Part 29 -32

Blondes/Redheads

Kim's stomach growled. Kerry in the passenger seat, playing tour guide to Seven and Kathryn, stifled a giggle and glanced over in disbelief. The blonde couldn't be hungry already. They had all consumed a huge breakfast.

Before she could say anything another stomach rumbled. This time from the back seat. She and Kim both looked over their shoulders to find Seven gazing curiously at Kathryn whose cheeks were flushed a delicate pink.

"I believe the captain requires nutritional supplements," Seven informed Kerry.

"I believe Kim does as well," Weaver said dryly.

"Will you guys stop talking about us as if we weren't here?" Kim complained good-naturedly.

"You'd better stop soon for the picnic."

"You got it," Kim replied. She pressed the gas pedal, eyes searching for a picnic site. As soon as she spied the small picnic area by the lake she braked and pulled the Saturn to a stop, muscling the steering wheel. The Saturn was more sluggish than her Subaru.

A few minutes later the four women began unloading the trunk.

"The Subaru has more trunk space," she said. Or maybe Kerry just kept too much stuff in her trunk. There were anti-freeze containers, distilled water bottles, a backpack, first aid kit and two cardboard boxes filled with other Weaver essentials.

"Maybe you should have told your friend to ship your car over along with that phaser thingie," Kerry said.

Seven picked up the picnic hamper, while Kim balled the blankets under her arm. It sounded as though Kerry were ready to pick up where they left off. That was a good thing right? It was what she wanted.

As the uncertain expression cross Kim's face, Kerry bit her lip. She shouldn't have mentioned anything about shipping Kim's car to Chicago. Didn't want to pressure Kim. Even though things had been going better than she had any right to expect. Maybe that was the trouble. She kept waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Other picnickers were already scattered about the grounds, including a family reunion complete with balloons and babies and several tables of food. Kathryn spied an unoccupied area a few meters away and instinctively started walking in the lead. Seven kept pace, swinging the hamper, while Kim and Kerry brought up the rear.

A brisk wind blew, enough to keep the boaters on the lake happy and almost enough to blow Seven's baseball cap off. She reached up her hand and caught it before it could fly off. It would not do to lose Kerry's hat.

As the four women traipsed across the sweet smelling grass, a shaggy red-haired animal loped across the field, barking furiously. It was chasing a circular disk spinning through the air. Without thinking, Seven pulled Kathryn behind her, placing her body directly in front of the captain as the animal bounded in their direction.

"Stay back!" she warned, prepared to absorb the blow from the creature.

"It's just a dog, Seven," Janeway said as the Irish setter leaped in the air and snagged the disk in its mouth.

"A Frisbee-catching dog," Kim added as the triumphant canine laid the Frisbee down in front of Kathryn, panting. "I see someone has selected its favorite playmate."

Smiling, Kathryn crouched down and ran her hands down the dog's sleek flanks. "You're a good dog, aren't you? Yes, a good dog," she cooed.

"You like dogs," Kerry said, stating the obvious.

"I love dogs," Janeway corrected, patting the dog. To Seven's amazement the animal seemed to enjoy the attention and nuzzled the captain's leg. The captain scratched the setter behind one ear. It reminded her of Molly Malone, the pregnant dog she had left behind with Mark before taking command of Voyager.

She picked up the Frisbee. "Why don't you toss that disk back to its owner, Seven..." she said, indicating where the dog's owner, a young man, stood in the distance, waiting for his pet to trot back with the toy.

The Borg eyed the disk and the dog with disdain. She picked up the grooved, plastic toy shaped like an ancient discus.

"You flick it with your wrist," Kim said, demonstrating her technique. She had been pretty good with a Frisbee back in college.

"Do you wish me to throw the disk all the way back, Kathryn?"

"Just to the dog's owner," the captain replied quickly, not wanting Seven to use her full strength and heave the disk into the middle of the lake.

Seven complied, throwing the disk with just enough force that it sailed over the head of the dog's owner. Barking again, the dog tore after it.

"They are noisy creatures," Seven observed.

Kathryn smiled and continued walking to a shady spot in the picnic grounds.

"I have a confession, Seven," Janeway said. "I'm a dog lover."

"Indeed."

The captain nodded. "My sister Phoebe always said that Justin Tighe was wrong for me because he didn't like dogs. She couldn't see me married to a man who didn't like dogs."

"Neither can I," Seven said. Not just the dog part but also the fact that she couldn't see the captain married to any man. She knew of course the story of Justin's death in an accident that had also claimed Admiral Janeway, Kathryn's father.

"Do you like dogs?" Kathryn asked.

"I have not been acquainted with any dogs on a Borg cube or on Voyager," Seven pointed out.

"You have a point there," the captain said. Voyager's strict No Pets rule would preclude the Borg ever having a pet. She glanced over at the other women. "What about you two? Dog lovers?"

"I like dogs," replied Kim.

"I don't," Kerry said. "Even though I adopted one for a couple of months."

"You did?" Kim stopped in mid-step, unable to hide her astonishment.

"Yeah. A stray came into the ER one night and its owner died. So I took it home. His name was Stinky, and he lived up to its name."

Kim laughed. "What happened to him?"

"I had to give him away. I couldn't keep him with the hours I worked. The poor dog got lonely."

"I was unaware that dogs experienced loneliness," Seven said.

"Yes, they do," Kathryn said. "They are pack animals and crave companionship. They are like humans that way."

Not about to let the picnic and conversation go to the dogs, Kerry glanced around them. "How about this spot?" she asked.

"It looks fine to me," Janeway agreed.

Kim flapped a blanket up high in the air then spread it on the grass. Kerry was descending gracefully to a sitting position, laying her crutch to one side.

"Let's eat, I'm starved," Kim said, kicking off her loafers.

Kerry opened the hamper. "Pastrami, corned beef or roast beef?"

"Pastrami, of course."

Kerry unwrapped one of the sandwiches and took a quick bite.

"Hey!" Kim protested. "What about me?"

Giggling, Kerry held it out to the pouty blonde who took an enormous chomp out of it.

"You were hungry," Kerry said, looking dolefully at the remainder of her sandwich.

"Not just for the pastrami either," Kim mumbled through the food in her mouth.

Kerry laughed. The blonde had mustard on her luscious lips. Resisting the urge to kiss it off, she reached out with a napkin and smeared it off then took a bite out of the shared sandwich.

A few feet away from them Kathryn had spread out the second blanket and was trying to coax Seven into sitting.

"Come down here, Seven." She patted the blanket as she sat with her legs tucked under her. Seven crossed her arms on her chest.

"Where are the chairs?"

"Sorry, no chairs."

"I am expected to sit without a chair?"

"That is the fun of a picnic," Kathryn said. Seven really looked adorable in that blue baseball cap and the puzzled expression on her face. "We're closer to nature."

"That way the ants can crawl on us," Kerry called over. She passed the picnic hamper to Janeway and leaned back against Kim who wrapped her long arms around her and began feeding her sour cream and onion potato chips.

"I have never been on a picnic before," Seven said, awkwardly bending her legs and accepting Janeway's hand as she descended. Her butt hit the ground.

"Ow."

"You're okay." Kathryn grinned as Seven rubbed her bottom. The captain took a deep lungful of the clean air and gazed up at the cirrus clouds in the blue sky. A different sight from what she usually saw out her viewscreen.

"You are enjoying this," Seven observed. "This is fun for you?"

"It reminds me of the picnics back home in Bloomington. We didn't have this view of course," Janeway said, pointing to the sailboats billowing on the lake. The blue sky and the green grass were a tiny bit of paradise to her. She gave in to the urge to follow Kim's lead and yanked off her boots, suggesting that Seven do the same with her shoes.

"High heels and picnics don't go together."

"I do not see why my feet must be bare while consuming food out of doors," Seven remarked.

"Humor me," Kathryn said and threw her such a cajoling smile that Seven felt her heart turn over inside her chest. How could she deny Kathryn anything, even this bizarre request. She leaned forward and took off her shoes one at a time then wiggled her toes, aware that they did feel better out of the confines of the high heels. She also became aware of the springy grass under her soles. It felt odd.

"It is sharp and poky. Not soft."

"That's grass for you," Kathryn said, enjoying the sight of the barefoot Borg encountering grass for the first time. "Come more on the blanket."

Seven complied quickly, happy to sit closer to Kathryn. The captain's hair was blowing softly in the breeze and her blue eyes shimmered like the lake in front of them.

"Now what do you want to eat?"

"I will have whatever you are eating, Kathryn."

"Roast beef sandwich."

Janeway hunted in the hamper and pulled out two sandwiches, one for each of them.

"Could we share a sandwich?"

"There's plenty here. Dr. Weaver believes in fattening up her guests."

"I heard that," Kerry called out with a grin.

"Unless you're not hungry." Kathryn peered more closely at the blonde woman. Sometimes the Borg ingested only a minimum of calories.

"I am hungry, and I would like to share my nutritional supplement with you."

"Okay then." Kathryn shrugged and passed Seven half of the sandwich she had picked up.

"What's the matter?" she asked when she noticed Seven's expression. If she didn't know better she might have called it a pout. Perhaps the young woman didn't know how to eat a sandwich. "You eat it with your hands," she explained.

"I wanted to share the sandwich the way Kim and Kerry are sharing theirs," Seven said in a lowered voice.

"Oh?" Kathryn glanced over her shoulder where Kerry was nibbling on the bread in Kim's hands.

**Kathryn wasn't about to go there.**

"Eat your sandwich, Seven," she said with more of a command tone than she had used all day.

"Yes, Captain." Seven dipped her head and took a small bite. The captain passed her a cup of iced tea. Her fingers lingered on Seven's for a moment as the Borg grasped the cup.

"Are you having fun?" Janeway asked.

"Yes, Kathryn," Seven replied. Borg did not consider fun relevant, however at the moment Seven was enjoying the picnic enormously especially since her fingers tingled from the redhead's touch. "Tell me about your other picnics."

"Well, once a year in the summer, we'd have a great picnic in Bloomington. Fireworks would light up the sky. Mother would bake apple pies. Phoebe and I would play hide and seek in the corn fields. This brings it all back."

And how far away her family was. Tears welled suddenly in her eyes. She blinked quickly. A hand touched hers, cool and metallic. Seven's.

"You will see your mother and sister again," Seven promised, reading her mind.

"I know and you'll come along to meet them."

"That would be acceptable," Seven said shyly, a smile lighting up her narrow face.

Over on the other blanket Kim had finished eating the sandwich and bag of chips. "Got anything else in that hamper?"

"Fresh fruit and caramel brownies."

"Caramel brownies? No kidding?" She ate one and then lay back on the blanket, her head in Kerry's lap, rubbing her cheek against her thigh. Kerry's hand languidly threaded through the soft blonde hair splayed against her, the nails lightly scratching Kim's scalp.

"Know what I want for dessert tonight?" the blonde asked.

Kerry bent down as Kim gazed up at her with brownie crumbs on her chin. "Let me take a guess. Chocolate chip cookies?"

"Close...I was thinking more of strawberries and whipped cream."

"Really? I have strawberries and whipped cream in the refrigerator."

"I saw that," Kim said huskily, sending Kerry an unmistakable leer.

Weaver flushed. All Kim was doing was looking and she wanted to grab her. "Behave yourself," she whispered.

"I am behaving. If I weren't...we'd be behind the nearest bush. And you'd be wearing the whipped cream and strawberries."

Seven tried not to eavesdrop on the other couple who had collapsed in giggles on the other blanket, but it was difficult because of her Borg-enhanced hearing. Plus Kathryn had fallen silent. The Borg envied the other couple their physical closeness. Would that ever be possible someday with Kathryn? At the moment Kathryn did not appear to notice anything, sitting opposite Seven, contentedly drinking her iced tea.

How would the captain react if she laid her head in her lap? She chewed on her sandwich, gazing at the tops of Kathryn's thighs, imagining them pillowing her head.

**Seven was staring at her crotch.** it deliberate, Kathryn wondered as she crossed her legs, squirming under the force of the blonde's stare. Those pale blue eyes were practically leaving scorch marks on her skin. It didn't help matters that the sun was beating down warm against her back and she was already feeling overheated. From the other blanket she could hear the sounds of Kim and Kerry softly whispering to one another.

"Kathryn?"

"Yes, Seven."

"Don't move." Seven got up on all fours and crawled across the blanket. At least she was no longer staring at her, and yet what in the world was she up to? Janeway swallowed, noticing the intent blue eyes and the golden hair for all the world like a lioness on the hunt. Seven was stalking her, and she felt like her prey.

"What is it?" she managed to ask.

"Small multipedal creatures are coming toward your leg, Kathryn."

"Ants." Kathryn translated.

"Yes..." Seven said, squashing a line of them on the captain's calf. "Did they damage you?"

"No, I'm fine, I think," Kathryn said, gasping as Seven held her bare calf and ran an exploratory finger under her pants leg.

"Problem?" Kerry asked.

"Ants," came the clipped reply.

"Did you get bitten?"

"No, it's Kathryn."

"I have some Benadryl in the first aid kit in the car." Kerry started to get up.

"I'll get it, Ker..." Kim uncoiled and brushed herself off and handed Kerry her crutch.

"It's nothing..." Kathryn said as Weaver came over and examined the leg.

"Never can tell. Around here fire ants can bite."

"I think Seven squished them before they could bite."

"Ice could help contain the swelling." Kerry picked up the Blue Ice bag she had put in with the sandwiches, wrapped it around a small towel and gave it to Seven to hold against Kathryn's calf.

"This is ridiculous. I am fine," Janeway protested.

"You always say that. Even when it is not true," Seven pointed out.

"How do you know that?"

"The whole crew on board Voyager knows this."

Kim returned with the antibiotic cream. "Here you go." She passed the tube at Kerry.

"I have been bitten by ants before and I was fine."

"All the same, perhaps it would be wise to allow Kerry to assist you."

Kim nodded. "Better listen to your astrometrics officer, Kathryn."

"Very well," Janeway submitted to the procedure, wishing that the three of them wouldn't hover so.

"Maybe Seven would like to apply it," Kerry said, tossing the tube to Seven who caught it in one hand.

"You must lie still, Kathryn," she said.

"Dab it around there and there," Kerry said, instructing the Borg as she would a first year intern.

Kathryn twitched as she felt Seven's fingers sliding the cool lotion up her calf.

"Are you in pain, Captain?"

"No, I'm just ticklish...."

"Ah..." The Borg said, completing the task as she wondered what being ticklish meant.
 

The polaric energy device was crude but as soon as Seven laid eyes on it she knew she could modify it to suit their purposes.

"Easy!" Nielsen's friend exclaimed as she picked it up from the table. Professor Sam Liang was an Asian man with a prominent chin and intense brown eyes. The two of them along with Nielsen and the captain were standing in Liang's work room. After staying for the initial introductions, Kim and Kerry had left the scientists to their discussion at the Great Lakes Training Center, promising to pick them up in another hour.

"Ever try it out?" Harry asked his friend as Seven placed the device back down on the table.

"Not yet. That's the next step." Brown eyes gleamed through his spectacles.

"How did you get funding?"

"NSF grant."

"NSF?" Kathryn circled the table and gave the emitter her full attention. She glanced up at Seven who nodded in answer to her unspoken question.

"National Science Foundation grant. Government funding to lowly researchers."

"Your model is impressive for 21st century technology," Seven said.

"Thanks." Liang's face lit up. "It took me three different attempts to get it right."

As the scientist began a litany of miscues and mistakes he had made Kathryn reached her own decision.

"May we borrow your model?" she asked.

It was the wrong question to ask, she saw immediately. The scientist who had been warming to them immediately flared up.

"Lady, you must be crazy. Harry said you wanted to look at my research project not steal it."

"Sam, relax, no one said anything about stealing...." Harry protested.

"We will need it only for a few hours," Janeway continued. "We promise to return it undamaged."

Liang shook his head. "Impossible. I can't let it out of my sight. I have to submit the completed prototype next week to the committee."

"You stated this was your third attempt. Are there any previously constructed models?" Seven asked.

"Yes... those were duds," he warned.

Her eyebrow arched. "Duds?"

"Unworkable," Harry translated.

"If they do not work, perhaps you would have no objection to our borrowing one of the unsuccessful devices." Seven felt sure she could get the polaric energy device working. If a mere 21st century scientist could, she a product of Borg and 24th century humanity certainly could.

"They don't work, why would you want them?" Liang asked, cautiously.

"To test a theory of my own." Seven said, recognizing the scientist's hesitation as unwillingness to compromise his theory and his own work.

"What theory is that?" Liang's curiosity was piqued.

Seven shook her head. "I can't say just yet. However, if I am successful, I would be willing to share the information with you."

"How about doing more than that?"

"Explain."

"A co-credit on any paper you submit?"

"That would be acceptable."

"I can't share the schematics for the device. That constitutes most of my research," he said.

"The schematics are irrelevant," Seven replied. She was sure she didn't need them.

"Okay then, you can have my leftovers. Let me see what I can give you." He began to putter around in another corner of the workroom and with Harry's help loaded a small metal device on the table.

"This is it?" Kathryn frowned. It was half the size of the working model and seemed to have been cannibalized for parts.

"I warned you it wouldn't work."

"If you could supply other parts for the equipment, maybe Seven could piece it together," Harry said.

Willingly Liang consented to add parts along with the device.

"If you do publish anything, my name is spelled L-I-A-N-G," the professor said.

"I will give you the proper credit," Seven promised.

"Sam, let me ask you a question about something," Harry said, drawing his friend aside in order for Kathryn and Seven to have a few moments alone.

"Do you think you can make this thing into a functional energy device?" Kathryn asked.

Seven flashed her a familiar smile, the type that usually infuriated Lt. Torres and which now gave Janeway a definite boost.

"Stupid question. A better one would be, how soon?"

"I estimate that with Professor Nielsen's assistance we can get the device operational in an hour."

"I don't want Harry further involved in this, Seven," Janeway said, glancing over toward the corner where Nielsen was speaking to Liang. "He already knows too much. We must not contaminate the time line any further."

"Very well. In that case working alone it will take me about two hours."

The captain had another suggestion. "I could assist you. I was a science officer before I took up a command post."

"With your assistance, the device will be functional in two and half hours."

Kathryn blinked, not believing her ears. "Are you saying I am not a good assistant for you?" she asked, coldly.

"Your science skills are impeccable, Captain. I believe that I would be distracted from my task if you were so close at hand."

Oh. Kathryn didn't know what to say to that.

"I'll let you work in peace if that would get the job done sooner."

"It doesn't matter when I get this job done," Seven pointed out. "Since we still must await the arrival of the phaser."

"That's true. So I guess you could complete all this back at Kerry's place."

"It seems an elementary task. I wonder where I could get some duranium from."

"I don't think they have any in this century."

"Dilithium crystals?" Seven asked hopefully.

"Mmmm. Nope, none of that either. We'll just have to wing it. Do you think we can still do it?"

"The device will be crude however it should work."

"Excellent."
 

BLONDES/REDHEADS

"Maybe we shouldn't have ditched them," Kim said, swinging her Macy's shopping bag as they strolled down the mall, jammed with teenagers on summer vacation.

"Come on, you would have been bored out of your gourd, listening to quantum physics mumbo jumbo," Kerry replied, pausing in front of a window display of The Gap.

The couple had cruised around in the Saturn, trying to find a good way to spend an hour. Shopping at the nearest mall seemed the best option, even though Kim never met a store she didn't like and was quickly maxing out her credit card. They had already hit Banana Republic for khaki shorts, Barnes and Noble for summer reading and the Morrow Nut House for a half a pound of roasted cashews. Just doing their part for the faltering American economy.

"You've been buying a lot of stuff," Kerry said, leading Kim away from the display of Coach handbags.

"I'm sublimating," Kim explained. "What I really want to do with you would take more than an hour." She peeked out of the corner of her eye at the ER chief turning the cutest shade of pink. "Hey, a Victoria's Secrets..." She caught a glimpse of the lingerie palace over Kerry's shoulder and happily steered her companion through the front door.

A marketing guy's idea of bedroom attire, Kerry thought, walking through the store's mine field of lace and frills. On a monitor above their heads Victoria Secrets models paraded down the cat walk.

"Kim, can we get out of here? This place gives me the willies."

"In a sec." The blonde headed for the racks of pajamas.

"What do you think?" she asked, holding one against her chest.

The blue cotton pajama top was patterned with cows. Not Kim's usual style of sleepwear...Unless in California she went in for a different kind of fashion choice.

"Is that your style now?" Kerry asked.

"It's not for me."

She took another look at the pajamas, which were way over-sized for her.

"I was thinking of getting it for the other blonde in your life."

"Do you mean Seven?" Kerry eyed the pajama top again. It was cute and on the young Borg would probably look charming. "Yeah, for her it would go."

"That's what I thought."

"Why are you buying her pjs?" Weaver asked, trailing Kim around the tables of garish red and black thongs that made the medico in her shudder.

"I'm trying to help her romance Kathryn."

"Really? That's awfully nice of you."

The psychiatrist didn't reveal her other motive, that the sooner Kathryn and Seven cemented their relationship, the less preoccupied Kerry would be with Seven.

"What about Kathryn? Shall I get something for her?" Kerry asked, flipping through the silky gowns on the rack.

"Nothing too sexy...she wouldn't wear it."

"That's true. The captain is a tad uptight."

With a flourish, Kim brought out a night shirt with a cocker spaniel on it. "Tada! Whatcha think?"

"It's not very romantic."

"If we get her something slinky she'll freak and sleep in that ugly rugby shirt."

"That's true. Okay...Cows and cocker spaniel, I guess it's a match."

Kim beamed. Kerry felt the urge to pull her into her arms and run her tongue lightly against that sweet spot on her chin, then descend slowly down her neck, along her shoulder, arm, elbow...Tonight. She had to hang on until tonight.

A sigh blew the red bangs up off a forehead.

"Ker, you okay?" Kim asked, hoping that she hadn't tired Kerry out by walking her back and forth while shopping. The ER chief rarely complained even when her leg ached.

"Yeah, I just wish we were alone at home right now," she confessed as she slumped behind a rack of cotton underwear.

"That goes double for me." She leaned back, her head lightly nudging Kerry's.

Enjoying the scent of Kim's perfume as their shoulders rubbed, Kerry asked about Seven.

"So what's the deal? She delusional or what?"

"Sorry, my lips are sealed. Doctor patient confidentiality, remember?"

"Hey, this isn't a courtroom for heaven's sake. I just want to know if Seven's in her right mind. Unless you think she's a fashion model like Carl DeRaad did."

"Fashion model?" Kim squeaked.

"It's true."

"Well, I'd say there's nothing wrong with her mind at all."

"So this time travel thing is on the level?"

"I don't know anything about that."

Kerry paused and leaned on her crutch for a moment. "If she's not delusional why did you call your friend in San Francisco?"

"I called Carol because getting that phaser is important if Kathryn and Seven ever want to get back to where they came from."

"So you're saying?"

"I'm saying nothing, Kerry. Okay?" Kim put a sharp bite into her words.

"All right. Sheesh..." Weaver backed down. She really didn't need to know everything about Kathryn and Seven, just that Kathryn wasn't going to hurt the young woman.

"You're buying stuff for them but nothing for us."

"Oh, I have something for you in mind, my dear," Kim said, leering. She drew out a hanger with a tiny green tank top and matching panties. "What do you think?"

Kerry cleared her throat, sure that she was blushing and that everyone in the store was staring at them. "It's a little small."

"You'll look great in it."

"If you're getting me that, I want to get you something."

"I'm way ahead of you, babe." Kim brought a black silk nightgown and matching briefs from behind her back. She held it up to the mirror. "What do you think?"

Black silk and Kim. Sheer black silk. Kerry fingered the soft smooth fabric imagining Kim under the sheer silk. Under her hands.

"Cat got your tongue?" the blonde purred, sticking out the tip of her tongue.

"Stop it. We're in public."

"Yes...and you don't know how much restraint I'm using to keep from dragging you into the nearest dressing room and ravishing you."

"You just have to wait until tonight."

"I will comply," Kim said in a reasonable imitation of Seven that cracked Kerry up.

Laughing, they took their purchases over to the cashier.

"Hey, wait a sec. The panties that go with the nightgown are missing," Kim said, as the woman prepared to ring up the items.

"I put them back," Kerry confessed, pretending to be interested in a CD with an angel on it.

"Do you want the briefs?" The salesclerk peered over her glasses at them.

"Uhm...I didn't think she'll be needing them," Kerry said softly. The expression in the green eyes started Kim's pulse racing.

"Maybe I should try the nightgown on. Come with me, Ker," Kim said urgently, grabbing her arm.

"No. It's fine. It'll fit...and even if it doesn't who cares?" Kerry waggled her brows. "It won't stay on you long."

"Kerry Weaver, I can't believe you said that in front of the cashier!" Kim hooted as they crossed the parking lot.

"What did I say?" Kerry asked innocently.

"It's a good thing I'm not the shy and retiring sort..." Kim said as she leaned her against the hood of the car. She placed a finger on Kerry's lips and gently slid it inside. She shivered at the wetness and the heat of the soft mouth as the redhead swirled her tongue and sucked on the solitary digit.

Kim's knees began to buckle. "Uh...Seven said not to bring up this time travel thing with Janeway."

"Uh-huh." Another swirl of that tongue and Kim shuddered.

"She has a real problem with it. Pushes her buttons." And Kerry was pushing her buttons right now with that tongue of hers.

"Uhmmm."

"I mean it."

Kerry pulled Kim's finger out of her mouth with an audible pop that made the psychiatrist groan.

"Okay. I get it. Now kiss me."

Giggling at the grumpy command, Kim bent her head and captured Kerry's lips in a kiss that raised both their body temperatures.

When they drew apart the two women clung to each other. "When did we say we'd go back for them?"

"In about half an hour." Kim rubbed the tip of her nose against Kerry's. "Why?"

"Nothing. I was just wondering if they had any motels around here. Must have some, don't you think?"

Blonde locks shook in disbelief. "Kerry Weaver!"

"What? You mean you don't want to?" the redhead pouted. "I'll pay for it."

An arched eyebrow greeted that remark.

"You know what I mean."

"Of course I do."

"Don't you want to?"

"I want to. But a sleazy motel."

Kerry rubbed Kim's back, stroking more deliberately in slow circles. "It's been a long time, babe."

"I know...but not in a cheap motel room." She had some standards after all.

"How about an expensive motel room?"

"You're acting like a hormonal teenager."

"Okay, scratch the motel. How about a honeymoon suite in a four star hotel?"

"All right!" Kim pumped her fist. "Now you're talking."

"Well, you're not getting it." Kerry dashed those hopes without a qualm. "How about my bedroom tonight say around eleven o'clock?"

"What about the other house guests?"

"If your pal Janeway has a brain they'll probably be similarly engaged."

"We'll have to keep the noise level down."

"We? You're the screamer."

"We'll see about that tonight, Weaver."

They got into the car and headed out. Ten minutes later stopped at a red light by a small dog park, Kerry glanced out her window at a beautiful golden retriever romping on the grass with an equally beautiful Irish setter. The two dogs were rolling over one another, nipping and sniffing, long hair gleaming in the sunlight

"You think that's the same Frisbee dog?"

"I don't know."

Weaver giggled, watching the two dogs playing on the grass. "That golden retriever is gorgeous."

"So's her girlfriend. Red hair. Yummy."

The dogs ran off together out of sight.

"Where do you think they're going."

"Duh..."

Weaver poked her in the ribs. "You're incorrigible."

"Well, if I were a girl dog and that was my girl friend...I know what I'd be doing."

"Take her to a cheap motel room?"

Taking her cue from the dog, Kim leaned over and kissed Kerry softly, drawing away when Kerry moaned.

"We'd better save some for tonight, Weaver."

"Oh, I have plenty saved up. You better have taken your vitamins this morning."

"I suggest we find a restaurant for dinner on the way home."

"You don't like my cooking?"

"I don't want you wasting your energy in the kitchen. You're going to need to keep your strength up for what I'm serving you tonight."
 

Kathryn's boots crunched gravel as she paced in the parking lot. She never liked waiting, especially now when they had the dummy model of the polaric device in the plastic bag Seven was carrying.

"I'm sure they'll be here shortly," Harry Nielsen said.

"They are eleven minutes and thirty-three seconds late," Seven said, sharing the captain's dislike of tardiness. In the three years she had served on Voyager she had never been late for a duty shift.

"I see a silver car coming up the road," Harry said.

Seven's keener vision had already identified the vehicle as the Saturn belonging to Kerry.

"Good," Kathryn said. She had half expected Liang to come out of his office saying that he had a change of mind. The sooner they left the Great Lakes Naval Training Center the sooner she could relax.

A few minutes later the car pulled up, both driver and passenger apologetic.

"You are fourteen minutes and forty-two seconds late," Seven said, as she put the plastic bag into Kerry's trunk.

"Sorry. We got held up," Kerry said, looking in the side mirror and belatedly rubbing Kim's lipstick off her face. Harry winked at her before waving and driving off in his car.

"Things go okay back there?" Kim asked.

"We have a model of the device that we can modify," Janeway said, climbing into the back seat with Seven.

"Great. This calls for a celebration." Kim stepped on the gas.

"We have not modified the device successfully as yet," Seven declared, lurching back in the seat with Kathryn as the car took off.

"Doesn't matter. You have it in hand. All's right with the universe. I'm springing for dinner."

Wondering what had gotten into the two women, Kathryn settled back for the ride to the restaurant. After some debate with Kerry over where they should eat, Kim remembered a steakhouse off the beaten path. Getting there proved to be a challenge for her memory, and Kerry's maps didn't have the area marked. Finally she found the small back road which curved and dipped.

"Maybe we could just eat somewhere back in Chicago," Kathryn said as another curve flung her against Seven, who finally placed her arms around the smaller woman to prevent her head from banging into the top of the ceiling.

"I do not want you damaged," she said.

"Thank you, Seven," Kathryn said, knowing she should protest. However the soft breasts pressing into her back made it difficult for her to remember her name much less protest.

Ye Olde Steak House? Kerry read the sign on the restaurant in disbelief when Kim finally stopped.

"You've got to be kidding."
"The steaks are good here," Kim said, unabashedly pulling into a parking space. "Besides the driver calls the shots."

"Remind me to take those car keys away from you. The power is going to your head."

Smirking, Kim linked her arm in Kerry's and headed into the restaurant. Despite the tacky appearance, complete with a knight in tarnished armor, the steak house lived up to its name, offering grilled beef in any way except well done.

"If you want it well done...we don't serve you," the waiter explained.

"I'll have a T-bone, medium well, with baked potato with everything on it...And which way is the salad bar?" Kim asked.

"Over there..." the waiter pointed, past a display of a coat of arms.

"I'll have the same," Kerry said.

Kathryn glanced at Seven. Holding the menu up to her face, she conferred with her astrometrics officer.

"Have you decided what you would like, Seven?"

"I am not very hungry, Kathryn."

"Perhaps we could share an entrée."

"That would be acceptable," Seven said, brightening at the possibility of feeding the portions of food to the captain the way Kim fed Kerry her sandwich.

"Seven and I would like to split an entrée, if that's all right," Janeway said to the waiter.

"Sure, no problem," he replied.

"We'll have a T-Bone also. Medium well. And the baked potato as well."

"Three T-Bones... Three baked potatoes. Okay...Help yourself to the salad bar, ladies."

Kim nudged Weaver with her elbow. "Come on, Ker. You need to eat and keep up your strength for later tonight."

Blushing slightly, Kerry rose from the table. "You two coming?" she asked, glancing over her shoulder at Kathryn and Seven.

"We'll let you go first and get our salads later," Kathryn said.

Seven waited until the two women stood in the line at the salad bar.

"Kathryn, is it customary to eat before making love?"

The water Janeway was swallowing went down the wrong way and she sputtered, hoping she hadn't turned blue.

"What makes you ask that question?"

"Is it not apparent to you that Kim and Kerry intend to copulate tonight?"

"Really, Seven. That's none of our business," Kathryn chided. She had enough trouble keeping her own romantic life straight to indulge in any speculation about someone else's.

"They seem to be touching a good deal even at the salad station."

Kathryn turned and saw that Kim was lightly rubbing her hand against the small of Kerry's back.

"And the lip color on Kim's mouth is smudged."

"Seven, it is not good manners to comment on such things."

"I would not except I wondered if eating is essential before making love."

Knowing Seven's sheer stubbornness, Kathryn thought it wise to answer the question before she asked it of Kim or Kerry.

"Actually no. It's not necessary. Sometimes a heavy meal makes one fall asleep. However, making love causes an expenditure of energy. No doubt Kim was alluding to that when she said that Kerry needed to eat to keep up her energy reserves for later this evening."

"I see. Thank you for explaining things," the blonde replied, wondering if it were too late to order her own entrée. She did not wish the captain to think that she was not adequately fueled for such an endeavor tonight.
 

BLONDES/REDHEADS

Dinner over, the four women strolled back to the car. The summer sky was just beginning to darken and it was much too early to head home in the opinion of a certain blonde psychiatrist.

"Let's go dancing!" she suggested brightly.

Kerry wondered if the woman she loved had ever been a cheerleader. She had never noticed that rah rah personality before.

"Don't tell me. You know an intimate little club that's another hole in the wall in the boonies," she asked.

"For your information, Ms. Smarty Pants, the club's not in the boonies. It's in Chicago."

Kerry laughed as she got into the car. She was having a good time and dancing sounded like fun.

"You two in the mood to dance?" she called to the pair in the back seat.

Kathryn felt full from the meal and warmed by the company and by Seven's arms that were still around her. To have them around her in the dance club and to feel the entire length of the blonde beauty against her would be pleasure incarnate.

"I'd like that," she said now, in answer to Kerry's question.

"Seven, okay by you?"

The Borg smiled at Kerry and bobbed her head. "Acceptable."

"All right then. Twinkle Toes Legaspi, lead on."

The dance club was small, noisy and smoky. Kerry's eyes burned at the blue cloud that wafted ceilingward as she followed Kim through the doorway.

"This is bad for the respiratory system," she muttered, glad that Kim's hand was in hers because she couldn't see anything.

"What's a little lung damage between friends?" Kim joked, already moving to the beat of the band playing on the stage.

Kerry rolled her eyes, which made them burn even more. Her vision wasn't the only sense affected. The hard driving beat of the music made it almost impossible to carry on a conversation without shouting. If they stayed here for more than an hour she would have no ear drum left.

Even for early Saturday night, the club was buzzing. Its clientele wasn't strictly women, since Weaver noticed men dancing with women, as well as men dancing with men. Unisexual seemed the appropriate theme.

"Do you dance, Seven?" Kerry asked the Borg who was attracting keen interest from both sexes as the four women threaded their way to a vacant table.

"I have not been successful as a dance partner," Seven admitted, still feeling ashamed of her dancing mishap with Lt. Chapman. True his shoulder ligament had healed but she could not pass him in the corridors of Voyager without the fleeting memory of their unsuccessful date.

"Maybe you just need the right partner," Kim said, winking at Kathryn who stared at her.

The psychiatrist was certainly in a good mood. Or maybe she just had a mood disorder of her own, Kathryn thought. Kim had been beaming ever since she'd picked them up at the Naval Training Center. Maybe Seven was right about Kim and Kerry getting together in bed tonight.

"You don't need to dance, Seven," Kathryn reassured her astrometrics officer. "You can just enjoy the music and observe the others dancing."

Seven felt grateful for Kathryn's understanding. "People here are watching us even though we are not dancing yet. Is this usual?"

"Are they?" Janeway glanced at the line of men and women at the bar. Ogling was the better word for what they were doing to Kim and Seven. Not that she blamed any of them. The two blondes would turn heads wherever they went.

"They are just admiring you and Kim," Kerry said, her thoughts aligned with Janeway on this point.

"Perhaps they are admiring you and Kathryn," Seven countered.

"I couldn't have said that better myself, Seven," Kim agreed, grinning as she held out a chair for Kerry. "The two hottest redheads right here."

"Not to mention the two coolest blondes," Kerry quipped, sitting down.

Quick to mimic the other blonde, Seven pulled a chair out for Kathryn who looked momentarily stunned then sat down with a murmured thank you.

Through the din a cocktail waitress approached and slapped four napkins on the tiny table. "Evening, ladies. What can I get you?"

"Irish whisky and soda," Kathryn said. She would enjoy unreplicated liquor while she could.

"Gin and tonic," Kerry said. "Bombay Sapphire if you have it."

"Seven?" Kim asked, glancing over at the other blonde.

"Alcohol interferes with my cortical implant."

"I know something you might enjoy," Kerry said. "How about a Shirley Temple?"

"What is a Shirley Temple?" Seven asked.

"A non-alcoholic drink. It's very pretty."

"One Shirley Temple," the waitress jotted that down.

"Diet Coke," Kim said. She was the designated driver and didn't need alcohol to get high. She was already feeling good from the music and the company.

As soon as the waitress left, a guy in a cowboy hat sauntered over to ask Kim to dance.

"No, thanks." Urban cowboys were the last thing on her list.

"You two together then?" the man asked, squinting at Kerry.

Kim laid her hand on Kerry's. "That's right." You got a problem with it?

"Cool." He left.

Seven stared at Kim's large hand covering Kerry's smaller one. On the table, the captain's hand lay only a few inches from the Borg's. The captain had on several occasions held her hand, but she seemed unlikely to do so now with so many people present. Unless of course, someone asked Seven to dance. Then Seven could put her hand on Kathryn's and decline the way Kim did.

When the drinks arrived Seven got her first taste of the Shirley Temple that Kerry had recommended. Frowning, she fished out a red dangly fruit in the middle of the drink.

"A cherry," Kim identified for her.

"Do you like the drink?" Kathryn asked, savoring her own whiskey and watching Seven's expressive blue eyes as she tried to identify the flavors in the Shirley Temple.

"It is sweet."

"It was named after the sweetest star in Hollywood," Kerry told her. The gin and tonic was making her feel very warm and fuzzy. So fuzzy that when Kim got up and held out her hand to her, she took it without a qualm, leaving her crutch at the table. She slipped her arms around Kim, as the band played one of her favorite Beatles tunes. **And I Love Her.** And she did.

Kim kept her arms snug around Kerry, moving slowly back and forth, swaying more than dancing.

Seven took another sip of her Shirley Temple, still trying to decide if she liked it or not. It was certainly better than the lemonade she had once tried that had puckered her lips. She glanced across the club at Kim and Kerry dancing, the two women wrapped in each other's arms. Instinctively she glanced over to find the captain's smoky eyes on her. They were all blue, no hint of gray tonight, inviting and beautiful.

Should she emulate Kim and rise and hold out her hand to Kathryn? Seven hesitated, plagued by her lack of skill on the holodeck dance floor.

"Seven?"

"Yes, Kathryn?" She looked over at the captain's chair, only to find that Janeway had risen and was standing now with her hand extended. Seven clasped it but did not rise from her chair.

"May I have this dance?" The husky voice sent a shiver down Seven's spine.

"I do not dance well, Kathryn," she warned.

"Come on..." Grinning that crooked smile that Seven liked, Kathryn tugged her hand and Seven rose. The captain found a small corner of the dance floor where if they stumbled no one would notice. "Put your arms around me," she murmured.

Seven hastened to obey, exerting such enthusiasm in the move that the captain let out a sudden involuntary breath.

"Are you damaged?" the blonde asked, stricken.

"No...just ease off a bit...yes, that's fine." Kathryn snuggled against the taller woman. "Bend down. Yes." Kathryn smiled up at the serious expression in Seven's eyes. "Relax, this won't hurt."

"Dancing hurt Lt. Chapman," Seven reminded her.

"I'm not Lt. Chapman," Kathryn said and tucked her head against the woman's neck. "Now just move your feet back and forth. Take a step and another in time to the music."

The proximity of the captain's body was provoking changes in Seven's own body. Her limbs felt sluggish and heavy, her pupils were dilating, and the sensory nerves were flooding through her. She was throbbing too to the music and the haunting words. **And I love her.**

Fortunately, Seven's cortical implant was capable of multi-tasking, as she obeyed the captain's commands, all the while enjoying the feel of the smaller woman in her arms. Quivering at the sensations that threatened to freeze her synapses, she closed her eyes, allowing her cortical node to take over her automatic nervous systems.

"Seven?" a husky voice inquired a few minutes later.

"Yes, Kathryn."

"You're dancing."

"I am?"

"Quite well, in fact, my darling." Kathryn smiled into the blonde's shoulder. She rubbed her fingers lightly along the implant on Seven's biceps. She had imagined this moment countless times. To be in Seven's strong arms, pressed tight against her. The Borg was so beautiful, so sweet, so innocent. **And I love her.**

Kathryn was not Seven's only dance partner that evening. Kim had insisted that the two of them should dance before they left the club, a suggestion echoed by the other women in their group.

"Go ahead," Kerry urged.

"It will be good practice," Kathryn concurred.

"Very well," Seven said, reluctantly following the psychiatrist out onto the dance floor.

Because of her height Kim was accustomed to leading, but Seven was an inch or two taller so she suggested that Seven lead.

Seven found Kim more difficult to dance with than Janeway but not as difficult as Lt. Chapman back on Voyager. She just hoped that she would not damage the other woman as she maneuvered them back and forth on the floor.

"Relax, Seven," Kim said softly.

Seven dipped her head and gazed into the other blonde's blue eyes.

"Dancing is difficult for me."

"Just listen to the music and let your feet and body follow along," Kim whispered. "Or I can lead, if you wish."

"Perhaps that would be wise."

They rearranged their hands on each other's shoulders and then Kim smoothly took the lead, Seven following at first awkwardly and then more surely.

"This is better."

Kim smiled. "Good. Do you dance a lot on your ship?"

"No. Just on the holodeck where I will not damage a partner if I twirl him too vigorously."

"Very wise."

"Kathryn is a good dancer."

"Yes."

"Kerry dances adequately too despite her leg."

"Yes. She manages. I like holding her."

"I like holding Kathryn as well."

Kathryn smiled as the two blondes glided past their table. Seven's hesitation had disappeared and she seemed to be enjoying herself. Her hair worn down to her shoulders flowed as they swayed to the music. Kim had her head thrown back, laughing at something Seven must've said.

"They're so beautiful," she murmured. Like two blonde goddesses. They would have had all of Risa at their feet.

"Yes," Kerry agreed. "Very aesthetically pleasing as Seven would put it."

Kathryn switched her attention to the other woman sucking on a swizzle stick.

"You've heard her use that expression?"

Kerry shrugged. "It's come up now and then."

"Would you tell me how it came up?"

From force of habit the words came out more like a command.

"I didn't make a pass at her, if that's what you're thinking?" Kerry retorted.

"It's not. I'm sorry if that sounded sharp. I was just curious, knowing about your discussions with Seven on sexuality."

"Well, I can't remember exactly when the phrase first came up," Kerry said, partly mollified. "She's used it a number of times. Apparently she has certain insecurities about her body."

"Insecurities?"

"About having a partner see her naked. She's afraid a lover would be repulsed by her metallic implants."

"Repulsed? That's absurd. She's beautiful with them or without them," Kathryn exclaimed.

Bravo. At least there was life to the old captain.

"I told her she had nothing to worry about. Anyone with half a brain would not be repulsed."

"Good. What did she say to that?" Janeway asked, her curiosity getting the better of her.

Kerry dipped the swizzle stick back into her glass and shook her head.

"You wouldn't want to know that."

"And why not?"

"It might upset you."

Questions bounced around the captain's brain like a nest of Tartalian fleas.

"Then I insist you tell me."

No mistaking the command tone there.

"Very well. Her exact words were 'the captain has a whole brain.'"

Kathryn inhaled sharply. Seven was worried that **she** would be repulsed by her body. That could only mean that she wanted...oh God, she knew what Seven wanted and it was the same thing Kathryn wanted.

"You're making this harder on yourself, you know," Kerry said kindly.

There was no hiding from the knowing green eyes across the table. Nonetheless Kathryn tried. "I don't know what you are talking about."

"I'm talking about all the reasons you're telling yourself that you shouldn't have a relationship with a woman who obviously loves you."

"It would be inappropriate for me to have a relationship with Seven."

"Because of your age?" Kerry asked, dabbing at a wet spot on the table.

Janeway's chin shot up. "What do you mean my age?" Her voice could shatter duranium.

"You're what forty-two, forty-three?"

"Forty-four."

"And Seven is twenty-four, twenty-five?"

"Twenty-seven."

"That's quite an age gap there."

An ice cube clinked against Janeway's front tooth as she swallowed the last of her whiskey. Where was their waitress? She definitely could use a refill.

"How old is Kim?" she countered.

"Thirty-five."

"So you have an age gap too."

"You're right. I suppose Seven and Kim are closer in age to each other. You and I are the closest though, age-wise. Maybe we should swap partners."

"Don't even think that!" Kathryn exclaimed.

"I know. I got scared just saying it." Kerry began to laugh, snorting a little.

Janeway threw her a rueful glare. Phoebe, all over again.

"You think I don't know that I'm old enough to be Seven's mother?"

"Is that why you hesitate to do anything about your feelings for her?" Weaver asked sympathetically.

"I just don't want to complicate things."

"You're thinking too much. Go with your gut."

Kathryn examined the bottom of her cocktail glass, as though it held the answer she needed. "It's not that simple."

"If it's not the age thing or the implants, then why?" asked the other redhead.

"It would be inappropriate of me to engaged in such a relationship." It was a mantra. If she said it long enough she would believe it. "I am her captain. She is under my command."

"So you're prepared to go it alone."

"If necessary." She'd made it through alone in the Delta Quadrant for six long years. Surely she could hang on for a few more until the entire ship was back.

"And what about Seven?"

"I'll continue to treat her as a crewmember."

"That's not what I mean. Do you think she will be content to remain alone forever?"

A muscle in Janeway's jaw clenched as she realized what Weaver meant. She had not considered that Seven might desire a relationship once back on Voyager. It was possible that she would find someone eager to date her. She was so lovely and loveable, what crewmember wouldn't want a relationship with her? Kathryn felt a twist of pain in her heart at the idea of seeing a lovestruck Seven walking around her ship. It would be a living hell.

"You want her, can't allow yourself to have her, but you don't want anyone else to have her. Does that sum things up?" Kerry asked softly.

Kathryn couldn't answer. The music had ended, and the two blondes came back to the table, flushed and out of breath.

"Kathryn, did you see me dance?" Seven asked, smiling proudly.

"Yes, Seven, I saw you." **I always see you, my darling.**

BLONDES/REDHEADS

Seven placed the polaric device carefully on the living room table and accessed her internal chronometer.

"It is 2300 hours. Should I begin the modifications now?" she asked the captain.

Janeway shook her head. "No. It's late. We'll have plenty of time to work on it tomorrow."

We? Seven quirked an eyebrow, pleased that Kathryn wished to work on the device with her. Even though it would be more efficient for the Borg to complete the modifications alone.

"Is that acceptable?" the redhead asked with a crooked half smile.

"Yes, Kathryn." She returned the smile shyly.

From the hallway Kerry ducked her head in. "Do you two need anything? If not, I'll say good night. It's been a long day."

"Yeah, I'm tired from the driving." Kim faked a yawn.

"We're fine. Thank you both for everything," Kathryn said sincerely. She and Seven owed the other couple an enormous debt.

Seven walked over to the ER chief to say good night.

"Good night, Seven." Kerry reached up and gently kissed the Borg on the cheek, then she grabbed Kim's hand and climbed the stairs.

"Could you be any more obvious?" Kim rolled her eyes.

"Hey, it's my house!" Weaver pointed her crutch toward the bedroom.

"Hang on a sec. I just want to put their gifts in the guest room." Kim held up the shopping bags in her other hand.

"Okay..." Kerry followed her into the other bedroom. "Put it out in plain view so they take the hint."

After Kim draped the pajamas on one side of the bed and the nightshirt on the other, she cocked her head to the left.

"What do you think?"

"Lay them both out together on one side. Then come into my bedroom and lay me."

Whooping with laughter, Kim half-pushed and half-carried Kerry into her bedroom. "Kerry Weaver, where did you get that mouth of yours? Makes me want to do this to it..." She kissed her softly and then more deeply.

Kerry sighed, wiggling around to slam her bedroom door shut, letting her crutch drop and feeling utterly weightless as Kim's lips spread warmth everywhere. Her hands tangled in the soft blonde hair.

**Just when you thought your heart couldn't possibly get any fuller it stretched to the other side of the universe.**

Kim tugged at Kerry's shirt, an implicit command Kerry obeyed by shedding the garment. She needed her bare skin next to Kim's.

"You want to change into your tank top?" A breath whisper sweet against a bare shoulder.

"Only if you want me to."

"I'd like to see you in it some time..." a husky voice murmured. "Some other time... Maybe next time?" A bra strap slipped down Kerry's arm.

"Sure. You can wear the black silk then." Next time. Kerry's heart soared at the possibilities. There was going to be more next times. She urged Kim toward the bed, unable to wait any longer. "You have been driving me insane all afternoon and night."

"I'm the expert on crazies, and I'm way ahead of you there, babe."

The blonde unclasped Weaver's wispy lace bra, and small breasts spilled out into her welcoming palms.

Kerry groaned. Long fingers kneaded the soft mounds. She had almost forgotten this...how good Kim was to her...How special she made her feel... How cherished... How loved. Unbidden a tear spill out of her eye to be smoothed away by a finger tip.

"This okay, babe?"

Kerry buried her head against Kim's elegant neck. "This is perfect. It's what I dreamed about for months, and I guess a part of me still can't believe it."

Kim slipped her arms around the smaller woman and hugged her tight. "I love you."

"I love you."

"And I'm going to convince all your body parts of that fact before the night is over."

Weaver grinned. "All my parts?"

"Uh-huh...starting with right about here," Kim said, kissing her left earlobe.

A shower of kisses descended then, soft sweet ones that spoke of forgiveness and welcome and hard, deeper ones that spoke of need and connection. Kerry accepted them all eagerly. Then it was her turn to yank apart the buttons of Kim's cotton shirt, to savor the flawless skin, to press her hungry mouth against the tender flesh.

"Oh my God." The psychiatrist let out a strangled cry. Kerry leaned sideways and they fell together on the bed, cradling each other against the impact on the mattress, which squeaked. **So much for volume control.**

Blue eyes filled with laughter. "I'd forgotten about that squeak." Kim giggled, then she wasn't laughing because Weaver was doing the most amazing things to her.

"We should take it nice and slow tonight," she panted.

"Slow's good," Kerry agreed, her tongue lapping the hollow of a slender throat.

Groaning, Kim slid slowly up over the smaller woman, blonde hair brushing against two coral-tipped buds. The redhead arched, desperate to keep the feathery contact. As Kim moved away, Kerry let out a frustrated whimper, then her green eyes flashed with determination legendary in the ER. Small hands yanked Kim's shirt off her shoulders. Two quick twists, and her bra was history.

**Oh sweet heaven.** Kerry's breath caught in her throat. Kim was so beautiful. The cornflower blue eyes, the tousled hair, creamy shoulders, voluptuous breasts and narrow waist tapering down into the blue jeans.

"I need to touch you." Kerry's low hoarse rasp caused a wave of goose bumps skittering across Kim's skin. Fingers trailed up the blonde's torso...Shivering under the sweet torture, Kim willed the roving fingers to find their target, but Kerry studiously ignored the straining nipples.

"Ker...." Not even fifteen minutes alone together, still half-dressed, and she was reduced to abject begging.

"What?" Green eyes gazed down tenderly. Seeing the love reflected there brought another rush of pleasure through Kim.

"Please."

The corners of Kerry's lips lifted. "I thought you wanted it slow..."

"If you don't touch me right now___."

"You want me to touch you?"

Kim groaned. "Yes."

A small hand cupped her breast and squeezed gently. "Like this?"

"Yes..."

"Or maybe...more like this..." A pinch on the soft tip.

"Yes..."

"Or even this..." A soft warm mouth descended.

"God yes." Kim moaned and reached for a pillow to smother her screams.

"They are going to make love," Seven said after Kim and Kerry pulled their vanishing act up the stairs.

"Seven, I've reminded you before about speculation," Kathryn said.

"I do not believe it is speculation. It is a fact. You saw them at the restaurant and the night club and in the car..."

The captain held up a small hand. "You've made your point..."

"Should we remain below or go upstairs to our room?"

**Our** room. Of course the guest room had only one bed which they had to share. For sleeping purposes only. Although Seven didn't sleep and God knew Janeway wasn't going to get much herself with the blonde scant inches away from her. Kathryn's thoughts were spilling over one another and she dared not open her mouth because the babble would just spill out.

"Kathryn? Are you confused?"

"No, why do you ask?"

"The expression on your face reminds me of Ensign Kim when he is befuddled by a problem."

Being compared to a junior officer didn't strike a responsive chord with Kathryn.

"Chalk it up to one too many Irish whiskies. And now what should we do. Any ideas?"

"I do not believe I can fall asleep right away or at all."

"Perhaps a warm shower would help relax you."

An image of a wet nude blonde in a shower stall popped into Kathryn's mind. **Great, Janeway.** Just what she needed to practice command control.

"Or you could do something else," she said hastily.

"We could engage in a philosophical discussion."

"Are you in the mood to talk, Seven?" Kathryn asked gently. On Voyager the two women had often had such discussions, sometimes even in the middle of the night

The blonde was in the mood to **do** not talk. But would Kathryn agree? She gazed speculatively over at the captain who seemed disinclined to go to bed right away. This gave her the opportunity to broach another idea.

"Perhaps you could give me another lesson in humanity."

Kathryn's blue eyes sparkled with interest. "What kind of lesson?"

"A kissing lesson?"

"Kissing!" All blood drained out of Kathryn's face for a moment. Surely the blonde was joking, but her demeanor was as serious as when she presented an astrometrics report at the staff meeting.

"Why?"

"My first attempt kissing Kerry was not a success. I need instruction."

"I'm not sure that I'm the best tutor."

"Kim indicated otherwise. She said that you were a good kisser. Was she in error?"

"I haven't had any complaints...well not since Cheb Parker, and he was the first boyfriend I had so he should talk." Kathryn stopped. Babbling again and this time out loud. She was losing control. She was a starship captain, and they never spouted constant drivel like this. It wasn't in the Starfleet manual.

Damn those two Irish whiskeys she'd consumed at the night club. The same club where she had danced with Seven. Not just once but twice.

The captain would never dance with her astrometrics officer...but Kathryn had danced with Seven. The captain would never give her astrometrics officer kissing lessons. But Kathryn yearned to.

"I'm not sure this is a good idea."

"You have been the one to teach me most about humanity. I don't see why this lesson will be any different."

"Kissing just is."

"If you dislike the idea I shall withdraw the request," Seven said stiffly, disappointed. She had obviously misinterpreted the captain's behavior this evening in the car and on the dance floor.

"Thank you." Now that she was off the hook, Kathryn felt an unexpected pang of disappointment herself. "You do understand?"

Pale azure eyes stared point blank into steely blue gray ones. "I understand. You have no desire to kiss me."

**No desire?** The vulnerable expression on the young face nearly broke Janeway's resolve. Fortunately she had her command training to fall back on.

"Perhaps we'd better go upstairs and get settled in for the night."

"Very well, Captain..."

She flinched. Captain. Not Kathryn.

Seven turned off the lights. Squaring her shoulders, Kathryn started up the stairs, remembering how less than 24 hours ago she had raced up them in a rush to find Seven.

The Borg followed a few steps behind, wondering what Kathryn would do if she picked her up and carried her up the remaining stairs. Would she pound her back like Kerry had and demand that she be put down? Somehow having an agitated Kathryn in her arms brought a flutter to the pit of Seven's stomach.

Still musing on that odd occurrence, she went into the guest room where Kathryn was examining clothing left on the bed.

"What is this?" she asked.

"Kim mentioned something about a shopping excursion. I think they bought us some things to sleep in."

Seven picked up one of the garments and held it up to her chest. It was too small and obviously meant for the captain.

"This one's yours, I think," Kathryn said, indicating the pajama set.

"Do humans generally wear different garments at night time?"

"Yes. It's generally thought better to sleep with loose garments that won't bunch or get in the way. Sometimes of course..." her voice trailed off.

"Sometimes...?" Seven prompted.

"Sometimes humans sleep without any garments."

"Indeed." Seven's optical implant almost reached her hairline.

Kathryn stared at the cocker spaniel on her nightshirt, distracted by the image of a nude Borg asleep next to her. Nobody to blame for that thought than herself.

"Do you like the pajamas?" she asked briskly.

"Is that what this is called, Captain?"

"Yes, and Seven, please continue calling me Kathryn. We are sharing a room together tonight."

"Yes, Kathryn. The pajamas seem adequate. Do you like yours?"

"Yes. I guess they figured once a dog lover, always a dog lover." She draped the nightshirt over her shoulder. "I'm going to change into it in the bathroom. While I'm gone you can change into the pajamas."

At the sink Janeway splashed cold water on her cheeks and stared in the mirror. For heaven's sake, bolting into the bathroom like a nervous bridge officer handed the conn for the first time. She was no prude. She had undressed in front of people before. At Starfleet Academy it was not unusual to swim nude in the gymnasium pool or sit unclothed in the sauna. But the idea of standing naked in front of Seven, even for a few minutes while that optical implant recorded all the minutiae about her flesh was daunting.
And not entirely fair. She didn't possess an eidetic memory and would have to rely on her far inferior human memory if she ever saw Seven undressed even for a second.

To her relief Seven had followed her suggestion and changed into the blue pajamas by the time Kathryn returned to the bedroom. Summoning all her command training, Kathryn walked nonchalantly toward the bureau where the young woman stood. The pajama top wasn't buttoned all the way to the top and the bottoms didn't quite reach her knees, which left a lovely expanse of leg and thigh visible to Janeway's appreciative eyes.

"Kathryn, you are staring."

Ogling was the word. "Sorry, I was trying to see if you had dogs on that pajama top." **Lame, Janeway...so lame.**

Seven plucked at her pajama top. "I believe it is a bovine creature."

"Cows yes." Kathryn picked up her hair brush from the bureau, conscious of Seven's attention fixed on her in the mirror.

"Something wrong?"

"Naomi Wildman's mother brushes her hair."

"Yes."

Seven approached, her hand outstretched. "May I?"

Janeway's throat suddenly went dry. "You want to brush my hair?"

"If you will allow it?"

"All right..." No harm in such an innocent act, surely. She handed the brush to Seven and faced the mirror.

Carefully, the young woman drew the brush through the captain's auburn hair. She did it gently as though afraid that it would hurt her.

"You don't have to be that careful. I won't break," Kathryn assured her with an amused chuckle.

"I don't wish to damage you." Lightly the blonde curled a loose tendril around her index finger. Janeway swallowed hard. No reason on earth that should feel like the sexiest move alive.

"Have you always had hair of this color?"

"Yes."

"When I first came to Voyager your hair was longer."

"That's right."

Seven paused as she pictured the captain again with hair that flowed down her back. The fluttering in her stomach returned.

"Why did you cut it?"

"The usual reasons. I was tired of the same style, plus it kept getting in the way. I had to pin it up when I was on the bridge."

"I wear my hair up. It is more efficient that way."

"Yes. I like that look on you and I also like seeing it down." What would it feel like to brush Seven's hair? To run her fingers through the light blonde tresses, to inhale its sweet perfume.

Feeling dizzy, she called an abrupt halt to the hair brushing. "Thank you, Seven. That's fine."

"Are we finished?"

"Yes...unless you want me to go bald before my time. Just think how I'd look then."

"You would look as you do now except without hair," Seven said reasonably. "You would still be aesthetically pleasing."

"Thank you," Kathryn said, savoring the compliment since the Borg always spoke with perfect candor.

"As a Borg drone I was bald."

"So you were," the captain said, recalling vividly the first time she had set eyes on Seven of Nine. She had been in full Borg armor, bald with a waxy white cast to her skin. And yet even then there had been something about her that had intrigued Voyager's commanding officer.

"Shall we go to bed now?" Seven asked, wishing she had not reminded Kathryn of her previous appearance. Certainly the captain would find nothing aesthetically pleasing about a drone.

"Now we come to the crucial question," the captain said, looking serious.

"What question?"

"Do you prefer the left side of the bed or the right?"

"You are being facetious. I generate standing up so I have no preference. You are more accustomed to this choice since you have shared a bed before. You may take the side you prefer."

"I don't have a preference. However in the interest of expediency, I choose the right side. And I must warn you, after sleeping alone on Voyager for six years I'm a bed hog."

As Seven wondered why Kathryn would compare herself to a porcine creature, something thumped against the wall.

"Kerry and Kim are quite vigorous when making love," the blonde commented.

"Seven, you mustn't eavesdrop on people engaged in intimate acts."

"I did not," came the defensive reply. "I merely heard the sound of something colliding against the wall. Kim expressed concerned for Kerry's well-being. She said something about kissing it to make it better."

"Just try not to listen or think of them." Kathryn drew the bedcovers down. "We surely don't want them listening to us."

"Will we be doing anything that would engage their interest?" Seven asked, a hopeful expression on her face.

Janeway dashed it immediately. "No," she said sharply. "I'm sorry, Seven. This is just a little odd, sharing this room with you, and Kim and Kerry in the next room."

"I'm sure it is odd for them as well."

The captain fluffed up a pillow. "Is that pillow soft enough for you?"

"It is adequate."

The pensive note in Seven's voice was familiar to Kathryn.

"Something's on your mind."

"The kissing lesson," Seven admitted. "I had been looking forward to practicing my kissing with you."

"I'm sorry." **What more could she say?**

As Seven moved closer, Janeway could see the soft swell of her breasts through the top of the pajamas. If another button slid open and she turned a fraction what else might she see. **Get a grip, Kathryn. You're acting like Tom Paris.**

"Why do you need a teacher for anyway, Seven?" Kathryn asked, sitting on the edge of the bed. "You have the assimilated memories of species who must've kissed before. Some of them at least. Surely you can access them."

When Seven did not answer right away Janeway thought she'd offended the young woman by bringing up the assimilations done when she was a Borg drone.

"You are correct, Kathryn. I do hold such memories."

"Well then, you don't need a teacher."

"I desired to learn this very human skill on my own, without accessing the memories. To be completely new and open to the experience of kissing someone for the first time. Do you understand?"

**God yes, she understood.** To kiss Seven, to touch her for the first time and to be the one who moved her for the first time. Janeway took a deep breath, fighting her own growing desire.

"I am a quick learner, Kathryn. It would not require much of your time."

"I'm sure you'd be a star pupil," came the shaky reply. "But kissing isn't something you learn like Velocity or kodiskot."

"I'm aware of that. Emotions are involved. Strong emotions," Seven said, staring straight into her captain's heart.

"Yes, they are." Kathryn's Starfleet resolve crumbled before the yearning gaze of the blonde. **Go with your gut.** Kerry's words from the nightclub echoed in her ears.

Her heart hammering in her chest, Kathryn reached for the other woman's hand.

"Seven, shall we begin your kissing lesson now?"