Evanesce

All my troubles seemed so far away . . .   Despite my current situation.  My eyes closed, rolling involuntarily, as my head rocked back hitting the wall.  It hurt, but I didn't care.  The warmth around me soothed it easily away into oblivion.  Hands eased my head gently from the wall then guided it to rest on a warm chest.  With a frustrated sigh, I reached over and wrapped my left arm around Seven's waist.  I still haven't told her what I feel for her.  The idea of wanting to share my life with her scares and confuses me.  I've wanted to share myself with others before, but it's never felt like what I feel for her.  From the way she holds me, I could swear she feels something in return.  I shake my head slightly to rid my mind of this line of thinking and turned to the situation at hand.

A species unknown, which I now refer to as the Evanesce, intercepted us while passing through what we deemed to be a safe nebula.  Within an hour of entering the swirls of blood red mist, the whole ship had been taken over by aliens of the same color and substance.  I'm still unsure how to classify the Evanesce.  They're unlike anything I've ever come across, and even Seven informed me that the Borg had never come in contact with the species either.  The mist-like nebula seems to appear before the body, if I could call it that, takes shape.  They look almost like red ghosts floating around without legs and stubby arms with only two protrusions on each looking almost like fingers.  Despite their ghosting appearance, the 'bodies' could do a lot of damage.  I found that out the hard way when I tried to pry one off Naomi Wildman.  The thing had killed her before I even got a chance to help.  It would have killed me, too, if Seven hadn't shot the thing with a phaser.

That was, I think, three days ago and I'm still sitting somewhere on a sticky, dirt-covered floor more or less paralyzed from the waist down.  At first, after coming on contact with the red swirling exterior of the alien, I felt nothing below my neck.  I was even strained to speak.  It was only on the second day, according to Seven, that I felt tingles spark through my chest and arms.  That gave me hope about regaining all mobility, but today I still feel nothing in my toes.  I still thank whatever god that's out there that they allowed Seven to stay with me where they separated everyone else.  Maybe the Evanesce had some sense of compassion after all.

"Are you all right?"

Seven whispered into my ear.  She began to caress my cheek again as she spoke.  Sighing, I answered with a gravelly voice, "Yes and no."  I shouldn't have said 'Yes'.  She inhaled sharply under me and I knew she wasn't satisfied, though possibly amused, with my answer.  "Well," carefully, I cleared my parched and aching throat, "I still can't feel my legs, if that's what you were asking."  As soon as I finished, she pressed the back of her hand to my forehead.

"The fever has subsided."

Her sentences were so short and clipped.  "Are you okay?" I asked.  I hadn't, actually, since before the Evanesce tossed us into this room.  I was just so damned tired I didn't think to ask anything.  Seven resituated herself under me and pulled me closer into an even tighter embrace.  Smiling and snuggling into her was all I could do to keep from suffocating.  All in all, sitting incapacitated in a dank dirty room wasn't half as bad as I'd ever imagined.

"I am functioning adequately.  You should sleep."

Before I had a chance to counter her, a loud thud on the right wall caught my attentions.  There were no lights in the room, so I couldn't even see the wall, but I knew one of my crew was behind it most likely enduring some sort of torture.  Another thud resounded through our cell.  I physically flinched this time, grabbing onto Seven tighter than I expected.  I whispered, afraid to speak, "Can you hear anything at all?"  Her hands instantly began to move over me and I knew it was bad.  "Tell me . . . "  I felt her shaking her head.  "I need to know . . . "

"Shhh . . . "

Hearing her hushed tones, I knew things were worse than bad.  "We're not getting out of here."  I said it more to convince myself of it.

"I have never known you to give in to anything.  Please, do not start now."

Seven pleading with me not to admit defeat?  I shut my eyes only to enter a deeper darkness.  With a shudder, the first tears escaped and found their way down my cheeks.  I hadn't cried in someone's presence in years, but damn it felt good to finally do it.  I don't think Seven knew what to do initially.  She was tense, maybe trying to figure out why the tremors ran through me, but soon she turned soft and literally lifted me into her lap.  I wanted to question her actions, but it felt too good and I didn't want to ruin it.  I wanted to ask her a lot of questions and talk about what could be if we ever got out of this place.  But it had been too long since I'd given in to my wants, so I pushed the questions and expectations away - again.

I cleared my throat again, readying myself to speak, "How do you suppose we get out of here?  Can you see anything?"  When Seven didn't answer after a few moments, worry overtook me.  "Seven?"

"Kathryn?"

She called me Kathryn?  "I asked you if you had any ideas on getting out of here."  I think she realized her oversight because her body tensed again.  "Seven, it doesn't matter.  Kathryn.  Kathy.  Katie.  Kate.  Kat.  Whatever you want to call me is fine."  As I expected, my words lifted her tension.  Do I really influence her that much?

"So, if I were to call you what some of the ensigns call you, it would be all right?"

"Too much information, Seven."  I laughed and hoped she'd meant it as a joke.  What she said finally hit me, though.  I tilted my head up to look at her through the darkness, "What do they call me?"  She laughed.  Seven actually laughed.

"Nothing.  I wanted to see if you'd ask."

Her humor was almost inspiring.  "Very funny."

"Am I correct in assuming you're feeling better?"

A giant smile washed over my face before I had a chance to stop it.  "Yes."  At that point, I was glad there wasn't a light to be found in the room.  My face was hotly flushed.

"Good."

Her voice oozed with smug self-satisfaction but lacked any arrogance.  "So, any ideas on how to get us out of here?"  it took her a few moments to answer, and when she did there was hesitancy lacing her words.

"No.  I was preoccupied with other thoughts."

Truth or dare.  Sooner or later.  Now or never, Kathryn.  "Oh?"  I asked as though I really wasn't very interested and fiddled with the edge of my torn uniform.

"I do not wish to discuss them."  There was a long pause before Seven added, "At this time."

I suppose she was right, even though I really wanted to talk.  The situation didn't really allow for an in depth conversation.  And with Seven it always became an in depth conversation.  "All right."

"I also do not have any ideas of escape.  There are no doors or windows of any kind in this room."

"Damn," I spoke under my breath, but I knew she heard me.

"We can still count on the Doctor."

Now it was her turn to convince herself of something.  "He is our best chance . . . "

"Our only chance."

It was not a good sign that she corrected me so quickly.  "He's our best chance, I agree, but we can't just sit here."

"You can."

Again with the humor.  What the hell was going on with her?  "I appreciate your attempts to make me feel better, Seven, but I'd more appreciate you trying to think of a way to get us out of here."  I cringed as soon as the last word left my mouth.  I didn't mean it to come out so harshly.  It was more the tone of my voice rather than the choice of my words.  "I'm sorry, I just don't like sitting around waiting for things to happen."  Another thud from the adjacent cell preempted Seven's reply, if she had one.

"Do not move."

I froze when I heard Seven's hushed voice.  Normally, I'd question her, but the fear lacing her whispered words gave me answers.  I wasn't sure of how long we were silent, but each moment we were I could feel her muscles twitching.  Her arms were wrapped around me tightly and protectively yet if she needed to she could release me and attack the Evanesce I could feel hovering before us.  Her head turned slowly, as if scanning the room, then relaxed resting on my own.  It wasn't until she was almost fully settled that I spoke, "I take it it's gone?"  I wasn't even sure she'd heard me since I spoke too quietly and she didn't answer me right away.

"I believe the three who were in the next cell are dead.  The Evanesce came through the wall from the cell, scanned us then continued through the opposite wall."

I hoped the latter were true, and my three crew members were safe.  "Who's over there?  Could you hear them?"  I truly didn't want to know.

"Of the three," she sighed, "Lieutenant Torres was the most vocal.  Other than the remaining two being male, I'm unaware of their identities."

Leaning forward, I dropped my head into my hands.  This wasn't good.  Somehow, I figured that the two men were Chakotay and Tom.  I don't know how I knew, I just felt it and it didn't feel good at all.  My sitting forward seemed to upset Seven.  I could sense her hands at my sides and her eyes on me.  Instead of moving back to her I sucked in a deep breath and spit out a question, "Tell me what had you so distracted before?"  I knew Seven didn't want to answer.  The air suddenly went stale, but whether it was me or actuality I didn't know.  Frankly, I didn't care, I just wanted her to distract me from thinking about my people next door.

"Ask me what my favorite color is."

I choked holding back a laugh of astonishment.  Whatever relevance color had at the moment, I wasn't aware of it so I took the bait.  "What's your favorite color, Seven?"  There was more amusement to my voice than I'd intended and she picked up on it.

"You find this amusing?"

"Considering I already know what your favorite color is, yes I find it a tidbit amusing."  Shit.  "I'm sorry, I just don't see the relevance of you asking me to ask you that question."  Damn, she's done it again.  "Never mind.  I just figured it out."  It was her turn to laugh again, though it wasn't as loud or exuberant as the previous time.  "It's good to hear you laughing, even under these circumstances."

"Large groups prohibit me from doing certain things.  When I'm," she faltered, her voice almost failing, "with you, I do not feel inhibited."

Wow.  I hoped I wasn't reading her wrong or what I might have ended up saying could have scared the daylights out of her.

"Even now, though I am afraid, I can be more like . . . me."

I couldn't say anything at that point.  I knew she was talking friendship wise and I wasn't going to ruin that, ever.  Losing her as a friend wasn't an option and it never would be.  If that was all I could have, I'd be happy with it.  "Good, I'm glad you can be you when you're with me.  Friends shouldn't have to hide anything from each other at any time.  And for me, it shows that you trust me."

"Of course I trust you.  I trust you with my life."

Seven's second sentence was spoken as if she hadn't meant to say it, as if I wasn't supposed to hear it.  It was almost as if she was embarrassed to have said something or personal out loud.  The statement shocked me, though, I had to admit.  Coming from Seven, it was an incredible compliment and not to be taken lightly.  "That means a lot to me, Seven.  Thank you."   My voice squeaked, trying to work correctly.  It was also the highest compliment I'd gotten in a long time.

"No.  I have you to thank.  You owe me nothing where I owe you my life.  Without you, I would not be here."

"Yeah, you wouldn't be in this dank little hole stuck with a crippled captain who can't help you anymore."

"You always help me.  As for sitting in a dank hole, I prefer it to being in a dank Cube.  It has its benefits."

Laughing, I shook the sarcastic edge from my head.  "This has its benefits, huh?"  I thought more about that for a moment.  "All right, maybe I agree with you there - one some points, but not all, ok?"  I twisted my torso around to face her and shook my outstretched pointer finger in her face, "And don't you ever tell anyone I said that when we get out of here."  Despite my serious tone, I ended up flicking her nose with the tip of my finger.  "Oops," I covered my mouth trying to hide my school girlish giggles and twisted back.

"Thank you.  I had an itch there."

I continued laughing for a bit before asking, "Are you always this comedic in dire situations or is this a new development?"

"I believe it is a new talent.  Might I suggest that Neelix organize a 'Comedy Night' when we return to Voyager?"

Her suggestion only made me laugh harder.  "If this is any indication of what you're going to perform, then I'll order him to do it immediately!"

"Of course, you'll have to be part of my act."

"What?  No, oh no.  I'm not part of anyone's act."  The idea of recreating the entire present situation wasn't very appealing.  Except possibly the part about sitting in the dark with Seven, but that was highly unlikely and way out of line.

"Perhaps we could do a ventriloquist act?"

"Oh my god, Seven! No!"

"Who else would you suggest I ask to sit in my lap while I stick my hand up the back of their shirt?"

Seven's question shut me up fast.  Which was a good and bad thing.  For one, my stomach was hurting.  Two, she'd know something was up.  Before I had a chance to say anything about it either way, she spoke up again.

"Now that I have your attention, think about my question."

"Se . . . I . . . Wh . . . "  I was completely dumbstruck.  She'd been serious about both her favorite color and her hand up my shirt.  For a moment, I thought I would faint, but the spell passed and I centered myself.  Moments passed and I wondered why I always managed to get myself into trouble.  I realized that if everything was perfect, I'd be bored out of my mind.  Satisfied, for the moment, I settled into Seven's color riddle.  I knew red was her favorite color, she told me so.  The day she told me, I saw how it related to me and knew there was a possibility for something to grow between us.  I thought friendship was all there could be until after the first time I thought I'd lost her.  Still unsure of myself, I took the easy route, "Your favorite color is red, and I know how it applies to me, but beyond that, Seven, I'm not sure what you're getting at."  Of course I was lying, but if what I wanted wasn't what she was talking about, I didn't want her to feel obligated.

"Sometimes, Kathryn, you can be so stubborn."

"Excuse me?"

"I am not blind nor am I stupid.   Though much of the crew keeps their distance, I'm not ignorant to their leering.  I'm also far from denying your discreet interest in me."

How the hell did this go from me trying to protect her into me being in deep shit for that exact reason?  "I didn't want you to . . . "

"Know that you care for me?"

"No, not at all.  I just didn't want you to feel like you had to do what I wanted."

"That is an ironic contradiction from normality."

"There are differences, Seven, you know that.  As your commanding officer, you have to do what you're told - even though you don't.  This is a personal matter and in dealing with personal matters you have to make your own decisions.  I didn't want to pressure you into making the wrong decision because I wasn't sure you were ready.  So, I kept my mouth closed and I can't believe we're discussing this *here*."

"Here perfectly fine.  There are no pending interruptions from annoying first officers."

I had to laugh at that.  "All right, don't go bashing Chakotay, even if he is annoying . . . sometimes."

"It was disconcerting watching him interact with you.  Be thankful I am not that forward or we would have had this conversation a long time ago."

"'A long time ago'?  How long?"

"When we traversed the Void.  I knew you were hurting yet I was afraid to help when you needed m-someone.  After that, what I felt for you was so much.  More than I'd ever expected.  I did not know what to do with it, so I, like you, kept my 'mouth shut'."

Hearing about the Void brought back some memories I wanted to forget, especially now that my whole crew had been seized and some killed just because we got stuck out here.  "It," I didn't want to talk about it, but I did basically force her to tell me what she was so distracted with earlier.  "It was a difficult time for me, yes.  But I don't think you or anyone could have helped me through it.  I'm still not through it, so to speak.  I don't think I will be until I can get everyone home, and now . . . "  I bit back the tears that threatened to break the dam successfully at first, but Seven pulled me into her arms once more.  I fought that, too.  I tried to get away from her, but my paralyzed legs wouldn't allow for it and I slumped down, defeated, into her warm embrace.  As soon as I felt her hands continue their now so familiar caresses, the tears streamed down my cheeks as if I'd never cried before.  Over my sobs, I couldn't hear her singing to me, but I could feel her voice reverberating in her chest.  The soft vibrations were comforting, but not enough to stop me from crying.  That, too, felt just as good.

I must have dozed off during my crying for because I awoke to a thud from the opposite wall.  My crew was dying and I couldn't do a dammed thing about it.  The tears almost returned, but I'd regained my composure enough to stop it from happening again.  A few moments after the thud quieted, Seven started humming.  I gently cleared my throat, "I hope you haven't been singing and humming to me all the time I've slept."

"No, I have not.  Only when I know you are awake do I sing."

Smiling felt so good after hearing that from her.  I tried to wiggle my toes, and while it didn't happen I did feel some tingling near my knees.  "I've got more movement down there now."

"Oh, I know."  Seven sounded amused.  "You kicked me once."

"I should be put in the brig.  I've assaulted you twice in the last . . . " I was at a loss for time.  "Well, since we've been in here.  Sorry about that."

"It's a good sign.  Don't be sorry about it."

"Does that mean I can kick you anytime I please now?"

"No."

A pout quickly popped up on my face.  "No more humor?"

"Not today.  The last bang was the fifteenth I've heard while you were asleep."

"My god . . . Do you really think they're dead?"  I didn't want to think about it.  The situation wasn't improving in any way, only turning worse every second.

"I'm not sure.  I heard B'Elanna yelling at Tom earlier, so I'm guessing that she and Tom are in good health.  The mystery man hasn't spoken or his voice is too low for me to hear."

I laughed.  "Figures they'd get stuck togther.  Have you figured out where anyone else is?"

"No.  B'Elanna's voice is the only one who can seem to penetrate the walls."

"That doesn't surprise me one bit.  Have they come back at all?"  The question came out before I had a chance to stop myself and I wondered why I kept asking questions I really didn't want answered.

"No."

"Are you all right?"  Seven was answering me in short, plus she was feeling rather tense again.

"Like you, I do not like 'sitting around and waiting'.  I want to help but there is nothing to do."

"You're helping just fine, Seven."  Her mutual feeling of helplessness caused my heart to jump and despite my miserable state of mind, I couldn't just let her think she wasn't being helpful.  Truthfully, she was helping me more than I could be honest about.

"But. . .  How?  All I've done is sit here."

Seven's mental condition was worse than I thought.  She was pleading with me, begging me for some reassurance.  I hoped nothing more had happened while I slept, or maybe she had second thoughts about what she revealed to me earlier.   "Well, for one, and most importantly, you saved my life . . . more than just once.  Add that to quite a few things from when we were on the ship along with how you've been protecting and comforting me here, and, well . . . You may not know it, but you're a very important part of my life, Seven."

"I know it.  I can feel it.  My question is, do you?"

I had to take a few deep breaths to ease the sudden light feeling in my head before I could speak.  "No, before I answer that I need to know what exactly you want."  Again, it was something I really did not want to know, but I had to validate what my heart already knew.

"If I tell you, will you conjure absurd reasons to counter me?"

I almost had to laugh.  She knew me better than most people I'd known longer.  "Seven, at this point, I really doubt that my reasoning of past would hold any significance here."

"Then you would be willing to enter a romantic relationship with me?"

My whole being was screaming, ordering to blurt out the word 'Yes'.  Who was I to deny it?  Instead of blurting it out in the enthusiastic expression, I toned it down, "I believe I would like that."  The silence that followed my statement was filled with uncertainty.  The uneasiness subsided slowly, mostly because Seven had fallen asleep behind me.  I was glad she did, too.  I don't think she had slept or rested much at all since we were placed in the cell.  Even the many echoing thuds against various walls didn't wake her.

The thuds came from all directions it seemed.  Left and right.  Above and below.  Diagonally in every direction possible.  It seemed as though all the cells were directly connected somehow.  It was almost like they were designed like a grid with no possibility of escape.  But grids had boundaries, and someone had to be on one of those boundaries.  Maybe they'd found a way out and were working on ways to free the rest of us.  I could only hope about that and the possibility of the Doctor rescuing us.  The odds weren't very good.  Another slam against the wall above us shook my hopes to pieces.  My eyes closed against the ordeal and I settled into a state of half sleep.

There was something in the room with us, I could only sense it, but it felt like a dream.  Reaching out, I could feel coldness envelope and crush my fingers.  I pulled back and pointlessly stared at my hand through the darkness.  Everlasting darkness was all around me.  Seven shifted slightly beneath me causing a slight draft up my back, but soon the warmth returned.  With it came the cold from the front.  It wasn't touching me, just very close to my skin and I could feel the pull it had.  The instinct to back away kicked in and I felt myself pressing into Seven more.  As each second passed, my fear grew infinitely.  My face twisted as the cold pull came at me again trying to reach within me for something.  "No!" I screamed loud, my voice hitting a soprano pitch, until my throat hurt.  Whatever the cold pull was, it was tearing my soul from within me.  Warmth wrapped around my waist, I suppose it was Seven, and eased the pain I felt pulsing through my veins.  That pain was something I never thought could exist.  In an instant, the pain settled in my head and the coldness wrapped around each of my arms.  I could feel it trying to pull me away from Seven, but the hold she had on me was more than the cold would overpower.  As the cold released its icy grasp, I felt like I was flying and then I hit the floor.  The sound echoed through the cell and I knew what the rest of my crew was experiencing, and I didn't envy them one bit.

Even though the cold was gone, Seven still gripped me as though her life depended on me.  I realized I had the same hold on her and lessened it.  To my surprise, the pain that had gathered in my head had vanished.  Despite that, I rubbed my temples hoping that whatever just happened would not happen again, to me or anyone else.  I leaned forward, leaving the warm embrace, and tucked my knees under my chin.  After a few numb moments, I realized I had full movement again.  "Are you all right?"

"Yes."

"You can't tell me that your butt doesn't hurt just a little bit from that fall."  Before I could finish, she pulled me back into another embrace.  "Are you sure you're all right?"  If her action wasn't so desperate, I wouldn't have asked.

"Yes, I'm just scared.  I thought they were taking you away from me again."

Sitting up on my knees, I faced her.  After fumbling through the dark, I placed my hands on either side of her face.  Even when I turned, she never let go of me.  "I'm not going anywhere.  I promise.  I'm not that easy to kill.  Remember that."  Dropping closely next to her, Seven shifted easily into my arms so that our positions were reversed.  With her in my lap, I could feel her emotions and guess what she was thinking more accurately.  As she settled, she shuddered.  Whether it was from fear, shock or relief, though, was beyond me.  "I'm sorry I scared you before," I kept my voice at a low whisper.  The chamber was silent as were the thuds.  "It scared me, too."  Sighing, I rested my chin lightly on her head and held her close.  She was crying now.  As she'd done for me, all I could do for Seven was hold and reassure her.  "I know that if there's a way out of here, someone will find it."  That seemed to make her cry harder, and I wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing, but I let her continue.  I doubt I could have stopped her she was crying that hard.  "Let it out, Seven . . . I'm here . . . "

It felt rather strange when I realized I was rocking ever so slightly, it felt strange just to have someone in my arms again in general.  As weird and awkward as it felt to have Seven in my arms needing my support, I felt comfortable just the same.  That's who I am, though.  The mother-hen of over one hundred people.  I'm always taking care of each of them every day in one way or another.  Seven was different from the crew as she ever could be.  She was even different from my closest friends and even previous lovers.  Somehow, beyond all my comprehension, Seven had shattered some of the long fortified walls surrounding me.  She'd even torn down half the masks I wore.  She simply amazed me like no one I'd ever met before.

Before she managed her feats, I constantly wondered why the hell I had to get stuck so far from home and everything I knew and loved - thought I loved.  Was there a scientific reason for it?  I never thought so, just some sick twist of fate.  Every time I thought about how it happened, I'd run in circles never getting close to an answer.  When Seven came aboard, I didn't really think beyond that it was the right thing to do to help her.  It was the right thing to do if it was at all possible for everyone in the Collective, but saving just one was good enough for me.  Only after a few months of helping Seven and getting to know her did I think that maybe, just maybe, she was the reason I was stranded far from home.  I couldn't get my mind off it, but what I wanted after that I knew wasn't possible . . . Now I look where I am and wonder if it will last until tomorrow.

"What are you thinking about?"

Seven's weak voice penetrated my thoughts easily.  Smiling slightly, I answered as honestly as I could, "You, actually."  A few moments of silence passed before I spoke again, but when I did Seven spoke as well.  Trying to tell each other to speak first was just as disastrous.  I felt her hand struggle to find my mouth and quieted before she clamped it down.

"You first."

As I smirked, she took her hand away.  "I . . . I was thinking about how I'm glad about this."  Seven's head instantly lifted from my chest and I knew she was going to question.  "Before you ask, let me explain.  It's just that if we hadn't been taken here, I don't believe either of us would have stepped forward and spoken our mind.  But, we're here, now, and it's paradise inside a nightmare."

"Are you sure you're not telepathic?"

"Yes," I laughed.  "Why?"

"Because you have just said what I was also thinking."

I was about to say something when the cell jolted.  My head flipped back and smacked the wall hard and Seven shot up quickly holding tightly onto me, as I did her.  Our dark prison turned from pitch black to blood red and continued lightening until I had to close my eyes to the whiteness.  When I opened my eyes, sensing the light had gone, I had to squint to see and swore I was dreaming or dead.  Through the thin line of view, I saw the main view screen.  I closed my eyes, it was torture to see something so familiar.  Hearing the sickly familiar hiss of how the Evanesce transported themselves, I wanted both to look and not.  I chose to look and discovered my crew was being returned as I was, only they weren't in good shape.

"Doctor to the Captain?"

The sudden sound of the Doctor's questioning voice forced a peep out of me and caused me to jump up in my chair.  "Yes, Doctor, I'm here . . . I think."  The soft lights above and around me were enough to bring on a headache.  The hissing continued.  "I'm a bit impaired at the moment, Doctor, could you inform me as to how many of my crew has been returned?"  A moment or two passed before he answered.

"They keep materializing, Captain.  At present - There are - One hundred and fifteen aboard.  Make that one hundred and twenty and counting."

The news brought a smile to my lips.  "When everyone's accounted for, make sure they're all right.  I want a full report when you're finished."

"All the crew is present and accounted for.  I expect to see you here soon, Captain."

"Understood, Doctor."  As soon as the comm channel was closed, I stood and looked around.   Most everyone was shaking their heads, the others were standing looking disoriented.  Calmly, I asked the Computer to open a ship-wide comm-link.  In a voice equally calm, I addressed everyone easily, "I want everyone to report to Sick Bay.  Once you're cleared, get some rest . . .  Welcome home."  Quickly, I closed the channel and headed for the turbo lift.  Inside, I leaned against the wall for support knowing that everyone was safe and hopefully sound.  My head felt light when I ordered the lift to Sick Bay.  As it started to move, it was too much and I slipped down to the floor.  The walls of the lift blurred before my vision finally left me in the dark.

When I awoke, I was surprised to find myself tucked away in my quarters under the covers of my bed.   The only light to see by was the blur of the passing stars.  I wondered how long I'd been out and why I wasn't on the Bridge doing my job.  "Computer, locate Seven of Nine."  My voice was gravelly, but it did the trick and confused the Hell out of me.  Though the Computer was rarely wrong, I asked again.  For the second time, the Computer evenly informed me where Seven was.  Still, I wasn't convinced and asked again.

"Dammit, Kathryn, I'm laying right here.  Are you sure the paralysis wore off?"

The first part of what Seven said mixed with the Computer, but the whole of it made me laugh.  It was rather amusing to hear Seven swear.  "How long . . . ?"

"Approximately twenty-two hours.  I made sure Chakotay understood you needed rest."

I appreciated the gesture, I felt like I'd slept for days.  "What about you?  Have you regenerated?"

"Yes, but I wanted to be here when you woke."

The tone of her voice gave away that Seven had something more on her mind.  That 'something more' most likely had to do with our previous chats in the Evanesce cell.  Surely, she didn't think I would turn my back on her now.  "I'm glad you were."  She was on the extreme opposite side of the bed from what I could tell, so I reached over and pulled her to me.  "Next time," I whispered in her ear, "this is exactly how I'd like to wake."