“Touched In The Afternoon.”
“Regeneration cycle complete,” Seven heard as she opened her eyes ready for the start of another day. Stepping off the dais, she walked over to her computer station.
‘I do not recall leaving this out,’ she thought to herself picking up the data padd she found lying there, her eyebrow arched as she read the first paragraph.
Good morning Seven,
I thought we’d try something a little
different.
Instead of reading one of your stories,
perhaps you’d be so inclined to read
something I’ve written.
We can discuss it later, after our duty
shift.
Kathryn Janeway.
“I want you to stay… not just
for tonight,” Kathryn said.
“Are you sure?”
“Intriguing,” Seven said out loud taking the data padd with her as she makes her way to the Astrometrics lab.
Although she had wanted to read it right away, Seven knew her duties came first. It wasn’t until the Doctor reminded her to “Have something for lunch”, that she decides to make the most of her time and finish reading the story.
“I want you to stay… not just for tonight,” Kathryn said.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes,” she replied, caressing the face of the person she wanted to wake up with for the rest of her life. She sealed her comment with a kiss, one that woke up the desire and passion she had denied herself for too long.
“Nothing would make me happier…”
“You know, there may be problems ahead… like my job for instance,” Kathryn said reluctantly, not wanting to spoil the mood but knowing that it had to be said.
“I understand. It’s important to you. It’s a part of who you are.”
“Yes, it is,” Kathryn acknowledged…
“Hi Seven… mind if I join you?” Harry Kim asks nervously, holding his lunch tray.
“I… no, please,” Seven answers, turning the data padd face down on the table, so engrossed in the story was she, she had not heard him walk up to the table surprising her.
“Seven, are you okay?” Harry asks, sitting down, poking at the culinary effort Neelix had made for lunch.
“Yes. Why do you ask?”
“Nothing really, it’s just… it’s just that you seemed distracted the last couple of days, that’s all,” Harry replies, mildly amused that his stomach had not revolted after a few bites.
“I am functioning… I am fine. Thank you for asking lieutenant,” Seven replies, accessing one of the Doctor’s catch phrases.
“Okay, if you say so. What are you reading?” he asks, gesturing towards the data padd.
“The Captain has asked me to review… a report,” Seven answers, feeling that Captain Janeway would not want it known that she had written a story. At least that’s what she thought the Captain might want.
“Mmm,” Harry utters, nodding his head. “Seven… I… I was wondering if you might like to come to a recital we’re having tomorrow night,” he asks quickly.
“I do not believe that I have any plans, I shall attend.”
“Great… um, I’ve got to go, it starts at nineteen hundred hours. I’ll seen you then,” Harry said getting up, taking his half eaten lunch with him.
“Good-bye lieutenant.” Waiting until she was alone once again, Seven picked up the data padd and resumes her reading.
“I know. It’s important to you. It’s a part of who you are.”
“Yes it is,” Kathryn acknowledged. “But… I can’t fight this any more, I don’t want to.”
“Then don’t,” came the simple reply.
It has been said, that life is made up of tiny moments… fragments. Once put together, encompasses a person’s life.
Beginning…
Middle…
And…
End.
Kathryn knew as she stood in her living room, seconds ticking by, that this moment, however fleeting, would stand alone against all others.
A beacon of light shining brilliantly in her final days. Something she would treasure, regardless of the outcome.
She knew this with every part of herself.
So, she replied the only way she could:
“I won’t.”
They had been together before, and each time they discovered something different, something new… yet, always filled with passion.
Kathryn had never experienced such raw passion before, never knew how much love could enhance every touch.
Every kiss…
Every thing.
Even now, as they moved unhurriedly towards her bedroom, she could feel the love in each passing caress.
She knew that the words either whispered or shouted were not empty shells, something said in the heat of the moment, but grains of truth, firmly embedded in her heart.
There were no need for words at this moment… not now. Clothes were removed, slowly, as if tearing down walls that had kept them apart for too long.
Soon, they stood before each other, their souls bared as they were. Reaching out for one another, they embraced.
Needing the single act of compassion, to seal their devotion.
“Kathryn…?”
“Yes,” she answered, wondering what could have broken the spell.
“Is this real? Or is it a dream?”
“It’s real.”
“Thank you…”
“For what?” Kathryn asked gazing into the eyes of the woman she loved.
“For loving me.”
Smiling, tears of untold happiness evident in her eyes, she answered, truthfully and from her heart: “How could I do otherwise.”
Seven frowned.
There was no more, the story had ended.
‘Perhaps Captain Janeway gave it to me prematurely?’ she ponders. She could not identify the feelings she experienced while reading the story. She left the mess hall and headed back to the Astrometrics lab, all the while thinking about the last line in the story.
It was if she had expected the Captain to name the other character, she could almost see the name.
‘I will ask the captain later,’ she thought, when she arrived back in the lab. Placing the data padd down, and continuing her work.
‘I wonder if she liked it?’ Janeway asked herself, as she watched the stars go by in her ready room.
The End.