you come with me."

Kathryn crossed her arms over her chest and said, "Well done, Detective…but unless I've missed something, you don't have the kind of money it takes to play at those tables. This isn't penny poker, Murphy."

Reaching into the inner pocket of her jacket, she pulled out one of three huge wads of cash, something else she'd found at the Kennedy house and said, "Will this do, doll?"

"Where did you get that kind of money?

"That doesn't matter…I got it."

Carefully defensive, Janeway asked, calmly, "What do you want from me?"

"I just want in," Torres replied, putting the money away, but leaving twenty out. Sticking it into Kate's apron pocket, paying her back for the money she'd stolen earlier, B'Elanna said, "I owe you that, and I'm not here to turn you in. I know you're in cahoots with Richardson…and," she leaned over and whispered, "I know about Rose…Kate McEntyre."

Reaching behind B'Elanna quickly and pulling out the gun she'd felt when she hugged her, Janeway took two steps back, and asked, "Did you steal the key to my office?"

"Christ, Kate," Torres sighed, holding up her hands, not at all expecting that and suddenly realizing she was in serious danger of losing her game because she figured Kate would shoot her if she felt threatened, "no. The only thing I've ever taken from you was that twenty dollars to get me by."

"Then how do you know about Rose? No one…no one could know that unless they broke into my office. Richardson doesn't even know. Don't lie to me or this game your playing is over."

"Rose gave me the key."

"You lie." The gun was now cocked.

Sighing, B'Elanna asked hurried, "Can I show you something…I've got the evidence right here."

"Don't move!" Kathryn cracked. Then stepping up to Torres and aiming the gun at her crouch, smirking and shrugging, which caused B'Elanna to chuckle, she asked, "Where is it…I'll get it…just don't move your hands?"

"It's in my inside pocket…two envelopes."

Quickly Janeway reached inside and pulled out the purple envelopes, one of them brand new, and one of them tore with the detective's name on the front. Stepping away, she raised the gun back to Torres' chest and asked, "What are these?"

"The one with my name on it is from my secret source. They've been supplying me with information for a while, but I never knew who they were until just now."

"What makes you think this source is Rose?"

Nodding over to the vanity mirror, Torres answered, "While you were getting your drugs, I opened the drawer and found that other envelope. Considering they're purple, and the last clue I got was the key to your office…I'd say that's a pretty big coincidence."

The captain kept the gun on Murphy as she went over to the drawer, opened it, then sighed, and said, "Damn," dropping the revolver immediately back to her side as she picked up the stack of envelopes, and finally said, whispering, "Then she knows too?" playing her part well and not ending the game because Torres has done well to convince her and was telling the truth.

"I don't know," Torres said as she came over to her, took her gun back, which Kathryn gave over willingly. Uncocking it and tucking it back into her pants, B'Elanna said, "I think if she really knew, she'd not be so set on getting you into trouble."

"Damn that Fowler," Kathryn said with spite. "He's put her up to this…he's completely brain-washed her… "

"Listen," Torres cut her off and turned her around, "that doesn't matter right now. What you need to worry about is Vivian. When I came in here today, she was in your office already. She's been gathering information on you for weeks, and she plans to bring you down…tonight."

Moving away from B'Elanna, rubbing her forehead and walking around, the captain came back, "What do you care about all of this? There can't be anything in it for you?"

"I just want to catch the bad guys and figure out why Kennedy was killed," answered B'Elanna. "I need the press and the respect or I'll never get anywhere in this business. You of all people have to understand that."

"So, you're using me…"

"Not any more than you use me…and," Torres returned immediately, "if you work with me…I can help you."

"I don't need any of more of your help, Murphy," Kathryn came back. "I've been making these plans for years. I'm ready to turn it all over to the police tomorrow night and leave town for good. I'm sorry, but you just don't work into the equation."

"I can keep Vivian off your back tonight," the chief informed, which got Janeway to turn around and look at her. "She's got a gun and a fake code to the door. She's gonna try to get in there tonight…but the gun's not loaded. I already took care of that."

"There's no one here tonight, Murphy…tomorrow's the night, not tonight. So, I can take care of Vivian too…I still don't need you," Janeway informed as she walked up to her. "And, I'm not going to let you go down there tomorrow either…everyone knows who you are…you'll ruin everything…and get yourself killed…trust me, these men don't fool around."

"Then tell me why they killed Kennedy…because he was your doctor…because he was in on the plan…what?"

"I don't know why. I don't ask and they don't tell. The police can figure that out on their own. I'm just here to make sure they're all in one place at one time...or at least as many of them as possible."

Sighing, B'Elanna wracked her brain as she started pacing, trying to find the angle, then turned around and said, recalling that Kathryn said she was worried Murphy would be killed, and knowing Janeway was good enough at playing holocharacters that everything she said was not only important, but strict to her character, "Wait a minute…you were going to leave town tomorrow night?"

Janeway turned away from her at that, acting as she knew her character was supposed to and said, clipped, "Yes, that's right."

"Weren't you going to say goodbye?"

"To whom?"

"To me," Torres said as she approached her. "You were just going to up and leave and never even say goodbye?"

Turning around to B'Elanna, Kathryn scoffed and said, "Murphy, you've got a woman for every day of the week…"

"So?" Smiling and chuckling, Torres pulled Janeway in close, then straightened her face and said, "You're not every woman, Kate."

Janeway sighed and said, pushing away, "Gimme a break, Murphy," starting for the door, "You're not the marrying kind…remember?"

"Neither are you…so what's your point?" Torres called out, feeling as though she was hanging on by the skin of her teeth now.

Stopping in the doorway after opening it, the captain looked over her shoulder and said, cool, "I'm not anymore, Mike, and if you really care about me, you'll leave Vivian, and the rest of this business to me…and just forget you ever met me," then slammed the door closed and locked it quickly with the key that remained in the knob.

As Janeway shut the door and then walked down stairs, Torres sighed and said, "Fuck!" under her breath as she tried the knob, then yelled, "Goddammit, Kate!" as she noticed that the door was rigged and couldn't be opened from the inside because there was no keyhole, which made sense since this was Rose's room, and Kate probably had it set up that way to make sure she couldn't sneak out.

Turning around and starting for the window, B'Elanna looked up when she heard a loud mechanical sound, then said, "Ohshit," as she saw that heavy metal sheets were descending over the windows on the inside. She ran over to the windows and tried to pull up on them, then cursed as she saw that they were painted shut. Backing up, she pulled out her gun, aimed at the window that was now almost half covered and pulled the trigger.

As the bullet blew through the glass and cracked it significantly, B'Elanna didn't waste a second, took two steps back, and barreled toward it. Ducking her head and holding her hat down over her eyes and she dove through the window head first, Torres came down with a crash onto the fire escape, then reached up quickly and grasped onto the rail as she started to roll through it. As her momentum pushed her off the side, leaving her hanging three stories up with only one hand, Torres kept her grip as she flailed around for a moment, then came to a rest against the side of the metal construct, breathing heavily and wide-eyed.

Reaching up as her hat was blown from her head, Torres grabbed on with both hands, then looked over her shoulder and down, saying, "Whoa," as the metal sheets came down and completely sealed off Rose's room. Then pulling herself up and sliding onto the escape, she rose to her feet, dusted herself off out of habit, smiled as she looked over the side and said, "Definitely cool," and then went up the ladder. Stopping at the window, she climbed out earlier with Seven, she pulled up on it to make sure it was still open, and smiled when it gave way and slid upward, saying, "The game isn't over 'til the hot chick sings, Red."

fin