Part 12 added on 21 March 2001
Disclaimers are in part 1.
Rating: PG13
Tom led Seven to the opposite side of the messhall from B'Elanna and the Captain, he may have been surprised by his ex's apology, but that didn't mean he was fooling himself into believing she wouldn't try something at the next opportunity. Seeing him in an intimate discussion with her replacement for his affections would be just what she needed to send her into a Klingon rage, possibly resulting in further damage to his precious face.
Seven was more interested in why B'Elanna had suddenly decided to apologise to the helmsman than in what the man wanted to discuss, although she did hope it wasn't a further attempt to engage her in a romantic affiliation. If that were the case she planned on setting him straight and informing him she was already involved with the fiery half Klingon, and that it would be advisable for him to refrain from further flirtatious behaviour, as B'Elanna was likely to cause him severe physical pain if he did not.
"I'm glad we've finally got this chance to talk alone." Tom began as soon as he judged they were out of earshot of the other messhall patrons. "Although I will admit the setting lack the ambience I would have preferred." Here he inserted his patented schoolboy grin.
"Our location is immaterial Ensign, what is it you wish to speak to me about?" Seven's voice was clinical, lacking any trace of emotion.
Tom incorrectly surmised Seven's lack of warmth was due to her nervousness about the future of their relationship, and he secretly found it quite charming that the young woman was so effected by the possibility of his rejection. Still he didn't want her to worry unnecessarily, especially as she might then go crying to the Captain, and land him in more trouble with the mother hen. "I spoke with Captain Janeway this morning."
"I see." Seven knew that the Captain had been made aware of her relationship with B'Elanna and so presumed she had informed Mr Paris.
"From what the Captain said I got the impression you were taking the relationship seriously, is that so?"
"I.." Seven wasn't sure if she should be discussing her feelings for B'Elanna with Paris, but human mating rituals were so complex she was unsure. The fact was she wanted to tell people how much she cared for the other woman, and even if Tom wasn't the ideal candidate for revealing such things, she still couldn't stop herself from telling the truth. "Yes I am taking this very seriously."
"Good." 'I knew she was in love with me' his inner voice cried, but seeing the unsure look that crossed the pale features at his response, he thought Seven might still be unsure of his feelings. "I'm really glad you're taking things seriously, love is a precious thing, not to be taken lightly."
"Indeed." A beautiful smile captures Seven's face, making her seem younger and more filled with life. "I would never take our love lightly." A rosy blush suffused her cheeks as she realised this was the first time she had admitted that it was indeed love she felt for B'Elanna, and that she'd ascribed the same feeling to the amazing half Klingon.
"I want you to know how happy that's made me." The endearing smile that accompanied the words was not totally fake, Tom had been surprisingly touched by the level of feeling the blonde expressed, and even began to wonder if in time he could share those feelings.
"It does?" Seven was still suspicious of his sudden support for her relationship with B'Elanna, she would have thought after being dumped he would hold some resentment against the person who took his place in the Klingon's affections.
"Yes Seven it does." Stepping slightly closer Tom laid a hand on Seven's shoulder. "I don't want you to ever doubt how happy that has made me."
Seven just nodded, unsure how to answer and slightly worried that if Ensign Paris didn't soon withdraw his hand a rather tense looking half Klingon engineer would race across the messhall and remove it for him.
"I'm sorry but I have to go now, duty calls and all that." Tom withdrew his hand and plastered on an apologetic look. "Perhaps if you are free tonight we could continue our discussion?"
"I'm afraid that is impossible Ensign." Seven informed him, failing to mention she also didn't see the point of further contact. "If testing progresses as scheduled I will be required in engineering, to monitor the false visual data for our escape from the sun's corona."
"Of course." A gleam entered Tom's eye as he remembered the Captain's idea of a party to celebrate their eventual release from the sun's protection. "But then we do have the party Mr Neelix is organising to look forward to. The soft music and slow dancing is a perfect time for lovers, I am sure you will enjoy it."
For once Seven also thought she would enjoy a social function, the idea of dancing that close to B'Elanna was conjuring up some very pleasant feelings throughout the ex-Borg's body. "I am sure you are right."
"Err.." The look that for a moment crossed Seven's features was enough to steal the words from Tom's mouth, and make him anxious for the parties arrival and his chance to fulfil whatever fantasies the young blonde was currently imagining. "I really have to go."
"Goodbye Ensign."
"Bye Seven, and please call me Tom." Charming smile number three, and Tom headed for a cold shower before his scheduled piloting lesson.
*
Back at the table B'Elanna watched the two like a hawk, waiting for any sign that the helmsman was bothering Seven. Her watchfulness wasn't missed by Kathryn, who was keeping her own eye on the pair, but she did want to distract the young woman before she did something silly, like attacking Tom for standing too close.
"I was pleased to see you apologise to Ensign Paris, it shows a level of maturity more in keeping with your position as chief engineer." Kathryn hoped the reminder of B'Elanna's responsible post would also help to keep her temper under control.
"Thank you Captain." B'Elanna tore her eyes away from Seven and helmboy to concentrate on Janeway, not that she really wanted to but it would be impolite to do otherwise, and that last thing she needed was to anger the Captain. "I realise my striking him was wrong," 'but enjoyable', "and I will try to act more professionally in future."
"I'm glad to hear that." Kathryn reached out and placed a hand over B'Elanna's fist as it bunched on the table. "I know it must be hard, seeing the two of them together, and worrying that he might hurt her."
"Yes." Smiling at the Captain, B'Elanna felt some of her tension ease, it was unlikely Tom would try anything here, not with Janeway only a few metres away. "It's silly really, if there's one person on the ship who can protect themselves, it's Seven, but..." Her words trailed off as still fresh images of the weeping blonde replayed in her mind.
"Physically yes, but emotionally she's more vulnerable than anyone I know." Her own fears provoked Kathryn looked over to satisfy herself that the young ex-drone was okay. "I don't think Tom kissed her to be cruel, he just doesn't think."
"His stupidity isn't much comfort when she's crying her eyes out." B'Elanna's voice rose, and her eyes once again sought out Seven, only to find the helmsman's hand on her. "The P'taq, he can't keep his hands to himself."
"Easy Lieutenant." A steel tone entered Kathryn's voice in an attempt to keep B'Elanna seated. "If the two of you are going to proceed with your relationship you will have to learn to control your temper."
"I know."
"B'Elanna, look at me!" Kathryn tugged at the younger woman's hand. "Seven is quite capable of telling him no. If she is as committed to your relationship as you maintain she won't let Tom near enough to upset her." Her confusion over exactly who Seven was dating had been calmed on seeing the two women together, Kathryn still intended to talk with the young blonde, but for now she was satisfied it was B'Elanna, and not Tom, Seven was interested in.
"Yeah, I guess." B'Elanna still found it difficult to control her instinct to protect the young woman, but even Seven had suggested she could more easily deal with Tom by the simple expedience of ignoring him. To clear her mind, and because the conversation between the other pair seemed to be coming to a close, she decided to mention something that had been on her mind for a while now. "Captain, there was something I wanted to discuss with you, in regards to Seven."
"What is that?"
"Well I know you've been helping Seven regain her humanity, but I believe there is one aspect of that which you have failed to address." B'Elanna made sure to soften her tone, she knew Janeway took her role as Seven's guardian seriously and wouldn't like being told she'd made a mistake.
"And what would that be Lieutenant?" A certain stiffness had entered her voice, but Kathryn tried to remain open.
"Seven's lack of quarters, of privacy."
"She has Cargo Bay 2." Her tone was slightly defensive.
"I know that Captain, but anyone can just walk in there while she's regenerating, and there's not a damn thing she can do about it." B'Elanna noticed Tom leaving and wanted to finish this before Seven returned to the table. "If she had her own quarters her privacy would be guaranteed, or at least as much as anyone else onboard."
"You have a point." Kathryn turned to see Seven approaching. "Once we're away from this sun I will talk with her about it, and accept any proposal you or Seven might have concerning the construction."
"Thank you Captain." B'Elanna smiled up as Seven arrived back at the table. "Hi."
"Hello." The two younger women shared a fond smile.
"If you're both finished with your meal I suggest we all get back to work." Janeway interrupted. "I don't know about you, but I'm anxious to have the testing finished and get out from behind this failing star."
"Yeah, we should get on." B'Elanna agreed.
"Yes." Seven added, her tone more animated than usual. "I am looking forward to being once again on our way to the Alpha quadrant."
Janeway smiled warmly at her young protégé, thinking she had finally grasped the crews desire to return home, when infact the only desire Seven had grasped was the one to dance with B'Elanna at Neelix's party. Without any further talk the three women departed for their various work stations, one on the Bridge and two down in Engineering.
*
Having calmed his libido thanks to the old fashioned remedy of an ice cold shower, Tom made his way to the Delta Flyer's hanger and his duty as piloting instructor, the fact that he was now twenty minutes late failing to register.
Unfortunately his tardiness had been registered by the four pilot trainees who, already dissatisfied with his teaching methods, had decided to confront him about his slipshod teaching. Once again Neelix was the one chosen to speak for the group, but unlike last time the Talaxian no longer felt awkward about approaching his friend. The hours spent following useless training regimes or waiting around for Tom to finally show up had gone a long way to souring his opinion of the helmsman, but what had proven the final straw was Tom's relationship with Seven. As half of a self appointed team of guardian angels, Neelix was very protective of the young former drone, and his feelings manifested themselves in uncharacteristic hostility towards Paris and his cavalier attitude.
"Right, lets get on shall we?" Tom asked in a jovial manner, failing as usual to notice their sullen disposition.
"Before we do I'd like to have a word, if you don't mind?" Neelix inserted before Paris could disappear inside the Delta Flyer.
"Well time is pressing Neelix." At this totally thoughtless remark Tom was lucky not to have been decapitated by Porter, the most agitated of the trainees, who was seriously contemplating throwing the spanner he was holding at Tom's head.
"I realise that, but this is important." Neelix's voice had taken on a tone of command that most would not have believed him capable.
"Fine." Tom walked to the side of the hanger, followed closely by Neelix and at a more seemly distance the other three trainees. "So what is it you wanted Neelix, we really don't have the time for any more delays."
"I am aware of that." The furry Talaxian tried stretching himself to his full height, but even doing so he failed to convey the menace he was aiming at. "If we are to be ready for the Captain's plan to evade the three.."
"Oh, apparently that'll take place sometime this evening, according to Seven." Tom supplied helpfully.
"This evening!" Neelix looked round frantically at his fellow pilots in training, there was no way any of them would be ready to perform complex flight manoeuvres by the evening. "We're not ready." He almost pleaded.
"Don't put yourselves down." Tom reassured blithely. "It's not as if anyone expects you to be as good as me."
"But how are we expected to perform adequately by this evening?"
"What?" Tom seemed puzzled for a moment. "Oh, no. You won't be doing any of the flying, well unless the plan fails and there're casualties. Even then it's unlikely."
"But I thought that's what we've been training for? To helm the Flyer and Voyager in the upcoming escape."
"Well originally we had planned on using you as the reserve pilots in the escape plan, but then the plan changed." Tom said this as though it was common knowledge, when in truth the details of the plan were known to only a few and he had been expected to pass on the information to those under him. "Didn't I mention that?"
"No you didn't." Neelix was considering letting Porter strangle Tom for worrying him.
"So you see there's nothing for you to worry about." With a friendly smile Tom was about to head on back to the Delta Flyer when a thought struck him. "You're in charge of the party for after our escape aren't you?"
"Yes, but I don't see what that has..."
"Great." Tom stepped in closer to the angry Talaxian. "I plan on the party being a very special occasion for Seven and me, and I could do with your help."
"Help?" Some of Neelix's anger was transformed into curiosity and dread as he heard Seven's name.
"I need to know some of the details of what you have planned, lighting, music and such." Tom had been formulating a plan for proposing to Seven all morning, and after her confessions in the messhall he thought the sooner he did it the better. "It's going to be a night Seven will never forget."
"I.." Neelix was unsure of what to say, Tom's words had provoked thoughts he would rather not have had, all he was sure of was that he needed to speak with the Doctor about this latest development.
"We'd best not talk here." Looking over Tom finally managed to see the impatience clearly displayed on the faces of his other trainees. "I think the others are anxious to get on. I'll visit you later this evening to work out the details." With that he departed for the Delta Flyer.
"So?" Porter demanded as he came up to join a still troubled Neelix.
"Huh?"
"What did he say?" Claire joined in.
"Is he going to resign?" York piped up in excitement.
"I don't know." Neelix mumbled, his mind far away from their training concerns. "I need to see the Doctor."
"Are you ill?" Claire asked in concern, she wasn't quite sure but she thought he'd gone a funny colour, then again that could be normal.
"No, I...It's Seven."
"Seven? What about her?" Claire persisted.
"I'm sorry, I have to see the Doctor." Neelix began moving rapidly towards the exit. "Tell Tom, tell him I suddenly felt sick." With that he left.
"So do you think he told Paris?" York asked, Neelix's odd behaviour having failed to derail him from what he saw as the main concern.
"I don't know." Claire sighed. "I wish I knew what he meant about Seven though."
"That was odd." Porter agreed, but like York his main concern was Paris's abilities as a trainer. "I just hope Mr 'I know everything' Paris has improved after Neelix's little talk, otherwise I'll have to introduce him to the end of my fist."
With nods of agreement the three made their way to the Delta Flyer.
*
In engineering B'Elanna and Seven had been working diligently on finishing the final tests for the false visual data. The Borg cloak had been successfully modified to emit a stream of false data that would disguise Voyager as a chunk of hurtling sola matter, while a set of photon torpedoes had been programmed to detonate close enough to the sun's surface to produce a chain reaction that would result in a burst of sola activity and a bombardment of matter throughout the system. Having completed their separate tasks the two women gathered in B'Elanna's rarely used office to await the final results from the various departments, if positive it would mean the escape plan could be put into immediate effect.
"What was the variance on the secondary manifold?" B'Elanna enquired as she began tapping figures into a padd.
"0.0016."
"Good." More figures were input. "What do you think the stress level of the primary junction will be?"
"If you wait for Ensign Taylor to bring you the results in approximately nine minutes, you will have the accurate figures." Seven reasoned, she thought it inefficient to speculate about the results when informed data would soon be available.
"Couldn't you just guess?" B'Elanna asked in exasperation, she didn't like having to wait like this.
"I could." Seven allowed. "But I won't."
Looking at the ultra calm ex-Borg B'Elanna let a smile cross her face. "You know, despite how I feel about you, you can still be really annoying."
"Indeed." The tiny smile on full lips reassured B'Elanna that Seven hadn't taken offence.
"The big difference is I no longer want to strangle you." Smiling and moving closer B'Elanna lowered her voice. "Instead I'd much prefer to kiss you."
"As would I." Seven looked towards their security watchdog. "Although I fear now would be inappropriate."
"Yeah you're probably right."
"There is something I wished to ask you." Seven began. "Why did you apologise to Ensign Paris, I thought you were unrepentant over your actions?"
"I was, but after you left last night I did some thinking, and you were right, I should have just ignored him." A satisfied smile covered B'Elanna's lips. "Although I will admit that I enjoyed thumping him, but the repercussions are too high, and so to make sure they didn't get any higher I decided to apologise, infront of the Captain."
"I don't understand."
"Well according to Federation law Paris has the right to bring formal charges against me for attacking him. Considering the way he feels about me at the moment I didn't want to take any chances, so by apologising infront of Janeway I made it almost impossible for him lay charges without appearing vindictive to his superior." B'Elanna's smile had by this time turned into one of smug satisfaction. "This way I guarantee we won't be kept apart for any longer than we have to."
"Acceptable."
"Now it's my turn to ask a question."
"I had not realise we were taking them in turn," Seven mused, "but go ahead."
"What was it helmboy wanted to talk to you about this morning?" Then remembering she had no actual right to the contents of Seven's private conversations added. "If it's not too private."
"He informed me that the Captain had explained our relationship, and that he was please for me." Seven couldn't keep the puzzled look from her face.
"Did you believe him?" To B'Elanna it sounded highly unlikely.
"On reflection I doubt the content of his words, but he did seem sincere when he said them." Seven replayed their conversation in her mind. "Whether he was being truthful or not is of little importance Ensign Paris is insignificant."
"You're right, again." With a cheeky smile she added. "Now are you sure you don't want to guess at the stress level of the primary junction?"
With a raised ocular implant Seven went to see if she could find Ensign Taylor. Fifteen minutes later all the results had been collected and Captain Janeway was advised that the plan was now ready for execution. She immediately called a senior staff meeting.
*
Slightly out of breath Neelix rushed into sickbay, his sudden appearance causing the Doctor to speculate that a major trauma was on its way at the very least.
"Mr Neelix, what's wrong?"
"It's Seven." Neelix panted, he just wasn't used to running that fast and began to think he should have just walked.
"What about her? Is she hurt badly?" The EMH was beginning to show signs of panic.
"She's fine." He took a deep breath. "I'm sorry if I alarmed you, to my knowledge Seven's perfectly well. I'm here because of Tom and what he.."
"What has he done? Did he hurt her?" The Doctor's panic was slow to recede.
"He hasn't done anything, yet." Neelix soothed. "If you'll let me, I'll tell you why I'm here."
"Yes of course."
"You know of the planned celebration for after we, hopefully, evade those enemy ships?"
"Yes." Puffing up his chest unnecessarily the Doctor added. "I have expanded my programing to include several new forms of dance, and..."
"Good, good." Neelix cut him off, all too familiar with the Doctors love of talking about himself. "Anyway Tom has just approached me about making certain arrangements for the evening, I'm not sure what they are yet, he is going to meet me later today to go over them, but I do know one thing, they concern Seven."
"Concern her in what way?" The Doctor couldn't as yet see why the other man appeared so distressed.
"Well according to Tom he's going to make it a night Seven will never forget." Lowering his voice he added. "A special night for the both of them."
"That could mean anything." The Doctor dismissed before his imagination started working overtime. "But a special night does imply something big, something they haven't done before."
"Special for the both of them." Neelix added, waiting to see if the EMH came to the same conclusion he had.
"It could be any number of things." His words failing to reassure even himself, the Doctor turned a worried look on his friend. "He's gonna try and, and."
"Sleep with her." Neelix supplied solemnly.
"That's disastrous."
"Terrible."
"We have to stop it."
"But," Neelix didn't really want to raise this point but felt he had to, "what if Seven wants to sleep with him? Do we have the right to interfere in her decisions?"
"I suppose," The Doctor began agitatedly pacing around sickbay as he fought with his conscience, "I suppose ultimately the decision is Seven's, but that doesn't mean we can't offer her some guidance."
"It would only be right." Neelix agreed. "What about Tom? Perhaps we should have a word with him too?"
"Hmm, maybe we could point out to him the consequences of rushing someone like Seven." An evil gleam entered the holograms eye. "It might even be prudent to explain exactly how her friends might react to her being hurt." Here the Doctor picked up a nearby sonic scalpel and began twirling it in his fingers.
Neelix gulped audible, "That should do the trick."