Burn In Heaven
 

"Theme night. This is simply amazing. I'm going to have to strangle Neelix."

"I'm glad I'm not the only one with those feelings," Torres sighed to Captain Janeway. "He actually expects us to dance? And dress up in some fancy-"

Janeway shushed Torres as Chakotay passed by their table. Torres eyed her curiously.

"Are you two fighting?" she wondered once Chakotay was past.

"Fighting? No, I wouldn't call it that," Janeway said.

"Then what do you call it?"

"Well, he's upset with me because he thinks I'm cheating on him with Seven."

Torres snorted. "With Seven?" Janeway nodded. "That Seven-?" Torres pointed at the former Borg, who was being bothered by Neelix. Janeway nodded again. "Wow. What inspired this newest fit of jealous?"

"She was sleeping on my couch."

Torres paused. "On your couch?"

"Is there an echo? Yes, on my couch."

 

"Well, I suppose that's enough to and run with," Torres said thoughtfully. "But, you gay, Captain? I would never have dreamed it."

"That's because its not true," Janeway said tightly. Torres's brows raised.

"Well, I've heard a lot of weird things today, but that certainly takes the cake."

"I know," Janeway sighed. "Can we discuss something else?"

"Sure," Torres smirked, "how about hoop skirts?" Janeway groaned.

"Anything but hoop skirts."



 

Two days later, Holodeck three was running, not with the usual bar scene, but with a more ornate and adorned dance hall. Varying members of the crew were present already, almost an hour before the dance was supposed to start. Most were comparing outfits. A select few were setting up the orchestra. Many of the players were holograms, but nearly a dozen were real people. Harry Kim was being fussed over by Sam Wildman, and her daughter was twirling in her puffy pink satin dress.

"I hate bow-ties. Who said the men had to wear bow ties?" Kim tried to swat Wildman's hands away.

"Neelix did," she said.

"When did Neelix become lord of entertainment?" Kim wondered.

"When he made himself it."

"Makes sense. Where's Nicoletti?"

Wildman shrugged, "she'll be here soon enough. Said something about looking for a reed?" Kim nodded and went off to look for something else.

"I swear I'm going to bust out of this dress any time now," Torres whined. Paris chuckled.

"That should be interesting to see," he said, looking around. "Where's our Master of Ceremonies?"

"Neelix is over there," Torres said, making her way to a dressing room.

"I was referring to the Captain." Torres's response was a turned back and a shrug. Paris shrugged also, and went to find somewhere to sit.

 

The "band" was warming up with Musorgski's "Promenade" when Janeway entered Holodeck Three a little over a half and hour later. Neelix bobbed up to her, all smiles.

"Oh, everything is just going splendidly," he announced before she could even speak. "We'll be about ready to begin in about twenty minutes."

"Good," Janeway nodded swiftly and looked around. Her entrance in a flurry of green ball gown had not went unnoticed by the surprisingly large number of people that had already shown up, but when without much more direct comment. Janeway glanced around and noticed Torres leaning against a railing. She looked more comfortable in her dress now. Tom was busy talking with Kim, so Janeway made a careful way around the tables that flanked the back wall and approached Torres.

"Captain, you look great," Torres grinned a welcome.

"You don't look that bad either," Janeway assented. Torres laughed.

"I about nearly had to change," she said, "its amazing what a few clips can do." Janeway laughed, and Torres's face twisted thoughtfully.

"What?"

"Have you talked to Chakotay yet?"

Janeway averted her eyes. "Not really."

"Is he even coming?"

"I can't see why he wouldn't," Janeway sighed.

"Maybe because his 'competition' just walked in, looking like a knock-out, as usual?" Torres looked near the entrance to the dance hall with a slackened jaw. "Wow." Janeway turned slowly to look, and groaned.

"My Gods, Chakotay's going to kill me for even being in the same room with her," Janeway whispered as Seven noted the two women and approached.

"Captain Janeway, Lt. Torres, it is good to see you."

"Same here," Janeway smiled. Seven studied her.

"I fail to see the importance of this... ritual," Seven said drily.

"Blame Neelix," Torres smirked. Seven blinked thoughtfully.

"Captain, I passed Commander Chakotay in the hall."

Janeway froze. "And?"

"And... nothing. I passed him, that is all." Janeway relaxed slightly.

"Oh. That's alright, isn't it Seven?"

"Yes Captain," Seven nodded. "If you will excuse me, I agreed to help Ensign Kim test the sound system." Janeway inclined her head and Seven departed. Janeway's gaze followed the departing woman; failing to notice Torres's curious look.



 

"Attention! Attention please, we're ready to begin!" Janeway barked gleefully into the mike in her best Captain's Voice. The crowd gathered around the dance hall quieted quickly. Janeway's voice was much softer and... kinder when she felt she had their attention. "Neelix has arranged this little get-together, and he hopes that everyone will have a good time tonight." Neelix whispered something. "What? Oh, yes. There will be refreshments served, and a dance contest later. Have a nice night." There was mild applause as Janeway left the small rostrum.

With a flourish, the holographic conductor began the first dance piece, and the room burst into motion. Janeway sighed and stepped out to near the edge of the dance floor.

"Care to dance?" Janeway whirled at the voice.

"Chakotay! I... I wasn't expecting you."

"Would you like me to leave?" Chakotay's expression was almost hurt.

"No," Janeway shook her head, "come on, lets dance."



 

They had been dancing for nearly an hour, when Janeway pulled Chakotay off the dance floor. They collapsed into a set of chairs, and Janeway fanned herself as the first deep base notes of another song began. Janeway giggled in surprise.

"I bet they can feel that up on the Bridge." Chakotay grinned.

"Probably."

Janeway swallowed nervously. "Chakotay, I'm sorry... about closing the door in your face."

"Its okay," Chakotay said, "I think I deserved it."

"You did," Janeway smiled. Chakotay laughed.

As the next song ended, Chakotay went to get a drink, and Janeway stood and stretched. The ball gown would not have been her dance outfit of choice, but it would have to do.

The next song began. And someone grabbed Janeway's hand and pulled her onto the dance floor. She had to blink several times before her new dance partner's face fully registered.

"Seven! What do you think you're doing?" Janeway whispered into Seven's ear. Seven's smile was slow and mirthful.

"I'm dancing, what does it look like I'm doing?" Janeway's voice cracked.

"Who taught you to tango?" she wondered.

"A holoprogram," Seven replied simply. Janeway's mouth worked wordlessly as Seven led them into the heart of the dance floor, and away from Chakotay. He was standing near the floor with a confused look on his face. Janeway didn't see the look as Seven turned them away, which was fortunate because Janeway would have died right there if she had. She was out of breath as it was, and felt the eyes of at least a quarter of the rooms inhabitants on she and Seven.

There was no way to get out of it now, Janeway realized. So she began to relax at let Seven lead. She really was a good dancer. Seven's dress was of a soft fabric, light blue and for the most part rather loosely cut. She was wearing flats again, Janeway noticed as their faces came level. Seven's face was slightly jovial. True, she wasn't good at deception... but she wasn't exacting deceiving Janeway at the moment.

"Captain, if you are uncomfortable dancing with me, you don't have to."

Janeway blinked. "No, its quite alright, Seven."

The song changed. Near the conductor, a woman appeared.

"Make me a witness
Take me out
Out of darkness
Out of doubt
I won't weigh you down with good intention
Won't make fire out of clay
Or other inventions"
 

Across the room, Chakotay had finally located them as they moved in sweeping movements in the centre of the dance hall. His mouth dropped open. Janeway was fixated on her dance partner. She held Seven's hands easily, and through the swirl of green and blue fabric it was often difficult to tell who was leading. Normally Chakotay would not have been overly bothered by their dancing. But there was something, even more than their earlier argument that irritated him.

"Will we burn in heaven
Like we do down here?
Will the change come while we're waiting?
Everyone is waiting.....
And when we're done soul searching
And we carried the weight and died for the cause
Is misery made beautiful right before our eyes?
Will mercy be revealed, or blind us where we stand?"
 

Without realizing it, Chakotay had begun to weave his way through the crowd, towards Janeway and Seven. The former Borg's eyes met his for the briefest of moments, and he was shocked to find no hidden agenda there. Nothing that should incense him so.

"Will we burn in heaven
Like we do down here?
Will a change come while we're waiting?
Everyone is waiting....."
 

With a turn, Janeway saw Chakotay approaching. A startled cry escaped her lips, and her hands fell from Seven's. She froze there on the dance floor. A few people sent them curious glances but said nothing. Seven bent her head in confusion.

"Captain?"

Janeway began to step away, her head shaking slightly. Seven reached out to collect her lost contingent, but Janeway was already slipping away. The blonde woman turned with a slight flush of confusion to Chakotay, and found herself motionless on the floor. Chakotay began to pass Seven, but then the situation seemed to click in her mind and she blocked his path in her own retreat after Janeway.

"Will we burn in heaven
Like we do down here?
Will a change come while we're waiting?
Everyone is waiting....."
 

By the time Seven had cleared the dance floor the Captain was no longer in the holodeck. Seven went to the exit, pausing only long enough to notice that Chakotay was still trailing her by a few steps. She heard the doors of the holodeck whisper shut behind her as she exited into the hall. Janeway was not in sight. Seven went down the right side of the hall, unaware that Chakotay had also exited but gone left. She walked in a quiet hurry down the hall until she came up what she had been searching for.

Janeway was sitting in an odd corner of the corridor, knees tucked up. Seven knelt next to her.

"Captain, are you alright?"

Janeway made no audible response, but her head shook slightly, as did the rest of her. She was crying. Seven set a careful hand on the base of Janeway's neck. The Captain tensed under her touch, and with a bewildered countenance Seven removed her hand. She sat on the floor, crossing her legs under the billow of her dress. She waited, letting Janeway cry.

"Captain, have I faulted you somehow?" There was another long pause, and then Janeway slowly lifted her face.

"No, you haven't done anything wrong, Seven. It's just... I'm so confused."

"Confused? I don't understand."

"I don't know what to do..." Janeway rubbed a teary eye and looked up at Seven. The younger woman's expression was slightly confused, yet it was apparent that the emotion that went with the look was still a mystery to her. Janeway sighed and stretched her legs out in front of her. "Seven, I have some choices that I know I need to make, but they're difficult ones."

"I see," Seven said slowly. "Is there any way that I might help?"

Janeway looked at her. "Not really... but I could use a hug." Seven held back her wonder as to how a hug might help Janeway make her decision, but complied. Janeway rested her head heavily on Seven's shoulder, but after a moment she pulled away.

"Thanks," Janeway said, rubbing at both eyes with her hands.

"You are welcome," Seven said.

"I'm a bit tired," Janeway excused herself. "I think I'm going to go back to my quarters. You... you can return to the dance, if you'd like."

Seven considered it, and then nodded slightly. "I will, Captain. Sleep well."

"Have a good night," Janeway responded softly. And with a nod she rose to her feet and departed down the hushed corridor, and left Seven in deep thought sitting on the floor.

Seven murmured softly in the direction that Janeway had left.

"Everyone is waiting."