Lullaby
Janeway had never regretted being a hands-on Captain until the power blew out on Deck 9 and the ship lurched to port, throwing her against the wall of a Jeffries tube near the deuterium tanks. Her hand went quickly to where her communicator should have been, but it had apparently skittered away into the darkness. The Captain groaned as she hunched over and tucked her knees to her chest.
“Are you all right, Seven?” She asked, calling out into the darkness towards the young woman’s last location.
“I am undamaged.” Seven replied. “Hold your position.”
The Captain heard the metallic clink of Seven’s left hand as the taller woman crawled towards her. Janeway sighed. The ship had been attacked by two Borg spheres, and though no one was seriously injured, the primary systems had taken quite a beating. Every crew member with any engineering skills had to help with repairs so that Voyager could get underway as quickly as possible.
“Captain?” Seven called.
“Here, Seven.” She gasped as Seven’s fingers accidentally brushed against her arm and nearly sent a shiver of delight through her body.
“Are you cold, Captain?”
“No, I’m fine... what happened?”
“Lieutenant Paris reports that Crewman Chell ‘got his wires crossed’ at the same time that Ensign Boylan decided to ‘rev’ the warp core.”
The Captain couldn’t help but smile. “I wonder what B’Ellana said to that?”
“She informed Crewman Chell that his mother had the intelligence and sexual preferences of a drunken targ.”
Janeway burst into seismic laughter, reveling in the feeling and relaxing in Seven’s company. She hadn’t had any free time to spend with the young woman for the past few weeks, and she had wondered how she was doing. Janeway had found herself missing Seven’s dry humor, her earnestness, even her infuriating tendency to be so unerringly right about everything. The Captain wondered how Seven could be so insufferable and acrimonious one day, and then so easy to get along with the next.
Janeway had to admit that she’d felt bereft without Seven’s company. Lately she had even begun daydreaming of Seven’s half-smiles, the cupid bow of the young woman’s lips, the delicate beauty in her features, and the deep Armageddon blue of her eyes.
“Captain…”
“Yes, Seven?”
“I would like to engage in a philosophical discussion with you as soon as it is convenient.” Seven stated.
“What about?”
Janeway waited for a reply, her curiosity growing stronger as the silence lengthened in the darkness. She was about to repeat the question when she felt Seven’s hand tenderly cover her own. The Captain could not stop herself from trembling this time.
“Captain, I…”
The voice of Voyager’s youngest crew member suddenly broke into the air between them, calling out Seven’s name. Janeway felt the rush of cool air above her hand as Seven moved to answer the hail immediately.
“Naomi Wildman, what is wrong?” Seven asked, her voice surprisingly tender.
The Captain heard the unmistakable sound of poorly-masked sniffling and could imagine the tears on the little girl’s face.
“Naomi Wildman…” Seven repeated.
“Never mind, Seven. I’m being stupid.” Naomi said. “You’ll think that I’m a baby.”
“I have never doubted your intellectual capabilities or the appropriate rate of your development.” Seven stated firmly. “If something has saddened you, it is not ‘stupid’.”
“I woke up to get a glass of Uttaberry-Apple juice from the replicator and then all the lights went out. And then I kept calling for Mommy and she didn’t come, and Neelix isn’t answering my hails.” Naomi cried. “Seven, I’m scared. I don’t want to be alone. Can you come here for a while?”
“We are repairing the damage to the ship.” Seven replied soothingly. “Your mother is no doubt absorbed by added duties related to our efforts. Neelix is also occupied with repairs to the plasma conduits.”
“Oh.” The little K’tarian sighed.
“You must stand up and return to your bed.” Seven said. “And tuck yourself in. Your mother will return quickly.”
“Seven… will you sing to me?”
The Captain raised her eyebrows in surprise, wishing she could see the expression on Seven’s face. Did she even know how to sing?
“Please, Seven?” The K’tarian girl pleaded.
“What would you like me to sing?” Seven asked.
“Our song.” Naomi replied. “You know I can’t sleep if you don’t sing it.”
Seven took an audible breath, and the Captain was startled when she felt the young Borg’s hand cradle hers once more. Seven’s voice floated through the Jeffries Tube, low and tender as a caress.
You must sleep serenely
Sweetly rest in my arms
I will guard you and keep you
From all pain and all harm
And when you feel small and weary
Remember that I am never far
I will hold you, close enfold you
I will follow you through the stars
Though the way to Earth is difficult
And our ship has far to travel
We have so much time to laugh
So many mysteries to unravel
And when you feel small and weary
Remember that I am never far
I will hold you, close enfold you
I will follow you through the stars
Softly, gently I will hold you
As you slumber so deep
And the dreams of tomorrow
In my heart I will keep
And when you feel small and weary
Remember that I am never far
I will hold you, close enfold you
I will follow you through the stars
Seven’s arm went round the Captain’s shoulders tentatively.
“I love you.”
“I love you too, Seven.” Naomi replied. "Good night."