What we don't know

Everyone on the Federation Star Ship Voyager was in a state of panic. Captain Kathryn Janeway and the ex-borg Seven of Nine were nowhere to be found. They had disappeared.

Commander Chakotay had called an emergency staff meeting. All the senior crew sat in their usual seats and all noticed that two of their own were missing.

"Does anyone have any idea on where we should start?" Chakotay asked no one in particular.

"We haven't passed any habital planets or any ships in the last two months so we can rule out a kidnapping." Tuvok said in his usual unemotional tone.

"So what else is there?" Tom Paris asked worried, "People just don't up and vanish."

"Alright. We'll go at this by the book. I want the ship searched. Deck by deck. Tuvok you're the security officer you can handle that."

"The ship sensors say they are not on board. A search is not logical."

"Mr. Tuvok, normally I would agree with you but the ships sensors have been acting up lately."

"I fixed them last week." B'Elanna Torres said offended.

"I don't mean to criticize B'Elanna but maybe you missed something."

"Tom and Harry, perform every sensor sweep there is and make sure that there are no planets or ships nearby."

"Yes sir." Harry Kim said smartly.

Tom just smiled.

"Everyone dismissed. Except you B'Elanna."

Everyone but B'Elanna Torres got up and walked out of the room. They all had jobs to do and were determined to find the Captain and the ex-Borg.

"Commander, I swear I fixed to sensors."

"I'm not saying you didn't. You just might have missed something is all I'm saying." Chakotay paused, "But that's not why I asked you to stay."

"Then why?"

"Well I need you to do something you won't like."

"Oh?"

"Yes I want you to go threw Seven's personal logs."

"What?"

"You heard me."

"But?"

"No buts Lieutenant. Look I know it's uncomfortable but I need to know what happened and maybe Seven's logs can tell us."

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As Lt. Torres was going through Seven's personal logs Chakotay was doing the same with Captain Janeway's. As he went through the logs he felt more then a little like he was invading her privacy. In a way he was-heck he definitely was, but it was necessary. He made a mental note to stop himself if he began to read anything too personal.

He randomly picked a spot to begin. He figure two weeks before the Captain and Seven vanished would be a good place to start. He opened the file and decided to read the journal instead of listening to it.

Seven and I played Velocity again today. It is amazing how much I look forward to our time together. But it is getting harder and harder to be around her and not tell her how I feel. But I am her Captain her mentor and I cannot allow my feelings to get in the way of that.

Commander Chakotay looked up from the screen in disbelief. Was he reading what he thought he was reading? He decided that this entry was too personal for him to read so he went to the next. It started with just some random occurrences of the day but then the tone changed.

I must keep telling myself that I am her Captain and it is not proper. I am just so damn lonely. Its driving me crazy to be so close to her and not to touch her...to feel her...to kiss her. But I know she doesn't feel the same. How can she?

Chakotay's heart broke for the Captain. She was in pain and now he knew why. He had seen her look anguished in the past few months but never knew why. Now he did. She was head over heals in love with Seven of Nine.

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Tom Paris walked with a purpose to Lt. Torres quarters. He carried a bottle of replicated wine. He knew that the Lt. would need it soon. Going through the Borg's personal logs would make anyone want to drink. Tom couldn't even fathom it, the Borg having a personal log? He laughed under his breath.

He entered Lt. Torres quarters gossiping like an old lady. He didn't even notice that the B'Elanna wasn't paying attention until it was finally her turn to respond and she didn't. He got worried and saw that she was staring intently at the PADD she was holding.

"What is it B'Elanna. Does the Ice Queen have something interested to say."

It took a moment for what Tom said to register, "What, oh. Hi Tom."

"You didn't even know I was here. It must be good."

"Uh. I really don't think I should be reading this, Tom."

"Why?"

"Its personal."

"That why they call it a personal log B'Elanna."

"I know. Its just...well..."

"Well what?" Tom asked intrigued.

"Alright, but...Tom this doesn't leave this room."

"Wow it must be good."

B'Elanna read the log entry out loud.

The Doctor continues to tell me to continue my endeavors at being human by adding to this log. I find it irrelevant and futile. It changes nothing. The Doctor says that it is not meant to change anything but instead to put to words what I am feeling. But what I feel is irrelevant.

"So what?" Tom said when B'Elanna paused.

"Shut up and listen."

My pulse and heart beat continue to change when I am in the same room as the Captain. I must ask the Doctor about this. I may be malfunctioning. I looked in the database about these symptoms but found nothing in the medical database myself.

B'Elanna skipped a few entries and then read aloud.

I looked back at my personal journal today to see if I had any of these symptoms before. For some inconceivable reason I could not bring myself to talk to the Doctor about my malfunctions. What I found is...disconcerting. I have all the symptoms of love. Am I in love with the Captain?

"My God." Tomas stated, "The Ice Princess has a crush."

"It's not a crush Tom." B'Elanna stated, "She got it bad."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I'm sure." "What do we do about it?"

"There isn't much we can do about it until we find the Captain and Seven."

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There had been no luck in finding the Captain or Seven of Nine and the crew was now passed the point of panic. Commander Chakotay called another meeting to discuss their remaining options.

"Lt. Torres, did you find anything in Seven's personal log?"

Tom snickered and B'Elanna gave him a dirty look before she responded to the Commander, "Nothing relevant."

"Me neither."

"Tuvok what about you?"

"I have nothing to report at this time."

"Tom, Harry. What about you?"

"Nothing. Zip. Zero. Zilch." Tom said sadly.

"Alright then. We expand our search...."

Just then the doors to the conference room opened and Captain Janeway and Seven of Nine walked in.

"Captain." The group said at once.

"Is something wrong?" The Captain asked worried.

"We couldn't find you. We were worried." Chakotay looked from the Captain to the ex-Borg and then smiled. "Where were you."

The Captain smiled sheeply and then looked at the Borg who was looking at her interested in her answer. "Well...we...We were in working in the Alpha Conduit."

"Is that what they call it now?" Tom said under his breath only to be elbowed harshly by Lt. Torres.

"Well I'll be in my ready-room." The Captain walked out of the Conference room and was followed by Seven who made a comment about return to the her post as well. For a moment after they left everyone was silent. Then suddenly they all began to laugh hysterically. Even Tuvok had a glint of humor in his eyes.

News of the Captain and Seven's alleged affair spread like wildfire throughout the ship. It had only been a few days since their disappearance and already the gossip had reached a fevered pitch. The only two people who didn't know the gossip were the Captain and Seven.

Conversations on the two ranged from whether or not they actually had sex to if they even knew how each other felt. On a ship where secrets were hard to keep, new news was considered the highlight of existence. And news of the Captain and Seven of Nine was big. Big enough to keep everyone more then occupied.

So what do you think Tom?" Harry asked.

Tom Paris, Harry Kim and B'Elanna Torres were sitting in the Mess Hall gossiping about the latest rumors.

"I think they are definitly having sex."

"Of course they're having sex, but who do you think made the first move?" B'Elanna asked.

"My money's on Seven." Tom said matter of factly.

"And how do you know this?" B'Elanna asked.

"Well for one thing, the Captain would never make the first move. And second.. Well there really is no second."

B'Elanna was about to respond when the Captain walked into the mess Hall. The three gossipers were well aware that the noise level in the mess hall had dropped significantly at the arrival of the Captain. However the Captain didn't seem to notice or care.

The three friends watched the Captain as she walked to Neelix. Neelix who was also privy to the gossip looked like he was in high Heaven when the Captain left.

"So what do you think they were talking about?" Tom asked.

"Probably nothing." Harry smiled.

"Yeah right." B'Elanna got up and walked toward Neelix. "So Neelix, what did the Captain want?"

Neelix beamed as he answered, "The Captain wanted to know if I had anymore Hedairan wine."

"Wine?" B'Elanna smirked, "Big date?"

"She didn't say." Neelix smiled, "But that's the impression I got."

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The next few days the gossip died down a bit. There had been some trouble with the warp-core and everyone was put on alert. There was no longer any time for gossip. Like everything else it had its place and time.

"Captain sensors picked up a class M planet. It's uninhabited." Tuvok stated.

"Where?" The Captain asked.

"Five light-years from our present location.

"Why didn't the sensors pick it up before now?"

"I'm not sure Captain. But they are picking them up now." Chakotay punched a few buttons on his console."

"Set a course for the planet Mr. Paris."

"Yes mam."

The course was set. They arrived at the planet a few days later and after a team had beamed down and found that the planet was safe the Captain gave most of the crew shore leave.

Everyone but the Captain, Seven, and Tuvok was down on the planet within the next few hours.

"So the Captain and Seven stayed on board. I wonder why?" Tom asked.

"Tuvok stayed on board too." Chakotay smiled.

"Three of the most uptight people on the ship. Hell in the universe." B'Elanna smiled.

"Hmmm maybe Tuvok isn't telling us something." Tom grinned and everyone else laughed.

B'Elanna, Harry, Tom, and Chakotay continued to gossip for a little while longer but then they all went about their own business. Shore leave was something to take seriously when it didn't come very often so each of them was determined to have their own kind of fun.

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Three days later the crew was back on their way to the Alpha Quadrant. Three days later the gossip was once again at a fevered pitch.

"I heard that Ensign Kline saw them together and they weren't working."

"So what. They play Velocity together all the time."

"Well she said that they definitely weren't playing Velocity."

"That doesn't mean anything."

The Captain walked through the halls of her ship seemingly unaware of the gossip about her and Seven. Each time someone saw her or the ex-borg the conversation turned to far less interesting matters.

Most of the crew of the ship had grown fond of both Captain Janeway and Seven of Nine. Yes, some still didn't completely trust the ex-borg but she had become a pet project to a great number of the crew. That and the fact that they all wanted to see the Captain happy, made them want to help in any way they could. Even if it was only with subtle hints.

"I can't believe you said that."

"What? All I said was, 'you're looking relaxed Captain.' "

"Yeah but you said it to her face."

"So what."

"It's supposed to be a secret."

"Only from them."

Nothing lasts forever, not even rumors. It had been nearly a month since Seven and the Captain had disappeared. People still talked but not as much as they used to. The fact that they weren't supposed to know about the pair made the conversations interesting but there had been no more real news about them.

They've been acting so cool about it." Harry Kim commented. "If we didn't know I don't think we would have noticed anything."

"Everyone was surprised Harry." Tom smiled, "Even Tuvok and Chakotay and they are closer to the Captain then anyone."

"Not anymore." B'Elanna smirked.

"I just think its funny." Harry smiled, "There are two secrets."

"Two?" B'Elanna asked.

"Yeah, what we don't know and what we do."

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It had been a long day and B'Elanna was tired. All she wanted was to get into bed and go to sleep. But Commander Chakotay had asked her to stay late so they could talk. She knew how Chakotay felt about the Captain and she felt bad for him.

"Don't get me wrong B'Elanna. I'm happy for them. I'm just a little jealous."

"You're not the only one."

"What do you mean?"

B'Elanna smiled, "More then one person has stated that they had a thing for either the Captain or the Borg, heck some even both."

Chakotay smiled, "They are something, aren't they?"

"Yeah." B'Elanna smirked, "So do you think they are ever going to tell us about their relationship?"

"Eventually."

"And we're gonna act surprised."

"No, we're probably going to burst our laughing."

Chakotay emphasized the point by bursting out laughing which made B'Elanna burst out laughing. They laughed for a long time.

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Captain Janeway laid in bed thinking. Seven of Nine had just left her quarters to regenerate in Cargo Bay 2. It had been a very strange few weeks but the Captain wasn't complaining.

The Captain got out of bed and walked to her desk and switched on her personal log.

Seven of Nine just left my quarters. She asked me when we were going to tell the crew about our relationship. I told her I didn't know. A part of me wants to shout from the intercom that we are in love, another wants to keep it all to myself. Am I a coward? Or am I just greedy? Either way, I know I can't keep us a secret forever. But for now, what they don't know.....