Stealth Leather
 

October 2421

It was a calm quiet afternoon. Kathryn and Seven were sitting on the porch, watching Voyager's youth battle each other in the field. They were playing a wild game of baseball, much to their parents chagrin. The holodeck residents were loving it though, so those in the middle simply let the games continue. The fall air was crisp and still, carrying the children's voices far. Seven leaned her head on the porch railing and sighed.

"Something wrong?" Kathryn asked, rubbing her thumb over the edge of the glass in her hand.

"No, just bored," Seven replied quietly. She rubbed the broad sprawl of an implant on her right upper arm and then leaned back into her chair.

Kathryn smiled. "I told you that they won't let you play. You're too old."

"Speak for yourself, grandma," Seven replied, taking the glass from Kathryn.

"Grandma..." Kathryn drawled slowly. "I don't feel old enough to be a grandmother."

"I feel younger," Seven smirked.

"I don't see how."

"Oh, by at least... fifteen years or so."

Kathryn rolled her eyes at Seven. "You should have thought of that fifty years ago. It barely seems to matter now."

"I did think about it," Seven said, raising the glass to her lips.

"And?"

"And what?"

Kathryn tilted her head. "And what conclusion did you come to after thinking about it?"

"I didn't come to any conclusion. Or at least if I did, it's been too long for me to remember."

"True."

"And either way," Seven sighed, "I'm still bored.

"Well I'm sure that we can think of something to remedy that."

"We've done everything there is to do here," Seven complained.

"Yes, but what do you have against the horses?" Kathryn wondered.

"I don't have anything against the horses. They are merely animals. Holographic ones at that."

"You're just upset about getting thrown off," Kathryn laughed.

"I was not at fault," Seven objected with a slam of the glass onto the arm of the chair. Kathryn chuckled.

"Temper, temper," she said softly.

"Temper is irrelevant," Seven retorted.

"Haven't heard you say that in a while," Kathryn said.

"When all else fails, be Borg," Seven said thoughtfully. "They are perfect."

"Ooh, I think I'm honored then," Kathryn laughed.

"What do you mean?"

Kathryn leaned closer to Seven, her posture oozing mirth. "To be associated with a former member of perfection."

"You should be," Seven said slowly. "But.. now that you mention it..."

"Hmm?" the smile danced around the edges of Kathryn's mouth.

"I would say that being with you is even more perfect."

"Oooh, now you're getting mushy on me, Seven," Kathryn smiled.

"You bring it out in me," Seven said. There was a crack, and the women looked out to the field. The jubilant shouts of children drifted to them. A few elderly voices were mixed in. Seven leaned toward the railing again to get a better look.

"I think that was Andrew," she said, pleased.

"It was James," Kathryn corrected.

"Andrew, James, they look the same to me," Seven shook her head.

"They both need a haircut."

"Too bad they have Chakotay's nose," Seven smirked, and glanced over at her. Kathryn laughed. "I mean, you'd think that one of them would take after Alex."

"Must be a dominant nose gene," Kathryn said.

"Marija has your nose though, not Chakotay's," Seven looked thoughtfully at the form of the Captain standing near third base.

Kathryn grinned. "Lucky girl."

"She gets to ref, and we're stuck on the porch. Isn't there some rule against that?"

"Rule?"

"You know.. 'Captain can not have more fun that the crew.' Or something like that."

"I think I had that rule removed from the computer," Kathryn smiled. "It got in the way too much."

"I'm sure it did."

"Just like the 'Captains are not allowed to have good hair.' rule."

"I was unaware that that was a rule," Seven said.

"Well, not an official one. But I'm sure I got rid of it."

"What about Captains being able to dance?"

"Oh, I think that's allowed," Kathryn said. "Captains have to be able to dance in order to look more prestigious."

"Prestigious. That's a word I'd never thought to use on you, Kathryn," Seven smiled.

"Did you even know that word before?" Kathryn chuckled.

"Probably. But it's true. You're too normal..."

"Normal?" she leaned closer and poked Seven in the side.

"Kathryn!" Seven laughed and jerked away. "You know what I mean."

"Yes, of course I do." She pulled her face straight. "I'm boring."

"You're anything but that," Seven protested.

"So I'm weird," Kathryn replied.

"No... you're a hologram."

"Join the club," Kathryn chuckled, retrieving the glass and standing up. Seven adjusted herself in her chair.

"So did you have anything in mind for us to do?"

Kathryn looked back at Seven. "Well... not really."

"Neither do I."

"We could do something that you enjoy doing. Something we've done before."

Seven's lips pursed in a smirk. "It's too early for that."

"Something that is done outside, then," Kathryn chuckled. Seven stood up and followed her to the door.

"We could go for a walk."

"A walk..." Kathryn returned from putting the glass in the kitchen.

Seven adjusted the elastic band going around her ponytail. "Yes, a walk."

"Where would we walk to? I don't think there's much to see."

"It's later in the year now," Seven said slowly. "Maybe things look different."

"More gold and less green," Kathryn quipped. Seven chuckled.

"Something like that," she agreed.

"We could go out the usual road to the empty farmhouse."

"I wonder what's past that."

"What do you mean?" Kathryn fished a pair of sunglasses out of her pocket. Seven took them from her and put them on.

"Well, we've never really walked too far past that."

"Seven, all that's after that is more fields," Kathryn said. Seven shrugged.

"I'm bored, and its something to do," she said.

"Are you sure you're not just restless?"

"Is there much of a difference right now?" Seven wondered.

"No, there isn't," Kathryn said. "Alright, let me change my shoes and grab my bag. We can take something to eat when we get wherever we're going."

"Sounds good to me."

** Rainbows descending to the Earth
That's what must've happened with your birth
Heaven's jewel presented to me
In rays of perfect harmony**

Seven sat down on the porch as Kathryn went inside. She came back out a few minutes later, shoes in one hand, bag in the other.

"Do you think we should tell them where we're going?" Kathryn asked, sitting down next to Seven. The other woman picked up the bag and looked through it.

"How can we do that if we don't know where we're going?"

"Good point. We could at least tell them that we're going for a walk." Kathryn pulled on the first shoe and laced it quickly.

"I suppose we should, just in case we manage to get lost on this straight road leading nowhere," Seven said.

"I hope that was a joke," Kathryn smiled.

"I think that it was."

They left a few minutes later, deliberately passing the impromptu baseball field.

They waved Marija over, who left her post.

"What are you two up to?" she wondered, seeing the unusual smiles on her mothers' faces.

"We aren't 'up to' anything," Kathryn said. "We're just going for a walk."

"Sure you are. Don't you need the Captain's permission for that sort of thing?" Marija said, a smile playing on her face.

"Why do you think we stopped?" Kathryn adjusted the bag on her back.

"I don't, I thought maybe you were going to volunteer to wash the outside windows of the ship," Marija said.

Kathryn raised a hand to her face. "Oh dear, we've become expendable already."

"I knew this second life was too good to be true."

"Since you like that so much, I was thinking.. the deflector dish needs some cleaning too."

"Very funny," Kathryn smiled.

"We're going for a walk," Seven repeated the earlier point.

"Is that so..."

"Yes."

"Well, you two have fun," Marija smiled.

"You should try it sometime," Kathryn laughed and patted her daughter on the shoulder. There was a shout from the field.

"Sorry, I'm needed," Marija excused herself. They watched her go.

"Oh, they grow up so fast," Kathryn sighed melodramatically.

"Who does?" Seven wondered.

"Well.. the kids do."

Seven inclined her head toward the field. "Not *our* kids."

Kathryn shrugged. "They all do eventually."

Seven bit her lip. "Kathryn, can we go before you get either depressed or philosophical on me?"

Kathryn smiled. "Of course. Can't stand to have me getting thoughtful, now can you?" She gave her a light smack on the butt and started walking.

"Not if its going to involve my bodily harm," Seven called.

"Oh, I didn't hurt you," Kathryn smiled as she caught up.

"How do you know?"

"Because I'd never do anything to harm you." They started for the hill.

"Never?" Seven said thoughtfully.

"Unless, for some bizarre reason, you wanted me to."

"I'll remember that."

"I was hoping that you would," Kathryn's smile spread into a grin.

"Not that I would ask you to break my arm or anything."

"I wouldn't even if you begged me to."

"Begged?" Seven's brow shot up. Kathryn laughed.

"Don't get any ideas."

"Well I won't now, we're walking."

They made it to the top of the hill, and started down the opposite side. Several minutes of quiet passed. Kathryn shifted her bag a bit, and then cleared her throat. There was another pause. Seven looked expectantly at Kathryn.

"What?"

"Nothing, I thought you were going to say something."

Kathryn started to shake her head. "Well, I can think of something, if you'd like me to."

"Go ahead."

"Well.. why don't you wear those really hot catsuits anymore?" Kathryn looked at her. Seven colored slightly.

"Kathryn!"

"Well? You wanted me to say something."

"I wasn't expecting that."

"I know, you were expecting something thoughtful."

"Somewhat thoughtful, at least," Seven said, shaking her head. "I only wore those things because I had to. Regenerative purposes and such."

"They were fairly distracting too."

"Yes. But they were incredibly uncomfortable."

"I could imagine."

"I'd like to see you squeeze into one of those," Seven smirked.

"You would."

"Though somehow I don't think you could."

Kathryn looked partially offended. "And why not?"

Seven squinted. "Your hips are too wide."

"Well, thank you Barbie," Kathryn laughed.

"You're welcome," Seven said in a deadpan reminiscent of her former self.

"Your boobs are too big," Kathryn retorted. Seven smirked again.

"You like my boobs," she said.

"So did Harry Kim, and look what happened to him."

"I don't think you're going to be torn limb from limb by any strange aliens any time soon," Seven remarked.

"Make that never and I'll feel a little better," Kathryn said softly, and then smiled.

"Alright then, you'll never be torn limb from limb by anything. Is that better?"

"Yeah," Kathryn said. She scratched her nose. "There's the farmhouse."

**Shallow wounds from jovial swords
Such things from you that are adored.
Fire burning in passion's flame,
Singes the heartstrings but accounts no blame.**

"You want to keep walking?" Seven asked. Kathryn adjusted her sunglasses.

"We still have a few more hours before dark. Sure, why not?"

"We'll miss dinner. Marris will have a fit."

"Let her. We never get to be adventurous anymore."

"Somehow that always ends up in disaster." Kathryn burst out laughing at the comment.

"Don't remind me."

"Fortunately, we have the holodeck safeties," Seven said.

"A lot of good that does when the ship blows up."

"Marija's a good Captain, she'll keep that from happening," Seven came to the defense of their daughter. Kathryn made a disagreeing noise.

"Yes, but she's also busy watching over a baseball game right now," she pointed out.

"Always looking to the bad side, Kathryn," Seven said.

"What's the good side to the ship blowing up?" Kathryn said, gesturing with her right hand.

"There is no good point to that," Seven admitted.

"My point exactly. I didn't blow this ship up; Chakotay never blew it up. Why should Marija be the one who gets to?"

"Kathryn, don't get so worked up," Seven squeezed her arm. "No one is going to blow up the ship."

"They'd better not. We haven't gotten home yet."

"You're still thinking about that?"

"I have to," Kathryn sighed. "Marija may be in command, but deep down I'm still the Captain."

"You always will be."

"Starfleet would disagree. They'll probably disown me if we ever get back."

"I'll never disown you," Seven said seriously. Kathryn looked at her and nodded slightly. "You are my only reason for living, after all."

"Now don't get mushy on me," Kathryn swallowed.

"I was being honest."

"I know."

There was quiet again as they continued walking. The farmhouse receded behind them. Kathryn took Seven's hand in her own. She hummed in surprise, finding the metal unusually warm against the cool air.

"Something wrong?"

"No," Kathryn shook her head a bit. "Your hand is just warm."

"Should it be otherwise?" Seven looked at her curiously.

"I don't think so." Kathryn squinted. "I'm not sure what it should feel like though. Two holograms touching."

"I suppose it should feel alive," Seven thought out loud.

"Compared to what?"

"Compared to not feeling anything at all."

"I wonder if this is what it's like for the doctor," Kathryn said.

"You mean does he feel alive?"

"Perhaps. After all we are all just holograms. Do we feel alive the same way he does, or is it different because we know the difference? Because we know how it feels to be alive."

"This does feel alive, Kathryn," Seven paused in midstep. Kathryn continued to pace forward.

"Or does he feel alive because being a hologram is the only existence that he's ever known?" Kathryn stopped and turned around. Seven was looking at her sheepishly.

"Kathryn, I thought you said that you weren't going to get philosophical," she said after a moment.

"That's right. I'm sorry Seven."

"It's alright. I'll admit that I've thought the same thing before. But is there anything to it?"

"I suppose not. I remember being told once that it does no good to worry about things that are beyond your control." Kathryn beckoned Seven. "Come on."

"That is useful advice," Seven commented, following her down the road. "But we are unlike the Doctor, because we have no backup programs." Kathryn glanced sideways at her.

"Very true."

**No safety nets for us to cling
What fate can't supply, we shall bring
So we dance and skirt the things that ache
To save ourselves from sweet heartbreak.**

The road beneath their feet began to become more gravelly. Kathryn scuffed her heels loudly on the rocks. The sun was slipping behind them, just as the farmhouse had, and the road began to slowly slope downhill. After pulling her sunglasses off, Seven took Kathryn's hand again. She gestured down the road with the sunglasses.

"You know where this goes, don't you?"

"No idea," Kathryn shook her head.

Seven squinted. "What if its just one of those holographic roads that fades off into the sunset?"

"Then we won't have to worry about it. The sunset's behind us."

"You know what I mean. What if it never stops?"

"Then we just keep walking," Kathryn said.

"We just keep walking?" Seven echoed. Kathryn nodded slightly.

"You said you were bored," she smiled.

"Not quite that bored."

"Well, it's something to do. If we keep walking we might just end up right back where we started."

"That is an interesting thought."

Or, you may be right and by the time we finally give up and quit walking, we'll have great grandchildren."

"Don't get my hopes up," Seven said dryly.

"And then we could turn around and walk back."

"That is right, we do have to walk back," Seven said thoughtfully.

"Yep."

"Then I hope this road leads back to the farm."

"Party pooper," Kathryn said.

"But, if we have to walk back, Voyager may have reached home by the time we return."

"I'm sure someone would call us if that happened."

"True."

Kathryn rubbed the back of Seven's hand absently with her thumb. Seven froze in midstep. She looked down at their hands.

"Seven?" Kathryn's voice became worried. "Seven, what's wrong?"

"I... nothing, Kathryn," Seven swallowed hard, and looked back up at her. "Just don't do that."

"Do what?"

"You were just.. rubbing my hand with your thumb."

"I didn't realize that I was," Kathryn apologized. "But what's wrong with that?"

Seven blinked. "I would rather not explain."

"It's alright Seven, you can tell me." A frown was slowly spreading across Kathryn's face. "I won't tell anyone."

"It's not that," Seven said, her voice catching. "You..."

"Did I do something wrong?"

"No," Seven shook her head. "I mean, you couldn't have known. You weren't conscious."

Kathryn's brow furrowed. "When? What are you talking about Seven?"

Seven swallowed again, averting her eyes for a moment. Her wide-eyed gaze returned to Kathryn's concerned face.

"You did that when you died," Seven said, her voice cracking.

"Oh, Seven, I'm so sorry." Kathryn pulled her hand from Seven's and placed it on her arm. Seven jumped at the change of contact, as Kathryn's fingers grazed the implant on her right arm.

"It is alright, Kathryn," Seven whispered. "I didn't mean to get you upset."

"I'm not upset," Kathryn assured her. "Just worried about you."

Seven took a deep breath. "I am alright now."

"Okay," Kathryn said softly. She squeezed Seven's arm. They exchanged nods, and then started walking again.

**Stab the sword a little deeper
Let the cold rush from my soul
Nothing you've done has made me weaker
A benefit 'cause you want me whole.**

"I know you don't like to talk about it," Kathryn said after walking for a few minutes.

"Well, it is a painful thing for me to recall," Seven said roughly. "You didn't have to deal with it."

"I know."

"And it almost seems stupid to think about it now."

"Why is that?"

"Because why think about your death if you are no longer dead?"

"Technically so," Kathryn added.

"Yes."

"I see your point."

They walked on more. The sky began to flush in front of them. Their shadows grew longer on the road. Kathryn paused to pick up a rock.

"Are you hungry yet?" Seven asked as Kathryn tossed the rock ahead of them. It bounced to a stop.

"Not yet."

"What if I am?"

"I'm the one carrying the food," Kathryn pointed out.

"I could tackle you and steal the bag," Seven said.

Kathryn looked sideways at her. "You would, wouldn't you."

"I'm hungry," Seven said. Kathryn cast an impish grin at her.

"Tough, we're not stopping until I'm hungry," she said. Seven sighed in protest.

"Come on, Kathryn," she said.

"No!" Kathryn laughed, breaking into a run.

"Kathryn, get back here!" Seven cried out after her. She chased after Kathryn down the road. They got quite a distance before Seven finally caught up with her. She reached forward and snagged the bag , but her fingers slipped loose. Kathryn was thrown off balance and tumbled forward.

"Oof!" she cried, hitting the grass on the edge of the road. Seven slipped on the gravel and fell down a step after her.

"Well.." Seven gasped.

"Now seems like a good time to eat," Kathryn sighed loudly.

**Wash the water from the rivers
Let your long lost hair hang and dry
A smile on my face sends you shivers
I've always wanted for you to be mine.**

"See, I told you that we shouldn't have stopped to eat," Kathryn complained a few minutes later.

"What do you mean?"

"It's almost dark now. How are we going to keep from getting lost?"

Seven blinked thoughtfully. "I hadn't thought of that."

"Apparently not."

"But I was hungry!"

"I'll say, you hogged all the crackers."

"I'm the one who brought them."

Kathryn looked up from putting everything back into her bag. "No you didn't."

Seven shrugged, "What does it matter now?" She tucked some loose hairs back into her ponytail and squinted in the fading light.

"No, I suppose it doesn't matter." Kathryn slung her bag onto her back and rested her hands on her hips.

Seven ground her heel into the gravel. "So shall we continue?"

"Yeah... maybe the moon will come up before we have to stop."

"You mean we have to stay out here?"

"It *was* your idea, Seven," Kathryn pointed out. "But no, we can always zap ourselves back to the farm if we get attacked by wild goats or something."

"Wild goats..."

"But just in case," Kathryn dropped her hands from her hips. "Computer, two holo-lights." There was a beep, and a flashlight appeared in both of her hands.

"How clever of you," Seven smiled and accepted one of the flashlights from Kathryn.

"Thank you, m'dear," she said. They resumed walking, the sky blackening in front of them and bruising through its final shades of purple behind them. Kathryn seemed rufescent to keep the beam of the flashlight on the road, running it overhead and down through the grass on the side of the road.

"Kathryn, stop that," Seven complained after a few minutes.

"How am I supposed to see where I'm going with you waving your flashlight around like that?"

Kathryn paused for a moment. "That's why you have one too."

"Still, it doesn't help."

"What? It's my flashlight."

"I know. It's just..."

"Here, you want to hold mine too?" Kathryn held it out to her. Seven squinted.

"Ah! Kathryn, not in my eyes!"

Kathryn giggled. "Oops. Sorry about that." She aimed the flashlight down. "That better?"

"If I ever regain the ability to see, your butt is mine."

"Threaten me, threaten me," Kathryn laughed.

"Don't tempt me," Seven cried out, fumbling for a moment and then following Kathryn. "Give me your damn flashlight."

"You're not going to try and blind me, are you?" Kathryn asked as she handed Seven the flashlight.

"Only if I intend on getting even."

"Let me find my sunglasses then."

The dome of the sky had vanished now, replaced by an even layer of black. A few pinpricks of light shined overhead, but the moon had yet to rise. They continued forward, feet crunching on gravel, ears alert to the night sounds. Kathryn hooked her arm with Seven's, while the other woman held the flashlights steadily in front of her.

**Where you end is where I'm starting
Nothing left for us to hide
And while the past pains may still be smarting
My love is what's kept you going inside.**

They were quiet, and after awhile Kathryn glanced over in the darkness.

"What are you thinking about?"

Seven blinked and turned her head, "Hmm?"

"You look like you're thinking about something."

"Oh.. nothing really."

"I know that look... something's rattling around in that pretty little head of yours for sure."

"Kathryn, you can barely see my face. How can you make such an observation in the dark?"

She shrugged, "I just can. So what is it?"

"Well... I was thinking about us, really."

"I'm honored."

Seven smiled thinly. "You should be."

"What about us?" Kathryn asked, inclining her head toward Seven's.

"Nothing recent. Mainly things that happened... a long time ago."

"How long ago?"

"When I first came on board Voyager..."

"Mm hmm..."

"Kathryn?"

"Yes?"

"Why don't you ever sing anymore?" Seven looked at Kathryn innocently. She pursed her lips at stared back.

"Because I don't really have much of a singing voice," Kathryn admitted.

"I thought you did."

"You don't have much to compare to though," Kathryn pointed out.

"Perhaps. But I still appreciate your singing."

"You couldn't have heard me singing more than that one time..." Kathryn looked at Seven suspiciously.

"Then I'll assume that you're just serenading the curtains in the shower."

"Seven! I do not sing in the shower."

"Then who is in there with you?"

"No one. I don't remember ever singing."

"Ah, but I do. You just must not be thinking about it."

"What do I sing about?" Kathryn asked, her voice tinged with curiosity.

"Oh, this and that," Seven said slowly. She nudged Kathryn with her elbow. "A lot of that some mornings."

"Is that so..."

"Once you sang about a spot on the wall."

"What spot?"

"I'm not sure.. all I remember hearing had to do with it being shaped like Marija's tattoo."

"So this was a recent thing," Kathryn laughed.

"Yes. It was about two weeks ago, I believe."

"Well thank you for letting me know."

"You're welcome. Although I will admit I didn't know that Marija has a tattoo."

"Yes, she does," Kathryn nodded. "It's on the inside of her right knee."

"What is it shaped liked?"

"It's a diamond.. with three interlocking circles overlapping it."

Seven hummed thoughtfully. "How could a spot be shaped like that?"

"I don't know, it just was."

"And this spot was worth singing about?"

"It must've been," Kathryn smiled.

"Why don't you sing about me?" Seven looked at her again, moving the flashlights some.

"I do... just softly enough so you don't hear."

"And why is that?"

A grin began to spread across Kathryn's face. "Because you already know all of the good parts." Seven chuckled, and Kathryn pointed ahead of them. "Look."

Just above the far-distant tree-line the moon was beginning to show itself. It was nearly full and shined out to them with its massive grin. Already the darkness of the night seemed a little less intense. Seven flicked off one of the flashlights, and handed it back to Kathryn.

"Maybe we won't need this one either after awhile," she said.

Kathryn shifted the bag to one shoulder and stuck the flashlight in. "Maybe. If we're lucky."

"Lucky?"

"Yes... I've always thought that walking in the moonlight was very romantic."

"I knew that. I didn't know that it had anything to do with luck though."

"Depends on how you look at it," Kathryn said, returning her arm to Seven's.

As the moon rose the road slowly turned away from it. After awhile it ran parallel to the woods, although the tree-line didn't seem to come any closer. The gravel thinned out into dirt as the ground began to become more rolling. The road went higher and higher as the minutes passed, and the night air become cooler. Kathryn shivered briefly.

"Are you cold?" Seven asked.

"Not really," Kathryn said. "Just not too used to it being this chilly."

"I am cold," Seven admitted dully.

"We can have the computer call you up a jacket or something."

"No." Seven shook her head. "If you can stand being a little cold, then so can I."

"Well I don't need you getting sick," Kathryn chided her. Seven snorted and glanced at Kathryn, but didn't comment.

After another twenty minutes they reached the top of a high hill. The tree-line was much closer now, and the moon high overhead. Despite the lack of light, Kathryn shaded her eyes as they took in the scene laying below them.

**You feel what I feel when you open your eyes
The past leaves nothing on us
Today has become our prize
Listen to the truth it goes as thus:**

"How far do you think we've gone?" Seven asked. Kathryn shrugged.

"No idea. It could have been ten miles, it could have been twenty."

"The scenery is quite appealing," commented Seven thoughtfully. There was a nod from the other woman. Below them the ground slipped away for several miles, passing the tree-line, and coming to a stop at the edge of a distant body of water. Moonlight bathed everything in its pristine glow, reflecting on the water.

"Want to walk to the water?" Kathryn asked.

"We've come this far, might as well."

So down the hill they went, the world reinventing itself with every passing moment. Kathryn breathed deeply and watched with peculiar delight as her breath fogged on the night air.

"I wonder if a storm is coming," she said absently. Seven looked at her.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, the sudden change in temperature."

"That usually happens when the sun goes down," Seven said wryly. Kathryn chuckled.

"True, but what I meant... what I meant was that this is the first really cold night we've had on the holodeck."

"Since we've been here."

"Yes... since we've been here."

"I believe you are right. But I fail to see how that would account for a storm."

Kathryn shrugged. "I'm not sure... maybe just a cold front."

"Or the ship's systems could be malfunctioning again."

"That too. Quit taking the fun out of everything."

Seven smiled thinly, "I'll try harder, Kathryn."

"I bet you will," Kathryn smiled back. She breathed deeply again, feeling her nose tingle. "This almost reminds me of when I was a kid growing up in Indiana."

"How so?"

"The way the seasons changed... summer didn't last too long before it started getting cold."

Seven made a face. "Will it become colder here?"

"Oh yes, I'm sure it will," Kathryn nodded. "It always gets a little colder, no matter where you are. Except maybe Vulcan and Hawaii." Seven still didn't seem convinced.

"I didn't like being cold the first time I went through it on the holodeck," she pointed out.

"Oh, it won't be so bad," Kathryn grinned. "We'll get you all nice and bundled up, and you can snuggle with me."

"That sounds promising," Seven replied lightly.

"I knew you would think so."

Seven shivered as she watched Kathryn's heavy breathing. "Why are you doing that?"

"Doing what?"

"Breathing like that."

"Oh." Kathryn smiled. "It's invigorating."

"It's bad enough that I'm cold on the outside, being cold on the inside can't help."

"After that you can only get warmer."

Seven opened her mouth to protest, but stopped. "That made no sense whatsoever."

"Must be the cold air," came the grinning reply. Seven sighed. "Just try it."

"I don't want to," Seven shook her head.

"Come on, you said that if I could be cold, than you could too."

"Yes, but I didn't mean voluntarily."

Kathryn looked at her mischievously. "If I punch you in the stomach then you'll have to."

"Kathryn! Don't!" Seven looked shocked. Kathryn laughed.

"I won't Seven, I promise."

"I know you wouldn't, but that's still an unusual suggestion coming from you."

Kathryn just smiled in reply.

**A long long time ago, someone once said
"If I can't live with you, then I'd rather be dead."
And so when you were gone I had to go too.
Because I made that promise and I kept it for you.**

They were nearly to the lake now: the slight sound of waves breaking the shore could be hear. But the night was fairly still here, so the waves weren't too large. As they came to a rock Kathryn dropped the bag off her shoulders, and rested in on the stone's smooth surface.

"What are you doing now?" Seven wondered.

Kathryn tilted her head. "I'll race you."

"Race me? To where?"

"To the edge of the water."

Seven squinted at the lake. "Alright, it's not too far."

"Good." Kathryn smiled. "Ready... set.. go!"

They bolted at the same time, somehow reaching the water's edge within footsteps of each other. Kathryn managed to stop, giddy with laughter, but Seven tumbled forward. She hit the water with a splash, and came up sputter. Her voice echoed shrilly in the night air.

"My God! This water is cold!"

"What did you expect?" Kathryn laughed, clutching her stomach. Seven flailed in the water for a moment, laying on her back. Then she stopped.

"Very cold.."

"Seven, are you alright?" Kathryn smiled down at her. Seven nodded absently.

"Being cold isn't too bad, now that I think about it."

"You must be in shock then," Kathryn sighed. "Let me help you out."

"No, wait.. I wanna swim around."

"Seven! You'll catch your death of cold."

"That was a real smart thing to say, Kathryn," Seven smiled, wiggling her feet.

"I know, I know. It's not likely staying in that water is very intelligent though. I'm sure you can catch a holographic cold."

"A computer virus," Seven said drily. She pushed herself through the water, drifting further away from shore.

"Don't think I'm going to come in there after you," Kathryn called. "I'd just as soon zap myself back to our room and take a nice warm shower."

"Fine, leave me here," Seven laughed.

"I will," Kathryn called in challenge. Seven rolled over in the water, splashing.

She pulled her head out of the water and gasped for air. "How cold do you think this water is?"

"Very cold, I'd imagine."

"Indeed," Seven said softly.

"Maybe I could use a hot shower instead."

Seven was quiet for a moment. Then: "My toes are numb."

"That's just the water."

"Just the water? What do you mean?"

"Oh come on, Seven, you know what cold water does to a human body."

"True.. I didn't imagine it would sting like that though."

"I have plenty of experience in that field."

Seven continued to drift off. "Oh?"

"Yeah.. I used to be the dumb kid who fell through the ice on the pond."

"I could never imagine you like that," Seven admitted. Kathryn smiled.

"It's hard for me to imagine myself, to tell the truth."

"Then why bring it up?"

"It seemed relevant."

Seven breathed deeply, splashing for a moment as she moved to stand in the water.

"You were right."

"How's that?"

"The cold... it is fairly invigorating."

"I'm glad you think so."

"Strange thing to be glad about."

Kathryn shrugged, and sat down. She watched Seven move around in the terribly cold lake for what seemed like hours, but what couldn't have been for more than a few minutes. Finally Kathryn found herself beginning to shiver. Seven hadn't spoken for the past minute or so, and Kathryn cleared her throat. She rubbed her arms as she called.

"Come on Seven, I think you've been in there long enough."

"Just a few more minutes..."

"No, you'll get purple, and I don't need that."

"I want to see what it feels like to be completely numb."

"Seven!"

There was a pause. "Just kidding."

"I would hope so." Kathryn pushed herself to her feet. "Come on Seven."

Seven seemed to consider it. "On one condition."

"What's that?"

"I get to share that hot shower."

A new smile broke onto Kathryn's face. "It's a deal." Seven paddled closer to the shore. "Come on, it's time to go." With a slight nod Seven emerged from the water, like Aphrodite from the sea. Kathryn chuckled and extended her hand.

**And so I promise again on this night of truth
The speed of no silence could quiet we two.
And so now split my wrists on the jovial swords.
To share the blood of my one most adored.**

Seven grasped Kathryn's hand, curling her cold fingers around the others. Kathryn lead Seven back up to the rock, where she picked up the bag and tossed it onto her free shoulder. They walked back up to where the path started again, and started back. The moon glowed coolly on their backs.

"Kathryn?"

"Hmm..."

"I think I'm missing a shoe."

Laughter echoed over the empty landscape, spilling out into the dark and silent corridors of the scene... dissipating to rejoin with its source... only to begin again...

The End