After the Rain

Part 1

"I better make up my mind
Is it me or is it you
Tonight as I'm losing control
I will drink to the queen of my soul"
"After the Rain"; Blue Rodeo

"I only see my self reflected in your eyes
So all that I believe I am essentially are lies
And everything I've hoped to be or ever thought I was
Died with you belief in me so who the hell am I?
I don't know if I am real without you
What is left of me without you?
I don't know what real without you
How can I exist without you?"
"Shame"; Stabbing Westward



Where there was complete silence save for rough breath, suddenly there
was shattering sound. The glass hit the cement wall created in the
holodec and broke into millions of tiny particles. Some of them flew
into Seven of Nine's hair and glittered there like diamonds before
being angrily flung out with a toss of her head She called up another
batch of varying glass and ceramic items and was reaching for them off
a wooden table even before they completely materialized.

So many advances in technology and still some things never changed.
Like the satisfying sound of glass hitting a cement wall after being
sent to its demise by an angry hand. And Seven of Nine was angry. And
frustrated. And confused. She had been a human alone for such a
short time and it seemed so long. She still didn't understand some
things. She had a sinking feeling that one thousand years or seventy
thousand light years wouldn't be enough time to understand.

Again she fervently wished to be Borg again. To be cold again.
Unfeeling. Sometimes she wished so hard, she squeezed her eyes shut
so hard that when she opened them she saw nothing for several seconds.
But as her vision cleared that face, that body, that indulgent smile
would focus in her mind. Just as it was now, only lately the picture
was different. Seven picked up another plate and threw it against the
wall. Then threw three more and watched them fracture against the
wall and then explode.

The picture now included someone else. Wrapped around *her*
obsession and kissing *her* heart's possession. Paris and his
disgusting, clinging possessiveness over *her* captain.

"She is *mine*, damn it!" Seven screamed as she reached for more
plates, found none and picked up the table and threw it at the wall
instead. It splintered and broke heavily. Seven looked at it broken
on the floor and fell exhausted to the ground. Sitting amid the glass
and ruin staring at nothing she was for once emotionally void.


<*>


When Seven had first been *rescued* from the Borg, she was full of
nothing but rage and loss. Perhaps loss wasn't the right word. Her
mind had been so full of things she had long since forgotten, she
refused to even acknowledge them. But always in her face or at the
corner of her vision had been the captain. Forcing her to remember
and to feel. The actions of Captain Janeway had quickly filled Seven
with resentment for the woman. A resentment that had almost grown to
hate.

Slowly Seven learned how to deal with the pain and suffering of being
a human. She cut off all unnecessary contact with the crew and shut
herself away in her cargo bay. She stubbornly held on to her Borg
qualities, what was left after the Doctor was finished with her, and
focused on remaining as remote as possible. Seven clung to the hope
of returning to the Borg and it kept her somewhat sane.

But Kes removed that hope. There was still a lingering hate within
her for the woman everyone else seemed to remember with such fondness
and love. After Kes was gone Seven retreated further into herself. At
least she tried to. But the captain seemed to have made her a pet
project. The constant attention and badgering was so ...annoying that
Seven spent even less time with anyone. Which of course only made it
worse.

Seven felt like a child. She had no doubt that was how the captain
saw her. As a child who needed constant attention and reprimanding.
Seven's behavior never seemed to be good enough. She didn't want to
admit it but she was trying to please the captain. A childish
reaction. And when she did come close to acknowledging her behavior
she made the excuse of only doing it to persuade the captain to leave
her alone.

That was month's ago. And still Seven felt inadequate. She hated the
fact that she was still trying to live up to captain's expectations of
her. When was she going to give it up. Seven would never be good
enough. Never. It would never be enough. And if this mental torture
wasn't enough, now there was even more to obsess about. Like why she
wasn't happy or at least relieved that the captain seemed to have lost
interest in her.

Lost interest? That wasn't right. Distracted? Yes. Distracted
enough? Never. Maybe. What was she thinking? What good was self-
analysis if one didn't know what one was analyzing?


<*><*>


"The analysis of the planet does not confirm your...*hunch*, Lt.
Torres." Seven looked back at the Klingon with a hard look of
unyielding impatience. *What exactly did a hunch feel like, anyway,*
Seven thought in a private corner of her mind.

*You arrogant...* "I know there is dilithium down there. Look at the
conformation of these mountains and the base mineral analysis is
consistent with possible crystal formations. I know it's there. I
just know it. There is a strange reading of energy in the atmosphere
that might be distorting our sensor readings." B'elanna looked back at
the Borg woman with a look of barely concealed arrogance.

She came around the console in engineering to show Seven what she was
trying to explain. She expected to have to push the woman out of the
way but Seven conceded center stage willingly. B'elanna was surprised.

She quickly brought up the logs of sensor readings she was referring
to and indicated on the screen the particular ones. Silently she
looked at Seven, not without a little smugness. The ship was so short
of dilithium that they had to take the chance that it was there.
Seven had to face the fact that they were desperate ... and that
B'elanna was right.

"This does indicate a possible presence of dilithium, but not enough
to risk any crew members." Seven said the words without looking up
from the readings.

B'elanna couldn't believe it. "You just won't admit that I'm right.
That's all this is. Isn't it. The great Seven of Nine didn't find it
first so it must be insignificant. Seven, we're desperate. We are
desperate. Do you even care? I don't know why I am bothering to argue
with you." B'elanna stalked away angrily.

"I am only echoing what the captain will say to you when you try to
convince her. You know I am right on at least that matter. I can
picture her saying it in a more logical and possibly more intelligent
manner, but that's what she will say." The last part was muttered
mostly to herself. Seven glanced up from the console and looked at
B'elanna, who was looking at her warp core. B'elanna turned sharply
at Seven's comment.

"What's this? Seven is actually sounding a little more human. My,
my, my. The captain's pet is finally showing the results of her
obedience training." B'elanna stared at Seven belligerently as if
daring her to reply. The Klingon expected the anger that came in the
wake of her barb, but not the hurt.

"I detest being known as her pet. Some animal the captain has adopted
and is molding in her stone image." Seven's eyes sparked angrily as
the rage overtook her system and caused her to flare. This never
would have happened before the Paris fling threw her off her guard.

"So that bothers you does it? The untouchable one has a weak spot.
The captain's pet. Maybe I'll start calling you kitty. Or maybe her
bitch. Yeah, that's it. Only now it seems that she's put the dog out
for the night." B'elanna was surprised again as unexpected emotions
flew across Seven's face. A lightening flash of pain that was quickly
covered by a rage so deep and penetrating that even the Klingon in
B'elanna was backing away. Seven was slowly advancing towards her.
B'elanna's back finally hit the console but still Seven edged forward
until she was towering over the smaller woman and looking straight
down into her eyes.

"You know nothing, Klingon. Nothing." Seven turned and left
engineering with a speed that defied the artificial gravity of
Voyager. B'elanna was still standing in the same spot when the next
shift came in a few moments later.

Seven had never been in Sandrine's before. She had never really
wanted to go in before. Why now, suddenly, she felt compelled to
enter its notorious confines Seven couldn't articulate. She stood on
the threshold for a very long moment. She was still shaking from her
reaction to the Klingon's comments.

Seven finally entered when she noticed other people entering and
looking at her strangely. Then she stood on the street in front of
Sandrine's for another long moment. Seven hadn't realized that
Sandrine's didn't just begin when the holodec doors swished open.
*Great. Now I will have to force myself through another door.*

She was rescued from her indecision by another lone wonderer. Someone
else was standing outside Sandrine's and wondering if he should enter.
Ensign Harry Kim.


<*>


"Why don't you go inside?" Seven asked Harry, somewhat rudely. He
looked over to her and smiled a small, ponderous smile.

"I'm not sure its safe. That's why." He looked back to the doors of
the bar.

"Of course it's safe. The safety locks are on." Seven said this with
a trace of confusion in her voice. Also a trace of understanding.

"That's not what I meant. But for some reason it seems that you know
what I meant. What's in there that you are afraid of, Seven?"

The reality that I am stupid and obsessed and crazy. She almost said
it out loud, but instead she said, "I've never been in there before.
I'm not sure why I came here." Seven turned away and was almost out
the door when Harry reached over and captured her arm.

"Don't leave, then. By all means let me introduce to you Sandrine's.
It will keep my mind off other things. And maybe create a stir in the
right direction," With these cryptic words, he led Seven into
Voyager's favorite pastime.


<*>


Entering Sandrine's in fact did create a ...stir. At once, all heads
turned in their direction. There was a brief silence in which Seven
imagined she could hear the warp engines clearly. Then everyone
started talking again. There was so much noise Seven couldn't make out
whether they were talking about her or if they merely resumed their
interrupted conversation. Also she was paying attention to the fact
that Harry was leading her to a table in the back, sheltered by the
smoky air.

They sat down and immediately Seven looked around again. She couldn't
seem to make out the exact architecture, but she could make out the
individual people in Sandrine's. The captain wasn't here. Neither
was Paris. *Good?* On this particular night, there were many
crewmembers in the bar. Some were dancing, some were playing pool,
but most were sitting at the many tables scattered throughout the bar.
Seven focused on several people who were familiar to her but who she
wasn't friendly with. They all seemed to be having fun and were
relaxed. Seven had never seen them this relaxed in her presence. She
herself had never been that relaxed.

"Well, Seven what do you see?" Harry had leaned over so he could be
heard.

Seven looked at Harry who himself looked more relaxed. "I don't know.
People. Crew members. Some who I know have work to do. But they are
so relaxed they probably wouldn't do it competently," For some reason,
this observation made Harry smile. Seven was oddly content to sit at
this sheltered table and be honest with Harry. She felt she could be
honest with him and he wouldn't become tense and get angry. Curious.
"Why did you smile?"

"Because what you said was humorous. I don't think I've ever heard
you say anything so... human before. It sounds good coming from you."

"You are the second person to make that comment tonight."

"Oh really. Who was the first?" Harry looked very curious. Seven
wasn't sure why she started this conversation, if indeed she had
started it.

"Lieutenant Torres." *Although she didn't say it in quite the same
way.*

"B'elanna? I'm sure she didn't say it in quite the same way." Harry
smiled knowingly.

*Is he reading my mind?* "As I recall it was followed by some other
observations that I don't care to repeat," Seven wondered what was
going on here. She had a vague feeling of being set up. It made her
think about leaving again, but she discovered she was enjoying
herself. She looked at Harry with a new kind of wonder. *Is this
what it's like to have a friend?* She paused again. *Slow down.
You've only been sitting here for ten minutes and already you are
jumping ahead of yourself.* She was starting to think she was in over
her head when Seven realized that Harry was saying something to her.
"What?"

"Off in your own little world again? And here I thought you were
coming out of your shell," Harry was smiling engagingly. At her. The
fear of the unknown resurfaced again. Harry was still looking at her.
"I asked if you wanted anything to drink." Seven looked around and
saw that everyone had a drink of some sort.

"Is it compulsory?" Seven was afraid she had broken some rule of
etiquette. She should have asked someone about Sandrine's before she
came in here. But who would she ask? The answer made her wince.

"No, but this is a bar. A place for drinking really. Now, do you
want something?" Harry was still looking at her.

"I don't know what to ask for. I've never been in a bar. What would
you suggest?" She hoped he would know something because she didn't.

"Seeing as you've never had anything here before it's tempting to
bring you something extravagant. Since you are an innocent in the art
of synthohol I think I will bring you a beer. Does that sound okay?"
He was looking at her expectantly now.

Usually people looked at her for few seconds then looked away. Unless
they were making some cutting remark that was supposed to rattle her.
Seven never looked directly at anyone for very long either. It was a
waste of time since she was usually working when people were around.
Except with the captain. Another wince. *Just stop thinking.*

"Okay." A beer. She had heard of beer but never tasted it. Seven
seemed to recall some incident involving a planet where something like
the earth plant barley grew. Paris and some others had smuggled some
onto the ship without the captain knowing. A few month's later there
was mysterious illness that had something to with this barley and beer
and a party the night before. She hadn't paid much attention. Until
now.

By this time Harry was heading back to the table with two mugs of an
amber liquid that made Seven wary all of a sudden. Was he planning on
making her sick and then spreading hateful rumors? She watched him
put the glasses down and then sit back at the table, look around and
end looking at her again. There didn't seem to be any malice or even
any anticipation or expectation in his gaze. Seven was still
suspicious.

"Maybe I should leave. I don't think I belong here." Seven started
to rise when Harry reached out again and sat her back down. "What are
you doing?" Of course, she couldn't leave until the plan came to
fruition.

"Just drink your beer then. I want to see what you think of the
seedier side of humanity." Harry looked away then at someone across
the room.

Seven didn't notice though. She was looking at the glass of beer in
front of her wondering, if she should she drink it or if she just
leave it. She must have been concentrating hard on her dilemma because
Harry was looking at her strangely.

"It's just beer. Seven, not poison. Look," Harry took a long drink of
his beer and put it back down. Seven watched him do this and then
looked down. "See, no harm done."

"On the contrary, Lieutenant, you look different. Your cheeks are red
and your eyes are different too. I don't think I should drink that.
Your are also fidgeting." That decided it, she would just leave the
beer on the table.

"The beer has no real alcohol in it. Only synthohol. And my altered
physical state has nothing to do with the drink. Only the recent
additions to Sandrine's guests. Look," Harry gestured across the bar
and Seven saw who he was referring to. Captain Janeway and Paris had
entered, entwined around each other.

Seven stared. They didn't notice. She was horrified to feel herself
start trembling. Seven quickly looked away. "I must leave now,"
Seven stood up. She quickly made her way to the door and looked back.
The captain and Paris were starting a game of pool with Tuvok and
Chakotay. Harry was watching Seven with a lot of questions in his
eyes. Questions Seven couldn't answer. She went outside to the mock
street. She wondered if it went anywhere and in a split second
started following it.

Seven was so intent on getting away from the pain that the closed
doors of the bar and the dampened noise outside them couldn't contain
that she didn't hear the doors open and someone start following her.


<*>


Harry watched Seven disappear around a corner and slowly started after
her. What had rattled her so much that she had just left? And why
did he care so much that he wanted to help her. He had his own
problems. Maybe this would distract him.

He was lonely for Tom and he knew Tom would eventually get over his
childhood fantasy, but the waiting was killing him. Seven was another
of Tom's fantasies. If Seven was interested in Tom as well then Harry
would have longer to wait. Harry had to diffuse this bomb before he
went crazy.

Harry loved Tom and Tom loved Harry, but Harry knew better than to try
and keep Tom monogamous. Old habits die hard and although Harry hated
it, he knew Tom needed to be sure that Harry would always be there, no
matter what. Tom also needed to be sure Harry was the best thing that
had ever happened to him. If Tom ever found anything better, Harry
would let go, even if it killed him. But Harry knew that Tom wouldn't
because nobody could love Tom the way Harry loved him.

Tom would come back when he felt Harry was jealous enough, but Harry
never let on that he knew Tom's other motives. He knew going into
this relationship with Tom that it wasn't going to be easy, that Tom
had a lot of baggage from the past. Harry knew most of the secrets
but Tom still had demons, and Harry would help in whatever way he
could. They would eventually be happy. It took them four years to
reach this point, what was more time? Harry was confident it would
work out, Seven was just another complication. *I think I'm going to
handle this one on my own, before Tom finds anything out. Before the
captain gets hurt.*


<*>


Seven reached a dead end. The street went nowhere. Only around a
corner into nothingness. Into blackness. Seven leaned up against that
blackness and tried to breath through her pain. Where had she learned
that? Vague memories about a discussion on childbirth. More pain.
*Don't go there.*

Her eyes squeezed shut and the fervent wishing began. Where were the
legends of her past? The lovely tales she had discovered. The
genies? The Faerie god mothers? Far, far away. She slowly slid to
the ground and curled into herself. She had to go back to her
regeneration chamber. Only in the black void of sleep did the pain go
away. She just needed to collect herself. Maybe she would wait until
everyone had gone. She already felt weak and tired, but she could wait
a little longer.

*I have to get away from this ship. This is tearing me apart. I have
to get away. Away from her.* Somehow she would leave and make it
back again to the Borg. Even if she didn't and she died of weakness,
at least she would stop hurting. Stop feeling. At least it was an
end of some sort.

That was how Harry found her. Curled into the darkness, cold and
pale. He mistakenly thought she had been away from her chamber for
too long, and she let him.

"Seven! Get up. We have to get you back to your quarters."

"I have no quarters. Only a cargo bay. I am alone." *Get a hold of
yourself. You are Seven of Nine of the Borg.*

Harry helped her to her feet and Seven righted herself. They managed
to leave the holodec without anyone seeing. Seven walked with her own
power. Harry was strangely proud of her. Seven was no weakling.

Back at cargo bay two, Seven quietly prepared herself for sleep.
Harry watched her.

"Are you planning on watching me all night? It's boring, all I do is
stand here. I don't take my clothes off or anything, so there is no
reason for you to stay." Seven paused. "I don't need a keeper.
Goodnight, Ensign Kim."

"I only wanted to make sure you were okay. If you are, then I'll
leave," Harry watched Seven for another moment and then turned to
leave. He paused when Seven said his name.

"What?"

"Thank you." Seven stepped into her chamber and closed her eyes.


<*><*>


"Lieutenant Torres, if you are sure there is some dilithium down
there, I am inclined to believe you. How long will you need?"

The morning meeting was a short one. They all had work to do and
nothing particularly interesting was happening now that would require
a long discussion. Besides the dilithium shortage, that is.

"Just a few hours, Captain. And a small away team to help me find it.
The time it will take the other teams to gather the edibles from the
planet. Then we should be able to transport it to the ship."
B'elanna glanced at Seven smugly.

Seven was only half listening to the conversation. She was still
processing the night before, still feeling the lingering pain. Seven
didn't like it. -What made last night's occurrences so different that
I am still hurting this morning?- It made her resolve to leave
stronger. When Seven heard the Klingon say *away team*, Seven's mind
clicked. This was her chance. Seven dragged herself out of the pit
of her thoughts and started fully listening.

"We should be able to work that out, Lieutenant. If you don't find it,
will we be able to keep going?" Janeway looked at B'elanna. She
didn't need another crisis right at this moment.

"We will be able to keep going, but I don't know how far. I don't
think we will be able to make it to the next system without more
crystal. But I know it's there," She sounded very sure of herself.

"I hope you are right, Lieutenant."

"Captain, I would like to go with Lieutenant Torres," Seven spoke up.
-I need to leave.-

-Not her.- "Captain, I don't think I need someone as ... specialized
as Seven. Just a couple of engineers," Torres didn't look very
pleased that Seven had spoken up.

"I would like to ascertain for myself that her *hunches* are reliable.
Captain." She was not going to plead. There would be other
opportunities.

"I think those are good reasons. I don't see why Seven shouldn't go
along." It had been a long time since Seven had been off the ship
anyway and Seven and Torres needed to start getting along. Janeway
would make her a part of this crew yet. Distracted she may be, but she
had not forgotten about her Seven. About Seven. She had to stop
thinking that way. "Torres, you and Seven should be able to find that
crystal by yourselves. Well, let's get to work, shall we?
Dismissed."

Torres left first, obviously angry. Seven noticed Paris lingering
behind and quickly followed after her. If she was going to leave she
had to get ready.


<*>


Seven hurried back to the cargo bay, gathered some things up that
would help her survive long enough to be rescued, and grabbed a
tricorder. She also replicated some clothing that was more
appropriate to living on the planet surface. Better shoes,
definitely, and looser clothes. Now that she was going to be able to
make some of her own decisions, she was going to dress in more
comfortable clothes. These she put into an unassuming supply bag and
headed towards the transporter room. Torres was already there. She
looked at the bag and then back at Seven.

"What's in there? Running away?" Torres moved to stand on the
platform.

"Of course not. These are merely some things that will help us find
the dilithium if it is there." Could everyone read her mind? -Are my
thoughts on an open channel?-

"It's there. Let's go."

Seven stepped to the platform and into place. Soon the transporter
room faded out and Seven silently said good-bye. The planet phased
into her vision as she was reconstituted onto the planet surface.
Torres was already walking away towards the mountains in the distance.
There was a short stretch of dense of forest that they had to pass
through before they would be close enough to tell if the dilithium was
there. This was perfect. She let Torres get a little bit ahead of
her and then followed. Torres didn't look back to see if Seven was
behind her.

They were a few hundred meters into the forest when it started to
become very dense. -This is my chance.- Torres looked behind her to
see where Seven was.

"Will you hurry up. We don't have all day," She looked annoyed.

"Sorry, I got distracted." Seven waited until Torres started forward
again and then took her comm badge off. She ran towards Torres,
intentionally bumping into her, and attached the badge to Torres' back
before stepping away.

"Watch it!"

"Sorry," Seven smiled.

"You thought that was funny? Figures," she muttered turning and
walking away again. Seven looked at her . She frowned and then
smiled again. She quietly faded into the forest and disappeared. -
Freedom.-

Seven wasted no time in doing a scan of her surroundings. She needed
to find water and shelter. She couldn't bring anything with her that
would look suspicious, so any food was out. But there were some
rations in her bag. Standard away team supplies. As soon as she was
heading into the right direction, she went a little ways and stopped.
Seven quickly took off her clothes and shoes and changed into the ones
she had brought with her. She left the discarded uniform folded
neatly under a tree, with a small pad with a note for the captain on
it. On impulse she added one for Harry. Then she turned away. She
hadn't gone far when she turned around and returned to take the pad
with her. She was going to leave cleanly and not leave anything
unresolved behind her. She rejected the notion that she already had.

<*>

B'elanna finally got out of the thick copse of trees and looked up to
the promising mountain. She had long ago forgotten about Seven of
Nine, intent on finding the crystal for Voyager. She had also to
concentrate hard on keeping to the rough map on her tricorder; she
appeased her conscience about not checking on the Borg physically by
checking her position every ten minutes or so on her tricorder. She
was always right behind her and B'elanna felt stupid for thinking that
Seven couldn't handle the rough terrain.

B'elanna looked up at the mountain again and calibrated her tricorder
to look for the crystals in the rock structures. The reading came
back quickly and with overwhelming strength. Dilithium. All they
would need for a while. The current crisis was over. It was close to
the surface and would be easy to transport out. B'elanna smiled and
turned around for the first time since Seven had bumped into her.

"See, I told you there was crystal on this planet," B'elanna boasted.
Seven wasn't there. B'elanna looked around to see if maybe the woman
was near looking at other rock formations. She couldn't see the Borg
anywhere. B'elanna checked her tricorder. It said that Seven was
right behind her. "Didn't the captain train you not to sneak up on
people? Stop fooling around." B'elanna turned around, but Seven
wasn't there. She was right behind B'elanna. But she wasn't.

"Torres to Voyager. Captain, I've got a problem. I can't find Seven.
My tricorder keeps telling me she's right behind me, but she's not."
-I can't have lost Seven. Captain Janeway is going to be furious.-

"Our sensors say she right beside you, B'elanna," There was a pause.
"Janeway to Seven of Nine." The captain's voice sounded right behind
her. "Anything, B'elanna? She's not answering us." The captain
sounded bewildered.

"Your call came from right behind me, Captain, but she's not here,"
B'elanna, on the other hand was starting sound scared. -What if some
weird vortex sucked Seven in and only her comm badge was registering.
You never know in the delta quadrant.- If it had been anyone else,
B'elanna would be calmer, but this was the captain's favorite
crewmember. She was in big trouble. Someone was materializing in
front of her. "Seven?"

"What?" It wasn't Seven, it was Harry.

"Nothing. I can't find her Harry," B'elanna was nervous.

"My tricorder says she's right behind you." Harry looked past
B'elanna's shoulder. "I can't see anything." Now Harry looked
nervous. And confused.

B'elanna turned around to look behind and Harry started. He saw the
problem right away. "B'elanna, Seven's comm badge is on the back of
your uniform. I can't believe we missed that." Harry gave a small
laugh. "How did it get there, though?" Harry was looking at the
badge curiously as if trying to see any clues on its hard surface. He
looked up again blankly.

Lost in thought, remembering something, B'elanna didn't see though.
When Seven had stumbled into her, it had seemed so out of character
for the graceful Borg. "Harry, I think we'd better get more people
down here and start looking for Seven. I think she did it on purpose.
I think she ran away." B'elanna half expected drums when she said it
out loud, it sounded so melodramatic.


<*><*>


Seven was making good progress through the dense brush. She didn't know how long it would take for B'elanna to notice Seven's absence,
betting that the Klingon wouldn't check for her until she got out of
the forest and had proved her hunch. Seven hoped it was right for the
sake of the rest of the crew. Now that she was away from their
distressing presence, she could afford to be gracious. She smiled.
She told herself she didn't already miss the Captain.

As soon as Seven reached the small stream her tricorder had led her
to, she scanned the area for cover. She knew it would take some time
for the Borg to find her and she didn't want Voyager to find her
before they did. She also knew she was going to be feeling the
effects of being away from her chamber eventually and she wanted to be
comfortable while she was waiting for rescue or death. She could stop
pretending to be so Borg, so she could admit that she liked to be
comfortable, not just functional. Seven was definitely enjoying the
new clothing. It felt good to be loose and free under it. It felt
decadent.

Not far from the stream she found a fallen log. Seven hollowed out
underneath it and it made a sufficient shelter. Then she went to the
stream and drank a fair amount of water and ate her rations. She
would become too weak to eat or drink before she became too hungry, so
making the rations last didn't matter. They wouldn't help later,
anyway. Although regeneration was like sleep, Seven couldn't go
without it for as long as humans could go without sleep. There was no
way for her to even take a short nap. Her system just didn't work
that way. It just kept working like she was awake and active.

Seven set her tricorder to emit a message to the Borg to come and
started broadcasting it on a very tight beam. She didn't want Voyager
to pick it up.

She got comfortable in her shelter and Seven allowed herself to think
about her reasons for leaving. She knew what they were. Being around
humans was just too painful. She was too unsure of everything to ever
be comfortable. She didn't care if she was giving up. The only
person who could have helped her had left her. The captain. Janeway.
Katherine. Her love. Her name played in Seven's head like a broken
record. Seven was sad that Katherine's name would be her last
conscious thought and there were no warm memories to go with it. Not
warm enough. Seven let herself remember Katherine in every facet she
could recall. Seven was in love with the captain and she knew they
would never be together. This thought brought a wake of pain and
anger over the unfairness of it all. -I love this woman and I can't
tell her.- She wished for some plates to throw. This line of thought
was just too painful, so Seven just shut her mind down and stared at
the bottom of the log.


<*><*>


B'elanna and Harry were in the captain's ready room. The senior
officers were discussing the latest information on the disappearance
of Seven.

"Where did they find the clothes Harry?" She was tired and upset and
short of coffee, but Janeway was not going to give up.

"Team three found them folded neatly under a tree about fifty meters
from the path that B'elanna took. Almost a right angle to the path."
Everyone was thinking of a naked Seven running around in the forest.

"Man, that thought is going to fuel a lot of fantasies. And don't
tell me you all weren't thinking the same thing." Paris, of course,
had spoken up first. He was looking at all the males in the room,
except for Harry.

"Trust you, Paris, to make a joke out of a very serious situation,"
Captain Janeway did not look amused. She wouldn't even admit to
herself that the thought had raced across her mind, too. She wouldn't
acknowledge the thrill that ran down her back, either. "Doctor, do
you know how long she will last away from her regeneration chamber?"

"I think, Captain, that she could last two, maybe two and a half days.
I can't be completely sure though. We have never tested it. It could
be shorter. I can only base my assumptions on a compilation of
information gleaned from other sources. Humans deprived of sleep will
eventually start hallucinating and then pass out. Who knows how a
Borg will react. We really do not have very much information on their
physiologies. I suggest we find her as soon as possible. Who knows
what a prolonged period outside could do to her if she has been
injured." The doctor paused and then asked, "Do we even know why she
ran off?" He was looking at B'elanna. The hostility between the
Klingon and the Borg was not a secret.

The room fell silent. The captain cleared her throat after a cursory
glance at the senior officers. They were all worried, even B'elanna.
"We still haven't come to any concrete conclusions. Chakotay and I
are still looking into it. That's not as important right now as
finding her. It's only been eight hours. It's been too long,"
Katherine sounded very distressed. What had she missed? "B'elanna,
Harry, I want to talk to you. The rest of you are dismissed.
Chakotay, organize more away teams. Find her."

After watching the others file out, the two remaining crewmembers
remaining were left nervous and they seemed to be fidgeting. Both
were imagining scenarios with the Captain that didn't end with Harry
and B'elanna intact.

For her part, the captain was trying to remain calm. Or at least look
it. This was Seven. Someone who was Katherine's responsibility. She
looked over to Ensign Kim and Lieutenant Torres. They looked like how
she felt. Afraid.

"Well," she prompted. They looked at each other but both stayed
silent.

"I didn't do anything to provoke this. She's not a baby. I am not to
blame," B'elanna finally spoke and she sounded very defensive.
Katherine wondered why. B'elanna was remembering Seven's flight from
engineering the day before.

"Did you say anything particular to her yesterday?" Katherine looked
at B'elanna, then at Harry.

"Captain, I told you before. I only escorted her inside Sandrine's.
She was already out front and we only stayed for about fifteen
minutes. She didn't even have a drink. She left right after you and
Tom arrived. When I followed her outside, I found her in the alley.
She looked pale and so I brought her back to her cargo bay. She was
acting strange. She said she had no quarters. That she was alone,"
Harry looked thoughtful. "Captain, with your permission I'd like to
fix up her cargo bay."

She looked at him. Had he really suggested something like that at a
time like this? Harry looked like he couldn't believe he'd said it
either. "Mr. Kim, I think there is a little more to worry about than
her lack of a comfortable living space. Besides you need to look for
her. Has anyone thought to look for life signs?" The captain looked
like she was grasping at straws.

"Of course, Captain. She must be emitting some sort of field to block
our sensors. I'll go back to ops and look again though. It could
also be the same thing that was distorting our dilithium readings. I
can maybe work on some modifications to penetrate a shield," Harry
stood up and started towards the door.

"I'll help," B'elanna stood up as well. She was at the door when she
turned around, "Captain, I'm sorry. It's my fault for not paying
attention," She turned around again and started towards the door. She
paused before she reached it. B'elanna looked at her feet and said,
"We'll find her." She turned back to the door and followed Harry to
ops.


<*>


Katherine sat at her desk. She needed sleep. She wouldn't sleep
while Seven was still out there. Why was this taking so long? Surely,
with all the technology, Voyager could find one errant Borg. Seven.
The name brought a rush of feelings. They weren't all pleasant.
Frustration and anger were among the list. Why couldn't Seven try to
be more human? *Because she isn't human. Not really. She is Borg.*
And then the anger came. Why did Seven want to remain Borg? Why did
she want to go back? It was true that the Borg were all she really
knew, but she was supposed to be human. Those Borg monsters had stolen
her and transformed her into something grotesque and unfeeling. Did
it matter? What was done was done. Katherine couldn't leave it at
that. She looked at Seven and saw a promising life that had been
taken away and replaced with something else. But Seven was here now
and she was more human than Borg, wasn't she? She was probably
Katherine's only close female friend on the crew.

In trying to make Seven more a part of the human race, Katherine had
told her about a lot of her own experiences. She had been going on
the assumption that Seven had missed having growing up experiences.
Katherine filled in with hers. Her first love and the hurt of missing
her family in the alpha quadrant. Of course they never just talked.
They were always doing something. Working or playing at being
opponents in the holodec.

Katherine had once tried to define her relationship with Seven. Her
first thought had been of being like Seven's mother. That sufficed
for a while and then it started to feel strange and wrong. She was
not Seven's mother. Maybe her sister. That was wrong, as well.
Friends? She let their relationship rest at that. Sometimes it
seemed less than that, but Katherine knew that Seven would help her if
she ever needed it. It never came to that but Katherine would do the
same for her. She already tried to help her without her knowing it.
Shielding her from the crew and their hatred. It was hard and she
tried not to interfere too much. Seven needed to learn how to handle
it on her own. Katherine was not Seven's keeper. Besides Katherine
wouldn't be there forever. And neither would Seven. She might, right
now, never come back.

The pain this brought was surprising to the captain. She had long ago
learned to deal with the loss of crewmembers. It wasn't so much the
ship's loss as the fact that the person had died alone. Not even
close to home. There was no way of telling the family and services
were so hard on the crew, she stopped having them. The losses were
noticed more here because there was not another Starfleet uniform to
fill the space. It remained empty and they compensated.

Katherine would have learned to deal with the loss of Seven if she
were another crewmember. But she was not just another crewmember.
She was Seven. Katherine realized the opportunity here to learn. She
didn't want Seven to leave until she could define what ever was
between them. Until she was comfortable with it.

Once again Katherine fell back on more impersonal thought about Seven.
It was easier that way. -That's right, the only reason I need to come
back was because she is an asset to Voyager and because we can learn
a lot about the Borg in the process.- A stray thought tickled her mind
and Katherine firmly squashed it and put it away in the attic.

Seven looked at the lightening sky. It was morning. The night had
been long but spectacular. The storms that had blown in had been
beautiful. Lightening had arced across the sky in so many colors, her
eyes still flashed from them. She was not getting as tired as she
thought she would be. -What if I last for days? Alone.-

She knew the Borg were not coming for her. They would not come for a
stray. She was infinitely replaceable. She was number seven of nine
others. Definitely not unique. She was only different in one place.
Voyager. She couldn't decide if she liked that. Being different
didn't make you happy.

Since she had known all along that the Borg wouldn't come, she
wondered why she even came. She needed to get away. To what? Death?
Seven had changed her mind about that. She was Seven of Nine. She
would learn to handle the pain. This brief respite from Voyager had
cleared her mind. The captain was her first love and she would get
over her. She thought of Harry. Maybe he would help. But she didn't
need his help. She could exorcise this demon alone. Alone, on
Voyager, Seven would just bury any stray feeling and longing until
they were no longer felt. It would only cause heartache for the
hopeful stirring to be revealed.


During the long night, there was a long time for Seven to mull over
her situation. In the end, she came to the conclusion that she was
being foolish. The captain was never going to love Seven the way
Seven loved the captain. Katherine wasn't attracted to women. At
least not her. And as much as Seven wanted to tell Katherine that she
loved her, she knew it was never going to happen. Was there a purpose
in longing for someone who felt nothing close to the turmoil of her
own emotional state? It would probably make Katherine uncomfortable
and would ruin what little relationship they did have. It would only
cause heartache to reveal the secret stirrings. Seven made a promise
to herself that she try to better behaved towards the captain, but
would never let her true feelings show. Alone on Voyager, if she
buried them deep enough, they would cease to matter. She still had
her Borg reserve to wrap around her and that would protect her. She
was no longer deluding herself. The situation had come to a critical
point and she ad almost lost control, but her resolve to keep separate
from the crew, at least emotionally, was back in place. Now all she
needed was to prove it to herself.

Seven crawled out from under her log and reached for the tricorder.
She disabled the message to the Borg and sent a direct one to Voyager
with a description of her surroundings. How long would it take them
to find her? Seven walked around the clearing for a while to pass the
time. She noticed her movement was wobbly and knew it was due to lack
of rest. The doctor would be interested in this. She got out the pad
and made some notes about her condition. Seven still felt fine, but
she was already too tired to walk anywhere. She put down the pad and
looked into the sky. It was a nice day. Warm and there was a slight
breeze. The rest of the crew should be out here. -They probably are.
Looking for me.- She was a child who had gone off to look at toys.
What was she going to say to them? To the captain? That she got lost
and happened to have a spare set of clothes? That she felt like
camping and didn't think anyone would mind? -I think it's best if I
keep my mouth shut. I just needed to get away.- At least that was
the truth.

She leaned back into the log and heard rustling in the trees. Two
Starfleet officers appeared and headed her way. She saw their
uniforms before she saw their identities. It was Lt. Torres and Harry
Kim. They looked relieved. B'elanna's expression changed to anger as
soon as she saw that Seven was not injured.

"Where the hell have you been? You worried the captain to death."
B'elanna was stamping her foot. Harry was gathering Seven's things
and pulling her to her feet.

"I have been here. We got separated in the forest. I decided that
staying in one place would be more logical. It took you a long time
to notice my absence." Seven looked directly at B'elanna. There was
no accusation in her eyes, but B'elanna imagined one. The angry woman
examined Seven thoroughly with her eyes.

"Don't you dare lay this at my feet. You left intentionally. Why
else would you have brought extra clothes?" Seven was enjoying this.
The Klingon woman's belligerence needed to be dealt with.

"I brought them in case something like this happened. They are more
comfortable than my... uniform." She waited for the Klingon to
reply. Harry was standing to the side and watching the play.

"Then why did you leave your uniform behind? And what about your comm
badge? You are not fooling me." Seven could see she wasn't, but
didn't want to admit it.

"I left them there so you would know generally which way I went. The
badge had fallen off and I was carrying it when I ran into you. It
was an accident that it attached to your shirt but you looked annoyed
so I did not wish to anger you further by asking for it back."
Thinking of these rapid explanations for her actions had tired her
out. She swayed visibly and leaned on Harry's suddenly available arm.
B'elanna did not look convinced of this weak-fool charade.

"You can continue this conversation when we're back on Voyager."
B'elanna wanted to say more but Harry's glare silenced her. "She
needs to rest before you tear into her again." He touched his comm
badge and asked Voyager to beam them all up. He was still carrying her
bag when they materialized in sick bay.


<*><*>


The people bustling around her in sickbay were starting to get on
Seven's nerves. The doctor had so many questions after reading her
padd report and confirming that she was, for the most part, alright.
Harry had not left her side either and she wondered about that. Where
did this sudden devotion come from? He was probably assigned to watch
her. She liked to think it was because the captain cared about her,
but she knew it was probably so he could report when she was well
enough to be questioned. He held her arm as she sat up and she gave
him an annoyed look.

"Please. I just need to rest in my chamber. I will be fine in five
or so hours. Please tell the captain she can speak to me then."
Seven got up and walked toward the door. The tremors in her leg
alarmed her, but she kept on walking. She was going to make it to her
cargo bay on her own power. Harry followed her.

She had just barely made it into the turbo lift when her legs gave out
a bit and she leaned against the wall. She glanced at Harry, who was
watching her intently.

"Why are you following me, Ensign Kim? I do not need a keeper." She
closed her eyes and locked her knees so she wouldn't slide down the
wall.

"So you said before. I want to help you. Why did you leave?" They
had reached her deck and he was supporting her as they walked the
short distance to the cargo bay.

"I needed time to think. I felt overwhelmed the other night in
Sandrine's and just needed to get away. I'm sorry I caused anyone to
worry." The barren sterile-ness of her cargo bay had never looked so
inviting. She quickly moved over to the chamber and stepped inside.
Harry was watching her. "I would offer that you stay but as you can
see, I wasn't expecting company and I have no where for you to sit."
The sleep was already stealing over her and she drifted out looking at
Harry's grim look.


<*><*>


Seven woke up looking into the captain's eyes and thought she was
dreaming. She knew she wasn't because the captain wasn't yelling at
her or moving closer. She closed her eyes at the sharp pain that
started in her chest and ended in her hands. The truth was very clear
in Seven's mind. -I love you.- Taking a breath and looking away from
Katherine's eyes, Seven stepped out of the chamber and stretched.

It felt so much better to be rested. She was ready to deal with the
aftermath of her holiday. She smirked at her brain's random term for
her pitiful attempt at suicide. The twisted smile was not missed by
Katherine.

"You're in an odd mood." Katherine let her slight smile slide away as
Seven turned a blank look on her.

Seven looked down and realized she was still wearing the loose top and
bottom she had worn on the planet. Okay, maybe not quite ready. She
needed to wrap the encompassing protection of her normal uniform
around her. She looked at the captain again. Seven wasn't going to
start this.

"Well, Seven, are you going to explain your actions or am I going to
have to pull it out of you? Right now, I am not adverse to exacting a
little discomfort on your part to get to the truth." Katherine was
not smiling and was pacing back and forth in front of Seven.

-When are you ?- This thought strengthened her resolve to remain
impassive to the captain. "I needed to get away. To think. I'm
sorry I didn't ask first, but I was not thinking about anyone else." -
Except you.- The exasperation was clear on Katherine's face.

"You needed to get away? Do you have any idea what your actions
caused? Do you?" Clear focussed frustration in Katherine's face was
a comfort to Seven in its familiarity.

"No. What have I done?"

"No, of course you don't. You would never think that anything you did
would affect someone else." Seven settled into the script of their
relationship and leaned back against her console. "That was very
selfish. I spent the day searching for you and dealing with a crew
that didn't care if I found you or not. I am quite sure no one really
looked for you. It made it harder for the people truly searching.
But you would never think of anyone but yourself would you? Not even
me." Her voice had gotten steadily louder and was now at the level of
her sharp barking command voice.

"Do you think I am that cold, Captain? Do you wish me to be warmer?"
Seven's voice was quiet and there was a glitter in her eyes that
Katherine didn't want to identify. The exhaustion of the past twenty-
four hours suddenly overtook Katherine and she stepped back.

"If you needed some time I could have given it to you. I am sure we
could have done without you for a while." She paused and ran her hand
over her face and through her short hair. "This continuing tendency
of yours to ignore everyone else, including me, is very hard to deal
with. I would hope you would come to me if you needed something. I
am here for you." The captain had stopped looking annoyed and was now
imploring Seven with her eyes.

"Are you? I needed to get away. It was not until this morning that I
decided to return. I will try in the future to conform to your
ideals." Seven had not meant to shock Katherine with that revelation.
"Now if you will excuse me, I need to change and to work. It's all I
have left." Seven turned away, reached for her uniform and headed for
the sonic shower that had been provided for her. She relaxed visibly
when she heard the cargo bay doors open and hiss shut. She decided
not to give in to the tears that were causing her to close her eyes
and grimace. Crying was alien to her.


Harry was waiting for her when she emerged clean, dressed and
determined. She walked over to her chamber and threw the loose
clothes on the table nearby. She was definitely keeping those.

"Was there something you needed? I want to go back to work." She
needed to do something. The cool, calm exterior that showed in her
face was just that. An exterior. Inside, her nerves were still
roiling and jumping.

"The captain told me to tell you that she doesn't want you to do
anything today. Just relax. I said I would help." He was going to
make her forget about Tom. Harry was sure it was her feelings for Tom
that had upset her. Well, she would just have to learn to live
without him. The promise he had made to Tom not to interfere with his
flings was already beginning to wear thin. "I thought we could just
talk. We go to my quarters if you like."

"Harry, I just want to work. I'm fine. I just need to get back to my
routine. Please." For some reason Harry's unwanted attention was not
annoying her. It was making her wonder if maybe he could help. -I
don't feel like myself anymore and I need that. I need to be cool and
reserved.- She did want to go though. The argument continued in her
head. She was not what the captain wanted, now or ever, so what
difference would change make? It could not make the swirling pain
worse. The silent argument ended. "Perhaps I do not need to work.
But what else will I do?" She was talking more to herself and did not
expect Harry to answer her.

"Anything. You are not a prisoner. How about a learning a game?
Maybe chess? I think it will suit you." Harry waited for her to
answer. "But since you are not working you don't have to wear that
awful suit. I mean it looks great on you but is it actually
comfortable?"

"I do not know this chess. And there is nothing wrong with my attire.
It allows me to move anyway I want. It is not too constricting." Not
physically.

"But is it comfortable to know everyone can see every contour of your
body? It is very revealing." He had looked her up and down and Seven
didn't like the feeling that came over her when he did. She felt like
covering up.

"It makes no difference to me how people look at me. I am still me
whether naked or in a high-necked, loose tunic. I have nothing to
hide." Harry didn't look convinced. He- looked uncomfortable. "If
my clothing bothers you, I will change." She turned around and
reached for the discarded garment, smiling. She really didn't care if
people noticed her tight clothing or not, but it was nice to be free
under soft cloth. It was easier to breath anyway.

"You wear what ever you want," Harry called as Seven went back to the
shower to change. Harry looked around the cargo bay. It was devoid
of anything personal. There was a console where Seven could work and
her regeneration chamber. Other than that there was one table and the
bathroom. -Does she ever relax?- Seven came back out and there was a
slight smile on her face. "Why are you smiling?"

"I am looking forward to this. I don't know why." She moved to the
doors and Harry followed her out.


<*>


Captain Janeway walked away from Seven's impromptu quarters still in a
daze. -Did she really mean it or had it been a game? Was she really
going to leave me?- She stopped for a moment as that thought sunk in.
-I mean leave Voyager.- She wouldn't let it get beyond that. She was
still unwilling to completely internalize the impact of Seven leaving.
A good crew member would be lost and a good, if exasperating friend.
Katherine stamped on any thought that went beyond that. As she had
stood and watched Seven sleep she had been mesmerized by the innocent
beauty of the woman before her. She could have been a queen with her
cold logic and cool features. When Seven's eyes had opened there had
been a flash of something warm and inviting and Katherine thought
maybe Seven would speak to her. But the emotion that almost had
Katherine reaching out to hold Seven was quickly replaced with the
cool mask and she had pulled back. The familiar anger and
bewilderment took over and she had used it to interrogate Seven. Her
answers didn't matter. Seven was back and hopefully her need to leave
the nest was played out. Katherine couldn't be chasing after a
runaway crew member when she had over one hundred other people to
think about. No matter how much that person meant to her.

The small pang of pain she felt in her chest at the thought of Seven
never coming back was swallowed and ignored. Katherine had to change
and think of something to replicate for supper. Tom was such a picky
eater. Maybe some chocolate mousse and a smile. That picture had her
hurrying toward her quarters, Seven and the strange feelings she
ignited forgotten.


<*><*>


"Checkmate." Seven had won another game. Harry looked at the board
with dismay. "Is there something wrong? I thought I did well."

"There is nothing wrong other than the fact that I may have created a
monster. Four games in a row. My pride may never be the same. I
think I better stop for now and let you have break. I wouldn't want
you to get a swelled head. Besides, I think I'm hungry. You want
something?" He stood up and walked to replicator. "I have plenty of
rations without Tom around." Seven noticed the flash of pain that
crossed his face, but she didn't say anything. She didn't want to
open firmly closed doors that that question might lead to.

"I don't know what to ask for. I usually have a supplement that gives
me all the nutrients I require. I don't usually take the time to
eat." This felt very strange. She was suddenly nervous and afraid of
being in over her head. The camaraderie of the evening was an
unexpected pleasure. She had never had a friend before. Not one that
didn't make her feel unworthy and alone. "Harry, I feel out of place."
He turned around at her soft words. "Something has changed and I am
not sure I like the new me. The night outside gave me a lot of time
to think and I do not think I want to change as much as I did
yesterday. This is so hard to do alone." She stood up and started
for the door.

"Don't go. I didn't mean to scare you with food." He smiled and held
a plate out to her. "Here, have a sandwich. It's chicken salad. I
finally got the old recipe to taste right." His voice dropped off.
"I want you to stay. I like the new you. I want to know why you
left. Please?" He was surprised when she took the plate and sat on
the couch. He sat on the other end and they ate. She glanced at him
when he stood up to get something else from the replicator. He handed
her a glass of milk.

"Milk? I can't believe I am sitting in your quarters having a
sandwich and milk. No one has ever bothered to do anything like this
for me. Not even the captain." She managed to swallow past the lump
in her throat. "I don't know why this means anything. You could be
playing with me and I would never know." She suddenly found the grain
in the bread very interesting. Harry moved closer to her.

"I'm not trying to trick you. It looked like you needed a friend and
I decided I did too. Simple as that. I am actually quite surprised
you are letting me be nice to you." He had finished his sandwich and
was turned sideways on the couch and watching her.

"You have lots of friends. Lt. Torres, for one. She must be your
best, besides Paris, that is. What would she say if she caught you
with me? Nothing nice. Harry didn't miss the strong emotion in Seven
voice when she said Tom's name. He misunderstood what it was. "I
really should be leaving. I still feel fatigued." She looked around
at the comfortable furnishings. "These are nice quarters. Much more
relaxing than mine." She stood up. "Thank you, Harry. It has been an
interesting experience." Seven left without expecting Harry to seek
her out again. She hoped she had managed to convince him she was
alright. Because she was. Seven found herself smiling as she returned
to the cargo bay. -I think I am ready to get back. I will be
alright. I am Seven of Voyager.-


<*><*>


The astro-physics lab was empty as shift changes took place. Seven
stayed. If she could just calibrate the model to the right
specifications. There was no other way to truly see if the piece of
technology they had picked up floating through space that day could be
modified to fit Voyager's needs. Once they had figured out that it
regulated energy usage and made it more efficient so they wouldn't
need as much, Seven had started. Her specialty was adapting alien
technology to her own needs, after all. After one more unsuccessful
trial, she pushed back from the bench and sighed in annoyance. She
was just reaching out to throw the offensive replica of the regulator
against the wall when Harry walked in.

"Whoa, Seven. I thought you had curbed your violent tendencies." He
reached for the piece and put it out of her reach." He was smiling.

"I am not a child. I wouldn't have thrown it. Just threatened. It is
an irrelevant piece of-" She cut herself off. Her usual aloofness
reasserted itself." Was there anything you needed, Ensign Kim? I am
busy."

"So its back to ice queen Seven, is it? Well, I came to see if you
wanted a break. It's been five days since your breakout and I wanted
to see how you were doing." Harry was examining the regulator.

"I am not in the mood for chess." Seven was shocked he was even here.
"Why -are- you here? You have already made the token gesture. I will
not require you to sacrifice yourself any more. If the captain wants
to know if I am well she can inquire herself." Seven had not spoken
to the Captain since that afternoon, besides required responses. "If
she can break away from Tom for a while." Harry was quick to note the
lightening flash of pain that illuminated her eyes for a moment. -So,
she was still hung up on Tom.-

"He's not worth it." The confusion in her eyes was plain.

"What are you talking about?" Seven wondered if Harry had a head
injury that was making him irrational.

"Tom. He's not worth you obsessing. That's why you left, isn't it?"
Harry's face was full of triumph.

"Harry, please be quiet. You have no idea what you are talking
about." She turned back to the console she was working at and tried
to ignore the laughter she felt tickle her throat. -He thinks it's -
Tom- I am obsessed with?- It was so absurd it was funny.

"Fine, we won't talk about that. But I do want to get you out of here
for a while. Come on. I have the perfect activity planned." He
grabbed her hand and she almost resisted. Curiosity won. That damn
machine could wait for a few hours.



Part 2