Chapter 3 added on 18 April 2001
Disclaimers are in part 1.
Rating: NC17
Walking toward the turbolift, Torres contacted Engineering. "Torres to Vorik."
"Yes, Lieutenant?"
"You can start the repairs now. There shouldn't be any further problems once the circuit boards are replaced. I'll join you as soon as I run an errand."
"Acknowledged."
Tapping her comm. badge once to close the channel, Torres made an enquiry. "Computer, what is the location of Seven of Nine?"
--Seven of Nine is in Sickbay
Torres entered the 'lift and said, "Deck five."
As she entered Sickbay, Torres was disappointed to find only the Doctor. She noticed that the EMH was busy poring over the design schematics of a Borg cortical node.
"Hey Doc, where's Seven? The computer said she was here."
The Doctor looked up from his study to reply, "You just missed her. I take it this isn't a business call? You and the baby are fine?"
"No, we're great. A little tired, but it is 0400. What are you doing?"
"Cramming for a test," he ground out, slightly frustrated.
With a look of confusion, Torres asked, "What are you talking about?"
"I'm not at liberty to say."
"I'm getting damn tired of that answer," Torres growled.
The Doctor looked intently at the slightly miffed Chief Engineer of the starship Voyager. Knowing he was in a bind, the Doctor tried to think of a way to garner the help of the brilliant engineer without violating his ethical subroutines. He realized that her skills would be an invaluable asset in solving his current predicament, namely helping his favorite patient reach the full scope of her humanity. He stared intently into the dark eyes of the engineer until she grew uncomfortable. Then he simply stated, "Doctor/patient confidentiality," knowing, of course, that the smart Lieutenant would figure it out.
Both of Torres' eyebrows shot way up her forehead. What just happened here? B'Elanna thought to herself. She quickly put the pieces together. She knew that Seven was just in Sickbay. She also knew that the Doctor was immersing himself in the design specs for a Borg cortical node and that the Borglings were worried about Seven. With the Doctor stating that he couldn't discuss why he was looking at blueprints of a cortical node due to doctor/patient confidentiality, she immediately reached the obvious conclusion. Seven was sick. The thought made her hearts clinch, and she wondered why that was. She didn't care about Seven. Or did she?
Watching the thoughts fly across her face, the Doctor knew when she reached her conclusion. Staring back at her, he silently confirmed her suspicions. Since Torres was, perhaps, the second most intelligent person on board-after Seven- she also realized that the Doctor would not even have told her as much as he had unless he needed her help and wasn't allowed to ask for it.
Though the exchange was silent, Torres' answer was not.
"I'll do what I can." Then she left Sickbay with a determined stride.
To be continued....