Blood

By Wyldchilde

Disclaimer: This is a non-profit piece of fanfiction written for purely entertainment purposes. It in no way challenges any existing copyrights, but does maintain rights to the authors personal ideas. This is also a female/female fiction piece and involves a loving relationship between two women. If you object to such things there is no reason for you to read further.

Code: T/7.
Rating: NC17

Archiving: Perfect Misfits is a given, anyone else just needs to ask.

Constructive feedback welcome.

Any feedback or other comments should be sent to wyldchilde37@yahoo.com

Notes: Janeway is the villain and gets her comeuppance. Contains major character death.

Chapters 1 - 3

30 Jan 2001

Chapter 1

B'Elanna Torres watched as inch after inch of Seven of Nine was revealed. The spiked heels to the long legs to the shapely hips. Yet as Seven slid entirely free from the crawl space in Voyager's deflector dish she showed no signs of spending 45 minutes in a confined space that B'Elanna's own compact form would have found stifling. Accessing a keypad above the crawlspace she examined the displayed information and the turned to Seven. "I hate to say it, but you really do seem to know what you are doing. This is some good work." The cybernetic implant that graced the brow of the former Borg drone arched up high on her fore head. "I have always known what I am doing."

At that Torres smirked. "Yes, now if we could just teach you proper procedure you actually would be perfect." Torres actually got a smirk in turn as a sign of Seven's amusement. "Learning an inefficient procedure would be an even greater waste then following it." B'Elanna laughed at that, but before she was able to reply the door to the deflector control room opened and Captain Kathryn Janeway entered. While B'Elanna did not snap to attention in typical military fashion she did focus her attention, as did Seven of Nine. "Captain?" Janeway smiled at the engineer. "At ease B'Elanna. I am just checking on our progress." B'Elanna relaxed at that and turned back to the display.

"Routing the energy through the deflector dish and into the shield generators we should be able to cloak the ship. Of course we can't use both at the same time but except for having to do more regular maintenance there should be no difference in the shield's performance." Janeway nodded and pinched her chin. "Good work, good work. Let's leave it there for today and you can return to it in the morning. I'll accompany Seven to Cargo Bay 2 and she can bring me up to date." Both women seemed slightly reluctant as they looked at each other. Janeway looked on impatiently as they nodded and Seven stepped closer to the captain. B'Elanna seemed to take a step to follow as well and then she spoke. "See you bright and early Seven?"

Seven scrunched her brow in confusion as Janeway started to lead her away. "It's a human expression. It means to see someone first thing when you wake up. In this case B'Elanna was just asking if you wanted to start the project early." Janeway was brought up short as Seven stopped and turned back to B'Elanna. "I will see you in the first thing in the morning." B'Elanna smiled at that but the smile quickly faded as Janeway placed her hand at the small of Seven's back and guided her from the control room. As the door swished shut Janeway started to speak. "So Seven, how has working with B'Elanna been?" When she noticed that the Captain had maintained her touch after they started walking she turned and arched her brow at the officer.

Janeway dropped her hand back to her side with an embarrassed blush as Seven finally started to speak. "The unusual nature of the project has served to allow the both of us to focus on our work instead of our normal antagonism." Janeway smiled, but she expression seemed a bit pained. "That's good, very good. Just remember that if you are ever asked about the project, that you are operating under my orders. I am the one violating the treaty and I will answer for it." Seven arched her brow. "We are farther from the Romulan Empire then the Federation, and Voyager is operating alone. A cloaking device will greatly enhance the odds of our survival." Janeway grinned at Seven as they walked. "That's why were doing it, and I hope that's something the Federation Council will understand."

Seven's implant arched again. "Aren't you concerned about the Romulans?" Janeway shook her head. "As you said we are farther from the Romulan Empire then we are from the Federation and I have to think that what they don't know won't hurt them, because if they did find out I believe all they would see is a Federation vessel with cloaking technology. Now, is there anything more I should know about the cloak?" Seven tilted her head as the two reached the turbolift and stepped in. As the door closed she straightened. "Except for the increased maintenance schedule you already knew about the cloaks function. It's use will require we lower our energy output as much as possible because while the cloak will mask the vessel the more energy we use the greater the chance something will slip past our cloak."

Janeway nodded as the turbolift doors opened. "Weapons?" "Weapons will have to remain powered down until we would be ready to de-cloak otherwise their energy signatures would reveal our position." The pair stepped through the doors to Cargo Bay 2 and walked towards the Borg alcoves. While Seven stepped in Janeway walked to the control panel. "Seven, I want to say I am very proud of the work you have done. While you and B'Elanna may be more focused on the project I am sure it has not been easy. I realize that and I want you to know that you should as well. It is a sign of just how far you have come." Instead of tilting her head she turned it to look at the woman at the alcove's controls.

"I can not take all the credit. Lieutenant Torres has also made efforts to work with me." Janeway seemed startled, but then she smiled and nodded. "I'm glad to see you two are finally getting along. Sweet Dreams Seven" Seven didn't have an opportunity to reply because Janeway entered the final command and the regeneration cycle commenced. With Seven in cybernetic slumber Janeway crossed the platform to stand in front of the only lit alcove. Here in the quiet of the flickering green light she allowed herself to stare openly. To let her eyes caress the face softer then any lovers kiss. To move along the flawless skin and perfect bone structure to the gleaming reminders of the eighteen-year nightmare she had woken Seven from. She wanted to take those reminders away; she wanted to be able to truly remove Annika from the Borg instead of just severing Seven from the Collective.

Yet each day she saw a little more of Annika Hansen, in those rare smiles, in their long conversations. Each night Seven of Nine had to return to her alcove like a tool needing charging, not like a woman needing rest. Kathryn Janeway wondered if the woman would ever sleep in a bed, and when she was alone she wondered if it would be hers. Kathryn considered herself alone because no matter how pleasing it was to look at Seven while she regenerated it was like looking at a stature, yet she still felt an invisible velvet rope that kept her from stepping closer. She sighed, and wondered when the rope would come down. Each day Seven DID advance closer to her humanity, yet Janeway still felt just as distant. Except now there was something that felt like it was compelling her.

While she didn't think B'Elanna realized it Janeway saw how the half-klingon woman was looking at Seven. She knew Seven couldn't recognize it, but Janeway recognized it herself from when she started to realize the beautiful young lady Seven was. Perhaps working so close and so well caused her to look at just why she got so worked up by Seven's presence. Janeway had always wondered about B'Elanna's seemingly irrational anger about Seven of Nine, but as long as they kept fighting she didn't have to think that much about it. Now that the two were getting along Kathryn Janeway found herself unable to think about much else.

Several decks away B'Elanna had realized it, and like Captain Janeway she couldn't think about much else. Of course her current boyfriend Thomas Eugene Paris seemed determined to keep her from thinking at all. "Come on B'Elanna Harry and I have been working on the program for days. You'll love it." She yanked her arm out of his incessant grabbing. "Look Tom, I'm not much in the mood to go to the holodeck. Seven and I were practically rewiring the ship all day, and now all I want to do is get a meal, a shower, and some rest." He took a step back and then muttered. "I would think after spending the day with Seven you would want a distraction." "What was that?" Her features darkened and Paris took a step backward. "Well, the two of you have never had the best working relationship."

B'Elanna Torres shook her head. "I think that's been more my fault. She's a lot like me when I first came on the ship, and I have been acting like. Carey. I guess I am lucky she hasn't popped me one in the kisser yet." Paris stepped forward again. "Been"? As in past tense, going to get along sense?" B'Elanna smiled and nodded her head. "When I take the time to listen to her she seems ready to listen to me." Paris gave one of his best boy grins. "That's great! After you two would fight you would be bent out of shape for hours, heck days after the fact. Why don't you get your shower and we will go join Harry on the holodeck and celebrate."

"You just don't give up now do you?" His grin grew. "Of course not. I got you didn't I?" She put her hand on his chest to keep him from getting any closer and gave his a playful push away. "Go play with Harry. I gotta hit the hay. Seven and I are scheduled to start again first thing in the morning." His face seemed to sober. "I didn't realize things were going that well." He then shrugged. "All right, I guess I'll see you tomorrow. Sweet Dreams B'Elanna." She smiled and nodded as he turned and left her quarters. As the doors shut behind him she frowned. All the times she had been ready to break up with him she just had to take one look at him and feel like she was getting ready to kick a puppy. A lazy, negligent puppy that spent more time black and white then he did with her, but still a puppy.

The biggest problem was that he didn't do anything for her, if he ever did. The most emotion he seemed to generate with in her was either affection of annoyance. Even when she fought with Seven she felt more then she ever did with Tom, and now that her feelings had changed. Seven again beat Tom in the emotions she could inspire. The bathroom mirror caught her reflection as she made her way to the sonic shower and B'Elanna scowled. She had that same moping expression Janeway got when she looked at Seven and thought no one was looking at her. "It's has to be the innocence." She thought to herself. The wide-eyed wonder that she carried right next to her Borg logic. Torres just realized she confused childlike innocence with someone who is just a big kid.

That knowledge was no help as she found herself staring at the ceiling. Was it Tom's childlike nature that attracted her? Was it his lighter colored hair? Did she take one look at the remade drone and go running to the closest thing she could find that was comfortably male? It made Torres look at a part of herself she thought she had buried back on Kessick 4. As one of the two klingons in the settlement she already knew the pain of being different. Of course she knew that would pale in comparison to what people would think if they learned how different she really was. The "klingon" would become the "klingon dyke" and the few friends she did have would vanish. So she controlled her sexual urges as much as she did her klingon ones, and tried to be happy dating the guys who wanted to date on the wild side.

At first she thought that the Academy would be the place where she would finally be able to be herself, but her klingon temper tended to put off the women and turn on the men. So yet again she found herself playing the bad girl that the guys that loved to love, as long as their families didn't find out. Once she joined the Maquis she was able to experiment, but that one try turned out to be a spy for the Cardassians. After a crush on Captain Janeway ended she was able to convince herself she might be able to be happy with her first officer Commander Chakotay. Then Seven joined the crew, and all the feelings she had been burying for so many years came screaming to the surface.

When she was willing to be honest with herself, and that was not often, she admitted part of the reason she hated Seven was because every time she was with Tom she thought of her. When she and Tom made love she would not be able to climax unless she thought of Seven of Nine. Even on dates she would look to see if Seven was somewhere near by. It was the reason she had blown up when she learned of the survey Seven conducted on her and Tom. She was left feeling like Seven knew the effect she had and was observing the freak and which way she would jump. The drone became a symbol of everything B'Elanna hated about herself. The fact was when she was yelling at Seven she was yelling at herself, and she hated herself for it. Which fed into the whole ugly cycle.

It was when they started working on the cloaking device that Seven's innocence managed to break through B'Elanna's self loathing. When she closed her eyes she could remember the way the normally cool and composed former Borg drone and seemed flustered, and even shy. Seven apologized for her surveillance and when pressed for more information explained that she was trying to understand sexual orientations. Apparently Seven and Captain Janeway had gotten into a discussion of human relations and when the subject had turned to sexual orientations Janeway had explained about her own bisexuality.

While Seven understood the idea of not letting attraction be based on something as superficial as gender she was confused because while she understood on an intellectual level she had never found herself experiencing attraction to a male. Over the pounding that that revelation had started inside B'Elanna's ear drums she revealed that she thought that it could be a lack of suitable male specimens on Voyager. So she had decided to observe their heterosexual interaction and see what she could learn. Though Torres felt shame at that moment it no longer feed into her hatred of Seven. Instead it turned inside and found all the fear and guilt that she kept bottled up.

Here was someone who was dealing with the same questions that she herself had battled, and was trying to change herself to match the image that others had of her. At that moment she wanted to reach out and kiss Seven, to pull that perfect face to her and hold Seven close. To let her know that attraction is not something you can, or even should control, but then her fears slipped up and reminded her. "What about Tom?" "What would the rest of the crew think?" "What would Janeway do?" So she chickened out, no matter how she tried to rationalize it, she chickened out, and told Seven that sexual orientation was not that simple.

Rolling over and punching her pillow B'Elanna tried to get comfortable. Sitting upright in the bed she came to a decision. Swinging her feet over the edge she quickly threw on a pair of sweats, a sports bra and a pair of work out shoes and strode form her quarters. Her head was held high as she made her way to the turbolift and spoke in a calm, confident voice. "Cargo Bay 2." While she expected nervousness, or tension, it never came. It was almost as if she were some how disconnected, watching the unfolding events. While she wasn't sure what she was going to tell Seven she wasn't going to let anyone go through what she put herself through. Her own self inflicted tortures were one thing, but she had never been afraid to risk herself for one of her crewmates, and she was not going to start now.

As the doors opened and she stepped into the cavernous bay she stopped, but it was not by nervousness or tension, it was by longing. The walk to the alcove felt like approaching an altar. The alcoves no longer terrifying, no longer the coffins holding technological zombies, but a reliquary that safe kept an object of divinity. Of course in this case it held the divinity itself, an angel in a rest beyond the sleep of mere mortals. It almost seemed blasphemy as she stepped up to the controls and figured out how to end the cycle prematurely. Initially Seven did not seem aware of her surroundings as she stepped from the alcove, but she quickly became aware and affixed Lieutenant Torres with a questioning look.

"Lieutenant Torres, I assumed that "bright and early" would be closer to the start of Alpha shift." B'Elanna smiled, somewhat nervously. "Were not on duty, B'Elanna's fine, and it is. I just needed to talk to you." Seven tilted her head. "A philosophical discussion?" Torres shrugged. "I guess." Seven clasped her hands behind her back in their normal fashion. "What would you like to discuss?" B'Elanna took a breath. "Yesterday you told me about your questions about your own sexuality. I told you that it was not simple, but that's not all of it. You don't have to follow me around. I wanted you to know that I had to face those same questions and I will try to help you figure them out."

Seven seemed to consider that. "Thank you, does that mean you have experienced attraction to other females?" B'Elanna smiled ruefully. "Trust you to cut to the heart of the matter. Yes Seven I have, but I suppressed those feelings." "You seemed to do so successfully." Torres shook her head. "If that were true I would have had an easier time talking to you about it. The fact is suppressing those feelings. It's like suppressing any feelings." Seven arched her brow. "The Doctor said that if I did not express my emotions they would damage me." B'Elanna nodded again. "The Doctor is right." Seven stepped closer. "Yet you have not expressed those emotions, have you been damaged?"

The woman's closeness rattled her, and Torres took a step back with out thinking about it, but even as she did she nodded. Seven's expression remained honest and innocent as she again closed the distance between them. "Then why did you not express them? Expressing emotion has never been difficult for you." B'Elanna laughed at that, but it carried the sound of unshed tears. "Because the one time I tried expressing them she betrayed us to the Kazon." Seven's expression seemed to carry more tenderness then B'Elanna had ever seen. "Perhaps you have not found the "right woman." B'Elanna looked at Seven for what seemed a very long time. "Maybe." Torres then took a deep breath. "Still, that's not what I'm here to talk about. I just want you to know I understand what you are going through, and if I can be of any help all you have to do is ask."

Seven nodded as B'Elanna spoke again. "I'm sorry I woke you up, but I couldn't sleep having left you alone with that. I guess I'll see you in the morning?" Seven nodded. "Bright and early." B'Elanna smiled. "Sweet Dreams Seven." Seven stepped into her alcove as she watched B'Elanna walk backwards from the alcove's platform. "Sweet Dreams B'Elanna." As Torres turned and walked out the doors she missed seeing the regeneration cycle start, and she missed seeing the normally serene look that came over Seven as she regenerated replaced by a look that seemed concentrating even in her electronic sleep.

Chapter 2

"Computer, locate Seven of Nine." While the computer's voice would normally be considered soft it seemed remarkably loud to B'Elanna Torres. Of course it was because she had stepped to a neglected corner of engineering to make the request, and made it in a whispered voice. "Seven of Nine is in Cargo Bay 2." B'Elanna frowned as she stood there. "Computer, locate Captain Janeway." "Captain Janeway is in Cargo Bay 2." The frown on her face soured and she had to bite down a growl. On her way back to her quarters that night Seven's term "philosophical discussion" stuck with her, and right now she was guessing Janeway was getting a little philosophy.

With out her asking her mind came up with the image. Seven standing there, innocently wondering what the Captain wanted to talk about. While Janeway stood close, feeling the warmth B'Elanna could never get enough of. Janeway able to talk to Seven and hear that gentle tones wash over her as Seven would reply to what ever question the Captain was there to ask. Of course B'Elanna knew what Janeway was there for, but sweet Seven would have no idea that her teacher had a whole list of things she wanted to introduce Seven to. For all Torres knew Janeway had decided to stop waiting. Right now the smaller Captain could be resting her hands on Seven's shoulders, pulling Seven's face down to her so that she could capture those soft, full lips. First gently, letting Seven get comfortable, before Janeway slid her tongue into Seven's mouth.

The unwanted mental imagery stopped as she heard the doors to main engineering open. Her head shot up and looked to see if Seven had finally arrived. Instead it was Tom Paris who looked around until her caught her looking at the new arrival. His smile seemed genuine as he approached her. "Hey there, I thought I'd see if you were up to a little breakfast." She shook her head. "Tom, I told you, Seven and I are starting on the cloaking device early. Tom Paris made the gesture of looking around engineering. "I don't see her here. Come on, we'll go, get something from the mess hall and be back before anyone misses ya. Knowing Seven, she'll barely notice you're gone." While he didn't notice his words cut B'Elanna deeply. "Maybe so, but I am the one who asked her to get here early. So it would not be right for me to not be here when she showed up."

"Come on, you gotta eat." The mental image of the half a meal she put back into the replicator this morning flashed through her head. "I do eat Tom. I just don't need to make some production out of it." Paris rolled his eyes as he let out a dramatic sigh. "I was making a production out of wanting to spend some time with you." She folded her arms across her chest. "That's strange, we haven't had any reports of the holodeck going down." Paris threw his head back. "Here we go again. I'm sorry I have a hobby. I guess I should spend all the extra time you're here thinking about you?" She stepped forward as anger twisted her face. "No you should spend that time learning how to say. "Computer, save program." Paris threw his arms over his head. "Sorry, I brought it up. Have fun with Seven." Normally she wouldn't have let Paris have the last word, but all she could think of was "I wish."

Her engineering staff avoided her the next fifteen minutes it took for Seven to arrive in engineering. When the doors opened once more Torres almost didn't look up, but was glad when she did. Suddenly Tom didn't matter, the cloak didn't matter, the whole damn ship didn't matter. All there was, was her. The woman B'Elanna wanted, the woman she needed, the woman who had again found her way into B'Elanna's dreams. Dreams filled with passions she never let herself feel. Dreams of calming, and being claimed. Dreams whose images were now replaced with the earlier images of the beautiful body being held by Captain Janeway. That was what toned her voice as she greeted Seven. "You're late." Seven arched her brow. "I was not aware we have a scheduled time."

B'Elanna picked up a padd and kept her eyes on it. "Well it's still early, but it's not bright any more." Seven seemed about to reply, and then paused. "I apologize, I was detained by Captain Janeway." B'Elanna allowed her shoulders to drop a bit. "I'm sorry too, I got into a fight with Tom." Seven nodded. "We were both distracted, shall we begin?" Torres nodded, and even allowed a small smile. "Yeah, lets." Stepping closer she handed Seven the padd she had been working on and then stepped so she could look over her shoulder. Of course with their relative heights it was more a matter of looking around Seven's shoulder, but as she leaned in she took in Seven's scent, and only Seven's scent. The absence of Janeway's scent caused a wave of relief to wash through her.

"So what kept ya" I thought you regeneration cycle ended earlier." While Seven didn't seem distracted her attention was clearly focused on the padd. "They do, Captain Janeway wished to talk to me." Seven seemed content to leave it at that, but B'Elanna felt compelled to learn more. "What about? She isn't worried about the cloak is she?" Seven pulled her eyes from the padd and stared at Lieutenant Torres. "She is not concerned about the cloak itself, but is not comfortable with such extensive modifications being made to the ship with out her being kept informed." That caused B'Elanna to feel genuinely offended. "We send her status reports."

Seven nodded. "She is unable to ask questions to a status report. So she asked me to bring her the status report at least once, possibly twice a shift." B'Elanna suddenly understood all too well. "That doesn't seem very "efficient." B'Elanna smiled as she used the word, and was almost giddy when she saw Seven return the smile. "I attempted to explain as much, but she told me that since she is the one officially breaking the treaty she wanted to watch the project more closely." B'Elanna bit her bottom lip. "Well she IS the Captain. So where should we start?" B'Elanna allowed herself a long look at Seven as the former drone considered the question. "I believe we should test each shield emitter to see if it will be capable of emitting the normal shields, the cloaking field, and alternate between the two."

The engineer inside Torres screamed about the time and effort testing each emitter individually, and Seven seemed to notice. "We could run a test of all emitters simultaneously." B'Elanna shook her head and sighed. "No, because if we do that we will only know an emitter can't handle it when the emitter shorts out. Doing it individually might take time now, but it will save time later." Of course when she thought about how she would be working with Seven the whole time the job didn't seem so bad. Seven nodded and moved to gather tools. "Where should we start?" As Seven's back was turned gathering the tools B'Elanna found she could not pull her eyes away. "Let's start at the back end and move up."

Seven finished gathering the tools and turned back around. "The nacelles? Should we have the bridge change their position?" Torres snapped back from where her mind had wandered. "No, there already perfect." Seven nodded and walked towards the doors of engineering. Torres followed right after, trying to not openly ogle the soft swaying of Seven's hips. As they reached the turbolift Seven took a similar stance, except only one arm was behind her back, her enhanced one was carrying the toolbox. "Do you find me attractive?" Silence reigned for several moments until Torres reminded herself to breathe. "What?" Seven turned to face her. "I was asking if you find me attractive." Again silence was all encompassing as B'Elanna was able to do little more then blink.

"Well, yeah. I mean you are the traditional buxom blonde." She got a nervous smile. "Well maybe not the "traditional" one, but you do possess those features." Seven dipped her chin to look at her chest. "Are those features you find attractive? Seska did not possess them." B'Elanna's eyes got wide, and Seven's seemed to in response. "I researched the crew interactions with the Kazon and discovered the name of the female crew member that betrayed Voyager. A most illogical betrayal, it cost you as a mate." Torres hated herself, but she seemed unable to do anything but look dumbfounded as Seven continued. "The Kazon are stupid, and brutal, and unworthy of assimilation, and you would make a far better mate then any of their males." Torres blushed, quite deeply. "Thanks."

She was left blushing as the turbolift doors opened and the two women stepped out. As they walked down she could hear her pulse pounding in her ears as Seven's heels beat out a counterpoint. The tapping of Seven's heels stopped as they reached the entry point and each woman took a side as they unfastened it and laid it off to the side. B'Elanna then took a deep breath as they climbed inside the tube and Seven lifted the hatch to seal them in. "Seska seemed to notice my, leanings, and encouraged them. The support she gave made her beautiful in my eyes."

Seven nodded. "This is the information I sought. I seem to be detecting signs of attraction from Captain Janeway, but after my incorrect assessment of Ensign Kim I am unsure." All the blood that was making her blush drained, and then seemed to turn into a solid mass that lodged itself in her stomach. "Well, what's making you think the Captain is attracted to you?" "She has shown the physiological traits like pupil dilation." While she continued to listen she was trying to send frantic commands to her eyes not to dilate. "Yet her "signals" are confusing."

Even B'Elanna was confused at that remark. "What do you mean?" Seven took a breath. "The Captain seems to enjoy my presence, and desires to stand close to me, but seems reluctant to do so. Could it be that she is denying her "urges" as you have?" "Possible, but she admitted to being bi. So it's not like she has a problem with your being female." An expression crossed the face of Seven of Nine that had been waiting for B'Elanna in the mirror far too many times, doubt, fear, self loathing. "Perhaps she has a problem with me." While B'Elanna knew this would be a perfect point to drive a wedge between Seven and the Captain she had no question in her mind as she spoke.

"No Seven I know that's not it. If it's anything it because she is older, or your superior officer, or maybe she's just scared you wont return the feelings." Seven looked somewhat ashamed at that, but it was different because it seemed to carry some guilt. "She would be correct. I am unsure of my feelings for the Captain." B'Elanna kept a TIGHT rein on the joy that swept through her. "Really?" Seven moved from the typical hands and knees position that was used to move through the Jefferies tubes and sat facing B'Elanna, who did the same as she looked questioningly at Seven. "While I do experience attraction to the Captain it is with out comfort. While I do not feel that her rank is an issue I feel she is used to being the superior one in her interactions, and while that is acceptable in a command structure it is not suitable to a romantic relationship. I have already had a Queen"

Then, faster then B'Elanna could react to, yet slow enough for her to capture every detail Seven leaned forward, and kissed her. It was soft, and innocent, like first kisses should be, but it was also pure, honest. With out any pretext, it was an expression of emotion that went beyond what words could convey, and it left B'Elanna stunned as Seven spoke again. "You however have treated me as your equal, even when we fought you saw me as your match. Now you have even related deeply personal experiences to help me with my own confusion. That I find attractive, comforting, and beautiful in my eyes. I know you are mated with Tom Paris, but I wanted you to know how I felt." B'Elanna nodded nervously and then took a tool out of the kit and moved to open the shield generator's panel.

They worked silently for ten minutes until B'Elanna's face scrunched up. "Wait, wait, "had" a Queen? I thought the Borg were a sexual?" Seven seemed confused. "They are." B'Elanna blushed again. "Oh, well "having" someone usually means, well. "having" them." Seven allowed her silence to ask the question and B'Elanna answered. "Having. sexually." Seven seemed startled, but it did not carry over to her voice. "No, the Queen is a dominant figure. While the Borg are asexual she would have "had" me." They again feel silent, but B'Elanna's blush maintained. It maintained until they had settled into a routine, each woman knowing their task and carrying it out with out any need for idle chatter.

While it had a familiarity to her life in the Collective it was different because instead of a silence born of all communication being carried out by the hive mind it was a silence of two people who knew what they were doing well enough to not need idle chatter. While Seven had enjoyed their talks she also found the silence comforting. Here she was able to simply enjoy the company of Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres, and while she was not sure the Lieutenant seemed to be enjoying her company as well. It startled the both of them when Seven's communicator came to life. "Captain Janeway to Seven of Nine." She looked to B'Elanna before answering, but seeing an unfathomable look on the other woman's face Seven answered the hail. "Seven here."

Janeway's voice sounded amused. "Yes, but you should be here. I'm in my ready room waiting for my report." Seven paused again before replying. "I apologize Captain, I lost track of time. I am on my way." The voice of Voyager's Captain still sounded pleasant. "Don't worry about it Seven. I'll get Neelix to bring us a little something to eat and we can take a break while you bring me up to date." Seven again looked at Torres and saw a dark look on the woman's dark features. "I'll join you shortly." She then closed the channel and spoke to B'Elanna. "I will be back as soon as possible so we can continue our work." B'Elanna simply nodded and Seven found she had a similar look on her own face as she made her way out of the tube. Though she did not quite understand why.

The trip to the Captain's ready room was uneventful and by the time she arrived on the bridge she had the status report composed in her head. "Seven?" She turned at the mention of her name and saw Voyager's first officer standing in front of her. With a smile and a slight flourish he directed her to the Captain's ready room. "The Captain is waiting for you, she said you can go right in. She also said to tell you Neelix will arrive with your meals shortly." Seven nodded, but as she turned she heard the voice of Tom Paris. "Hey, that means B'Elanna is free. I'm going to go on break and take her to lunch." Seven assumed Chakotay nodded because she heard movement that started at the helm and went into the turbolift. Leaving the thought behind her she stepped to the door and was about to key the admittance chime, but then stepped right in.

The smile that greeted her stole her breath. While she had always found the Captain attractive she had never seen such emotion on the woman's face, and the fact it was directed as her seemed to sap the strength from her legs. While the smile was genuinely happy to see her it was soon tempered with concern. "Seven, is something wrong?" She realized the expression that she had gotten when she learned B'Elanna would be spending her break with her mate. While it startled her when she thought of Lieutenant Torres by her first name she quickly put all thoughts of the engineer with the chestnut colored hair in the rest of the ship outside the door and focused on the woman sharing the room with her. "I apologize Captain, I was distracted."

She stood from her desk and walked around to stand in front of Seven. While the smile had dimmed it now glowed with genuine pleasure. "Nothing bad I hope?" "I am unsure." Janeway took a step closer, her eyes tinged with concern. "Is it anything I can help with?" Seven's eyes had been staring at a point over Janeway's shoulder, but she then straightened her back. "No thank you Captain, the status report is ready." The smile grew. "Of course, let's sit down. Neelix should have our meal here shortly." As if on cue the admittance chime sounded. "And there we are." Janeway walked over to the doorway and opened it there. As the doors slid open it revealed the perpetually smiling face of Voyager's morale officer. "Captain! I got your request and put your meal together with extra special care."

He then smiled at Seven. "The Captain also told me you would be joining her and she made sure I knew what you would like." Seven nodded to Kathryn Janeway. "Thank you Captain." She simply smiled and made a dismissive gesture. "Now let's sit, have a pleasant meal and go over today's progress." Seven's expression seemed cool, but she complied as she took a seat on the Captain's couch. As Janeway sat down across from her she seemed to blush. "I apologize that it's not the Captain's personal dining room, but Neelix needed it more." Seven titled her head. "A private dining room seems wasteful." Janeway smirked. "Well it's considered unsightly for the Captain to be seen eating in front of her crew, far too intimate." Seven seemed to be considering. "Then there is the ready room."

Janeway continued to smirk. "Yes, but it's not entirely suitable when the Captain finds someone she wants to eat with." Seven thought about that for several long moments as she felt Janeway's eyes upon her. "Then would this be considered an intimate setting?" Janeway smiled as she began to set out dishes. "Yes it would. I've realized that I have let my rank deny you. There are some things an Emergency Medical Program can not show you, and that my rank normally would not allow me to. So I decided to relax protocol a bit." The Captain's words caused both dryness in her mouth and a constriction in her throat, which forced her to concentrate as she took a drink from her water.

"Are you all right Seven?" Seven was ready to nod, but stopped. "This is a large change in our interactions and I am attempting to adapt." Janeway smiled and touched Seven's shoulder. "I can understand that. I just want you to know that I realize you are growing up, and that you can still count on me as you do." Seven nodded slowly. "Thank you Captain." Janeway didn't quite loose her smile, but allowed it to dwindle as she nodded. "Now, how are the preparations coming?" Having composed the report in advance Seven was able to repeat it back while the majority of her mind struggled to assimilate this new information.

At the same time her project partner was in the mess hall going over the same information, much to the dismay of her lunch date. "Come on B'Elanna. The whole point of taking a break is to stop working." B'Elanna Torres pulled her eyes from the pad in front of her to look at her boyfriend Tom Paris. "Sorry Tom, there's a lot to go over. The Federation never did any research on cloaking devices. At least not an research they released. So it's a matter of going over all the information commonly available and what Seven has retained from the Collective's assimilation of cloaking technology." Paris smiled. "I guess it's lucky you're a klingon huh?" Her look showed an utter lack of comprehension as she looked at him. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"Well, klingons are one of the species with cloaking technology." "So, what does that have to do with anything?" He seemed to realize he was getting over his head, but seemed unable to find a way out. "Look, let's just forget about it, all right?" B'Elanna looked back at her padd as she took a drink. "I all ready have." "I guess you'll just have to rely on Seven." She continued to sip at her cup while working with the padd in her other hand. "Well she's not Chaotica, but she has her moments." He spoke with out noticing her eyes didn't seem to be on the padd as she licked her lips and her face flushed. "Hello, Hey Torres!" Her head snapped up. "Sorry to interrupt your day dreaming with our conversation, but I asked how it is that you can blow me off to spend time in engineering, but when I spend my free time with Harry I'm suddenly the bad guy."

Paris seemed confused as Torres let out a sigh and laid down the padd. "Tom, I don't object to you spending time with Harry, I'm even willing to tolerate dates being postponed because you have this or that new toy, because I can be just as bad when I have one thing or another in engineering. What I object to is that you complain at the drop of a hat, but when I do it you blame it on my temper. You act like a kid and you expect me to tell you that you're a good little boy. I act like a hot headed klingon and you expect me to stop it immediately." Paris tried to interrupt her but she stopped him with a motion of her hand. "No Tom, not another word." She took several deep breaths, but Paris seemed unable to speak as she did so. "I'm your girlfriend Paris, not the mother that you are allowed to have sex with. Even when Seven fought with me she may have called me irrelevant, but she never treated me as such."

She got up and stepped around the table, an action that caused Tom Paris to shrink back in his seat. "Still, it's not about her, and the sad thing is it's barely about me, and that's the problem. I only figure into the equation when I force my way in." She picked up her padd and set it on her tray with the rest of her dishes. "I'm tired of it Tom. I'm not angry or even sad. I am simply tired of having to fight to be loved. I fight my self enough as it is. I can't take on you too. So I give up, you win." He seemed ready to speak, but she took a step away from him. "Take all the time you want to on the holodeck, with Harry or what ever captures your attention next, because you won't have to worry about spending time with me." Turning away and taking several more steps put her dishes in the recycler, take the padd in one hand and recycles the dishes with the other. After that the only other sound in the mess hall was that of the doors opening for her, and closing behind her.

What they didn't hear was the startled yelp as she met Seven of Nine by the turbolift. "Seven? You scared me half to death! Aren't you having lunch with the Captain?" Seven nodded. "I was, but I finished my status report and the Captain was unable to come up with any questions we finished our meal and I came looking for you so we could continue our work." B'Elanna smiled. "You could have just hailed me." Seven looked uncomfortable, at least as uncomfortable as her stony demeanor allowed. "Captain Janeway's hail interrupted us, and I knew that you were with Mr. Paris and I did not want to interrupt you the same way." Torres shook her head. "You just hail away, and don't worry about Tom any more." Seven seemed startled and B'Elanna noticed it as she continued. "We broke up."

The women stepped into the turbolift and commanded it to the back quarter of the ship where they had left off. As the car glade along Seven turned from her spot facing the front of the car and spoke. "Tom Paris is a fool." B'Elanna grinned slightly at that. "Yes he is, that's why I dumped him." Seven's brow seemed to arch of it's own accord. "You terminated your romantic affiliation?" B'Elanna nodded, an actions that seemed to strengthen Seven. "Then I would like to ask if you would want to take an intimate break tomorrow?"

Chapter 3

"Intimate?" The word was barely recognizable to Torres as her own voice it was so choked off. Seven examined her closely. "B'Elanna? Should I call sickbay?" Torres shook her head. "No, just caught me off guard there. what did you have in mind?" Seven seemed to consider that. "I had not fully considered the details, but the Captain said our break had been intimate, and I wish to have a similar experience with you." White-hot jealousy replaced white-hot arousal and rage that burned just as brightly. The idea of Seven's first time being a quickie in the ready room turned her stomach. "Computer, halt turbolift. You and the Captain were intimate?" Seven's expression was so innocent B'Elanna found herself contemplating an accident that could put Chakotay in charge.

"That is how she described it. She said that she would have preferred that Captain's dining room, but she said that eating a meal with someone is an intimate gesture, especially if it is done in a secluded area." B'Elanna thought her legs might give out as relief washed through her. She reminded herself that she was dealing with someone who was entirely new to romance and intimacy. Someone innocent and virginal, yet old enough and wise enough to enjoy it. Instead of being jostled from her thoughts she looked up to see the young woman born from the shell of a Borg drone looking at her calmly. "Sorry, I just realized something, you called me B'Elanna." An attractive blush crossed Seven's cheeks and spread to her forehead. "Yes, I thought it would be appropriate if we are going to be intimate."

While hearing Seven say the words made her melt she knew she had to correct her. "Seven, Seven, normally to "be intimate" means to have sex. You might want to say that we are having lunch together." Seven titled her head. "I prefer the sound of being intimate, but I will comply." B'Elanna didn't trust herself to say how much she liked that way it sounded so she settled for simply nodding. "Will the sex come later?" B'Elanna's reply was cut off by her forgetting how to breathe, as Seven then chose to continue. "This is the courtship phase, correct?" B'Elanna nodded slowly, only now realizing Seven knew more then anyone gave her credit for. "It can be. That's up to you, but in courting me you have to remember that the Captain is courting you."

Seven looked down, confusion covering her features, and B'Elanna stepped close and put a hand on Seven's cheek. "You don't have to decide now, but you will have to decide. before the sex." B'Elanna allowed the last part to come out with a grin as Seven blushed anew. Slowly, regretfully she allowed her hand to slip from Seven's cheek, both seeming to miss the contact. "The emitters won't test themselves, we better get moving. Computer, resume turbolift." The car resumed its course and in a matter of moments had let the women off mere paces from the hatch they had to access. The two quickly climbed in and started to work. The emitters ran through each test as expected, and conferencing with Harry Kim at the ops station on the bridge made sure that what few adjustments that they did need to make were handled quickly.

Unfortunately Harry Kim seemed to want to use the free time to plead his best friends case. "Come on B'Elanna he can change." While Harry could not see B'Elanna roll her eyes Seven could and gave B'Elanna an amused expression. "Harry, anyone can change, but they have to want to, and Tom doesn't." Harry's voice came back still in a partial whisper since he was still on the bridge. "He wants to, you just have to give him that chance." "No Harry, he just wants me back. So he's not changing for me, he's just humoring me, and I don't want that. Look, I'll call you when we get to the next emitter." When she looked back at Seven the former Borg drone was looking her with wide blue eyes, and B'Elanna was glad she had been working laying on her back because she was able to literally melt at Seven's feet with out her realizing it.

"How does one change for an individual with out humoring them?" B'Elanna looked like she was considering the question, but for the most part she was simply trying to compose herself while staring at Seven from the bottom up. She found that impossible until she got into a sitting position and took her eyes of the plum biosuit and the curves that it did nothing to conceal. Strangely she was able to compose herself when she looked into Seven's eyes. "It is not a matter of "changing" as much as it is adapting." Seven smirked at that and B'Elanna returned it. "Seriously, if you love someone you want to see them comfortable and so you try to fit their thoughts into the reasons you do things as much as your own." Seven titled her head. "It sounds similar to assimilation." B'Elanna shook her head. "It's done voluntarily, and that makes it both far more powerful and far more fragile."

"Then it must be asked if it is worth it. Especially in cases like that of Seska." B'Elanna sighed and sat up. "Seska is kind of a bad example, but then again she's not. I mean she was the first woman I had a relationship with, and if I hadn't we probably wouldn't be having this conversation right now." Seven's brow scrunched in confusion and B'Elanna shook her head. "You said how it seemed like assimilation, and it is. Now with Seska I got a part of her and she got a part of me. Now most of the time that part of her is as hurtful to me as she was, but that doesn't change the fact that it happened, and the person that I became because of it." Seven frowned. "She was not worthy of any of you." B'Elanna smiled. "Thanks. I think we're done on this generator. Let's get moving to the next." Seven looked at the generator and nodded as the women then packed up their tools and began crawling down the Jefferies tube.

When they were ready to hail the bridge again they shared a significant look and wordlessly Seven nodded as she tapped her commbadge. "Seven of Nine to Harry Kim." "Kim here . Is B'Elanna busy?" Seven seemed to consider, looking at the engineer looking at her. "Yes, we are initiating the test." "Acknowledged." The two women bent back to work, and were relieved to find it pass with nothing more then the commands to emit another type of energy besides the ships shields. Of course they were moving closer and closer to the front of the ship and the very back and the very front tended to have the newest emitters since they were the ones most likely to need to be replaced after a space battle. While all needed some modification the amount of changes they had to make started to dwindle. Then as they were closing the panel to move on to the next emitter the nearest hatch opened.

As both women blinked in the sudden stab of brighter light the head of Captain Janeway appeared. "There you are. I noticed you were two thirds done and I thought it would be a good place to stop for the day." Torres looked at the Captain, suddenly grateful for the lower lighting in the Jefferies tube since it concealed her expression. "Did you need to tell us that personally?" The tone of the Chief Engineer didn't carry her hostility so Janeway allowed herself a smile. "I figured nothing less would get you two to take a break." While the two other women's vision was impaired Seven's occular implant allowed her to see clearly and she could see both the dark look on the engineer's face and the resolute one of the captain's. First she felt a rush of joy to see that B'Elanna DID have feelings towards her, and Seven wanted nothing more then to close the hatch and return to the comfortable atmosphere that had escaped when the hatch was opened.

Then confusion set in, and she saw a look of vulnerability on the face of her mentor, and while she wanted to try to remove it she knew that it could hurt Torres. To Seven it was as if her cortical implant had been caught in a loop. Two women, both she cared for, both women she was attracted to. While one made her feel more at ease another had been instrumental in developing her individuality to this point. It was then that the loop seemed to resolve itself. Janeway HAD helped her to regain her humanity, and now Seven found herself wondering why. She then took a breath. "Thank you Captain, we will finish shortly." Janeway seemed a bit taken back at the cold tone of Seven's voice, but she nodded. "All right. Will you come by my ready room to summarize today's work?" Seven simply nodded, and with a confused expression on her face Janeway slipped from the hatch and returned the panel. B'Elanna seemed relieved, but she also seemed confused.

"Ok, what was THAT about?" Seven looked down. "I find myself doubting the Captain's motives." At first B'Elanna smirked. "I think her motives are pretty obvious." Then she paused and slid close to Seven. "I'm sorry, what do you mean your doubting her motives?" Seven was looking at the deck plating, but B'Elanna could se her eyes were troubled. "Come on Seven. How are you doubting the Captain's motives." Torres was starting to think that Seven was not going to answer, and when she finally did B'Elanna had to strain to her the tiny voice Seven replied in. "I am afraid she helped me regain my humanity in order to create a mate for herself." B'Elanna's jaw dropped and she took hold of Seven's fully human hand.

"Seven, that is NOT the Captain. She may want you, but that would be because she fell for the person you have become." Seven allowed her eyes to dart up and meet B'Elanna's. "But she has helped to form the person I have become." B'Elanna's thumb idly ran over the top of the hand she was holding as she thought about what Seven was saying. "Yes, but she did that for Tom, Harry, and me. Yet she didn't fall for any of us." She gave Seven a smile. "If anything I think it says just how special you are because you are the one she fell in love with." Seven suddenly looked stricken. "Love? Do you believe that the Captain is in love with me?" Torres closed her eyes. "I don't know Seven. Only Janeway does." It was then she felt the fully human hand take hold rather then just rest in her grip.

"I do not wish to hurt the Captain." Torres nodded and gave the hand a gentle squeeze. "I know you don't. However the same would apply to the Captain." At the look of confusion on Seven's face B'Elanna continued. "When you love someone, I mean really love someone. You don't expect them to love you too, you just hope they do. Because if you try to force them to love you you'll just end up hurting them, and you don't want to hurt the ones you love." Both women sat silently and then Seven's eyes locked with hers. "I don't want to hurt you either." Seven's eyes seemed to be darting and there was a slight tremble to her perfect posture. B'Elanna then closed what distance was left between them and pulled Seven into her arms. She rested Seven's face to her shoulder and wrapped arms around the much taller frame. While part of her wanted to speak words of comfort they never came, and on some level she knew they were not necessary as she held the all too human Seven of Nine.

As Seven stepped upon the bridge she still could feel the warmth from being held in the arms of B'Elanna Torres, and it felt good. B'Elanna had helped her regain her calm, even going to the extent of tucking back the few stray hairs that had escaped her bun, and wiping the tears from her eyes. More then that she had given of herself to restore all the energy that had been drained away by her confusion. It had reminded her of the Collective in it's own way, but the support was given unconditionally and it amazed her. Ever since being severed from the Collective she had considered humans solitary, and weak. While they were able to form hierarchies and operative collectively she thought it would never compare to the harmony of the Collective. At least she thought that until she had been held in the arms of B'Elanna Torres. Now she finally understood the strength of humanity, of individuality.

While the Collective was able to give support like B'Elanna had it was through cybernetic implants and energy relays. B'Elanna had done it with little more then an embrace. There was also the unselfish nature of the act. While the Collective cared for her it was in order to keep her efficient and productive. Much like the way Seska had used B'Elanna Torres. As she stepped in front of the command chair Captain Janeway looked up at her and smiled. The smile seemed unsure, but it was genuine. She realized that Captain had offered Seven the same connection that B'Elanna Torres had given her. Seven had been unfair in her assessment of Kathryn Janeway. A hypothesis that was that was confirmed as she smiled back at the Starfleet captain and her smile grew.

The warm expression of emotion from the regal captain gave Seven a sense of warmth like she had felt in B'Elanna's arms, but now that she was energized the feeling was more pleasurable then comforting. The Captain stood and gave her first officer a nod while she motioned Seven to her ready room. Just as wordlessly as the Captain had been, Seven followed. When they had entered the room the Captain sat at her couch and was surprised as Seven sat down across from her. "I'm sorry if I had interrupted you and B'Elanna." While Seven had always heard the various intonations in other people's voices she had not always realized their causes. Now however she could tell that Kathryn Janeway was struggling with jealousy. Not only did she have feelings for Seven of Nine, but she realized B'Elanna did as well. That in mind she committed what could have very well have been her first deception.

"No Captain, we were just at an important juncture." The look on the Captain's face seemed to indicate she knew there was more to what Seven was saying, but she seemed to decide not to press the issue. "So I'll take that to mean the cloak in nearly online?" Seven nodded. "We should finish testing the shield emitters tomorrow and be able to run the actual tests the following day. I suggest we send out the Delta Flyer to test the cloaks function." Janeway nodded, her eyes lost in thought. "I was thinking the same. I would also like to test it under different conditions. So once we have a working cloak I want you to find us a variety of nebulas, radiation, an assortment of conditions that we may encounter while using the cloak." Seven nodded and also seemed lost in thought, but the matter of finding the varying conditions would be simple for her abilities in astrometrics.

What she was considering was the captain. While B'Elanna Torres matched Seven in her more physically applied skills the Captain seemed to have Seven's appreciation for more cerebral pursuits. In fact the Captain seemed to exceed her in the more esoteric fields, but that brought her back to one of her initial concerns about that captain. From all of Seven's research ideal pairings are made of equals. That would seem to preclude her mentor. Not to say it would preclude Kathryn Janeway, but that the Captain would have to be her mentor or her partner, both would not be compatible. It also brought up a concern that Seven had kept buried deep inside her. While Kathryn Janeway might have more life experience then her B'Elanna Torres did as well. Seven of Nine found herself wondering if either would be compatible with either woman, and with her limited life experience she actually wondered if she would be compatible with anyone.

The Captain's voce brought her from her reverie and the Captain's expression seemed genuinely concerned. "Seven? Are you all right?" She blinked repeatedly as she refocused on her captain. "Yes Captain, I apologize my mind was elsewhere." She smiled at that. "You were daydreaming? I don't think you've ever done that before. Care to tell me what it was about?" Seven considered a moment, while she had tried to withhold information from the Captain a moment ago she had never lied, and hoped she never would. "I was considering your recent overtures." The Captain eyes eyebrows rose. "And your conclusions?" Seven took a breath. "While I am unsure about pursuing a romantic relationship I am not adverse to it." Janeway took a moment to settle herself.

"What has led you to believe I have a romantic interest towards you?" Seven looked confused but took a deep breath to begin speaking and Janeway raised her hand to stop her. She also closed her eyes and let out a shaky breath. "I though I had concealed it better, but I shouldn't have underestimated your powers of observation. So what are your thoughts?" Seven looked away from the Captain. "I am unsure. This is very new and very confusing." Janeway nodded sympathetically. "I know it is Seven. That's why I tried to conceal my feelings. At least until you were ready." Seven looked back at the captain and tilted her head in her customary fashion. "Doesn't my asking of the question show that I am ready?" Janeway nodded thoughtfully. "Maybe, but are you ready to deal with the consequences?"

"I am as ready as I have been to deal with the rest of my developing humanity." Janeway put a comforting hand on her knee. "Yes, but of all emotions love is perhaps the most difficult to deal with." Seven looked closely at the Captain and sighed. "I apologize Captain. I had misconstrued your attraction as a desire for a romantic relationship." Janeway held up a hand. "Wait a minute Seven, you never said if you are really ready to pursue a romantic relationship, with anyone." Seven looked directly into Janeway's eyes. "The one thing that I have learned about humanity is that the notion that they think they can "deal" with their emotions when in fact they simply deal with the outcomes." Janeway nodded. "Perhaps I was wrong." Seven nodded and Janeway grinned, then she sobered. "I guess my next question is if you wish to pursue a romantic relationship."

Seven took a deep breath and seemed to shudder slightly. "As I said, I am unsure. I believe the Doctor's lessons included a "wait and see"." Janeway smiled. "So we see what develops from our romantic feelings?" Seven nodded. "Yes, that seemed the extent of the Doctor's lesson. I will seek him out in the morning and ask him to elaborate, but now I need to regenerate." An expression of panic crossed the Captain's face, but it vanished almost faster then even Seven's enhanced visual acuity could detect. Janeway then smiled. "Of course. would you like me to walk you to the cargo bay?" Seven looked uncomfortable. "Right now I believe that would be. confusing." She seemed sad, but she nodded. "I understand Seven. Sleep well." "Thank you Captain."

When she reached the turbolift after leaving the Captain's ready room she tapped her commbadge. "Seven to Torres." "Torres here." The engineer's tone was neutral and Seven felt a wave of apprehension wash through her. "I wanted to make sure we were finished for the day." The engineer's tone continued to be business like. "Yep, same time tomorrow?" "Seven had to take a deep breath to push back the dizziness she felt. "Yes. I also wanted to say goodnight." As B'Elanna replied the apprehension and the dizziness vanished. "Yeah. goodnight Seven." The relief that was evident in the engineer's voice was mirrored by Seven and she was sure the engineer's face was mirroring a similar smile. As her commbadge carried B'Elanna's voice again her smile shrank. "Would you like to meet for breakfast?" Seven's voice carried her disappointment.

"I'm sorry, I am speaking with the Doctor in the morning." Any disappointment B'Elanna had seemed to vanish. "The Doctor? Is anything wrong?" "No, I just need to speak with him. Would lunch be suitable?" The smile had returned to B'Elanna's voice. "That would be great. See you in the morning, well the late morning?" There was several seconds as she considered the offer. "Actually you could meet me in the cargo bay at the end of my regeneration cycle. We will get started on the last tests and then I will go meet with the Doctor." When she heard the answer she felt another new feeling. she was giddy. "Sounds great. I'll see you when you wake up." While she felt a stab of guilt because she hadn't allowed the Captain to accompany her to the bay it was overwhelmed by the idea of waking up to B'Elanna Torres. She had felt it once before and she wanted to feel it again.

There was a long pause as the channel hung open. While she tried to stifle her sigh she knew it carried over the channel. "Seven out." With another tap the channel closed, and while she missed the connection her posture was straight and her face carried a pleased smile in spite of her fatigue. A smile that managed to earn her peculiar looks as she walked from the turbolift to cargo bay 2 and it was still there as she stepped into the alcove. In fact she would not have been surprised if it had remained on her face during the entire regeneration cycle.

Continued in next part ....