Additional scenes for: Alter Ego, Coda, Blood Fever, Unity, Darkling and Rise.
All the usual disclaimers apply. The characters, the episodes this collection of vignettes is based on, belong to Paramount (Viacom and whomever else), but what they do between episodes, between scenes, and in my rather dangerous mind are my concern (no matter what anybody says). This is--after all--another of my alternate universes.
Positive feedback is always welcome, as are useful suggestions. Feel free to send this story--unchanged--to friends and archives, just please keep my name, disclaimer, and any notes attached.
Part I
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Kathryn Janeway reread Tuvok's report. She felt a great deal of sympathy for the lonely woman they'd left behind at the nebula. She hoped Marayna would take Tuvok's advice and returned to her people. No one should be so lonely.
She looked out the ready room window--the nebula was long gone, but she smiled at the recollection of it's beauty and enchantment; the discussion on the bridge about emotions. Her First Officer's words in particular. She had realized they were meant for her, she just hoped the crew had thought they were part of the baiting of Mr. Tuvok.
No, they probably didn't--Chakotay had looked straight at her and she had laughed. Then they had gone to the luau together. Arm in arm too--that would probably feed the rumor mill for the next three weeks. She smiled at her recollection: they had spent the evening sitting at a table overlooking the bay just talking. She hadn't thought about it then, but no one had disturbed them. Not one crew member had even walked by and after their food had been served--even the holographic characters had not come by.
She shook her head. But there was no other explanation...
**
Tom sat at the table across from Harry. The young ensign looked a little less love-sick, but was still not in a talkative mood. Tom smiled as B'Elanna sat down beside him. "Good morning, B'Elanna, and how's your Vulcan friend this morning."
She glared at him then turned to look at Harry. "Good morning, Harry."
Harry nodded.
"Well engineering is all abuzz this morning. Seems everybody noticed." She didn't look at Tom as she started to eat whatever the delicate-pink vegetables were.
"Would have been a better plan if we hadn't had to deal with..." Tom stopped speaking and looked at Harry who was stabbing his food a little harder.
B'Elanna smiled slightly as she looked at Harry. She spoke to Tom again. "When you suggested this idea, I thought it was ridiculous--but I must admit they did seem to enjoy themselves. But Tom, how did you prevent anyone from going past their table?"
Tom laughed, "I just programmed the holograph characters to stay away after serving them. You know, I think it's the first time I've seen the Captain really enjoy herself in a while."
B'Elanna grinned, "Yes it was a good party--the view at our table was excellent." She was pleased to see Tom wince at that remark--which surprised her. Suddenly she frowned. "Well, I've got to get going. See you around." She slammed her tray in the recycling bin and left quickly.
Tom watched her leave. 'What had gotten in her,' he thought as he too left the dining hall, leaving Harry wondering if his two friends were as blind as their commanding officers.
**
Janeway looked at Tuvok's report again. It was dry, carefully worded, absolutely devoid of any hint of emotion about a subject full of emotion. She wondered how he had been affected by events. She considered him a friend, but couldn't ask him.
And herself?
To be truthful, she was accepting what had happened to them almost three years ago. She was learning to relax, to not always be in control of everything: to accept Voyager as home and family.
And to entertain the possibilities of admitting *him* into her life.
If the night of the party was any indication, the crew were conspiring to bring them together. So apparently she wouldn't be able to use the argument 'What will the crew think,' anymore. She laughed as she stood. By the time she returned to the bridge, her face wore her usual Captain's countenance.
**** **** ****
Janeway was aware of the looks they were receiving as they left her ready room. She tried to frown, to look serious, but was not successful. She also noticed that the entire bridge crew (except for Tuvok of course) were smiling. She just smiled some more. *Lord, we must look ridiculous. Like a pair of...* She didn't finish the thought; she felt his hand on her back as they entered the lift. She smiled at him, trying to think of something to say--or was that some way to get out this. His answering smile lit his face, and she turned away. *What was she doing?*
She ordered the lift to stop at the living decks. "Commander, meet you in holodeck two in twenty minutes," she said quietly as they exited the turbo-lift.
"Aye. aye Captain." His voice was light, and she could hear the laughter just below the surface. She watched him walk away and made her way to her quarters.
"Just what are you doing, Kathryn?" She muttered to herself as she looked in her closet for something to wear. "This isn't a date..." She grabbed a dark blue cotton dress and changed out of her uniform.
It very much was a date and she had initiated it. Almost three years of avoiding the issue and she had just plunged in head first. "In for a penny..." She tapped her comm-badge as she finished buttoning the dress. "Janeway to Paris."
A rather surprised Paris responded. "Captain, I thought you were off..."
She interrupted. "Paris, you wouldn't by any chance have a bottle of champagne in that illegal stockpile of yours?"
She heard a slight laugh before he responded. "Real?"
"Preferably."
There was a pause of a couple of seconds that she used to brush out her hair.
"Yes, Captain, there is. Umm..." He didn't finish the question. "When do you want it?"
"Now." She heard Tom's slight laugh again. His mind would be working in overdrive, especially when the scene from the bridge made the rumor mill.
"I'm in my quarters, stop by and pick it up. Captain?"
She ignored his request for more information. "I'll be there in seven minutes. Janeway out." She almost started laughing as she asked the replicator to create a picnic basket, some sandwiches, dessert, and two champagne glasses.
**
Tom was curious. He knew she had a lot to celebrate--coming back from the dead was an excellent reason. But real champagne? There was only one person she could be sharing it with. He smiled. The two of them had entered the rescue shuttle arm in arm, not separating until they had neared Voyager. Tom had watched them from the pilot's seat. He couldn't decide who had needed the contact more--she had looked pretty pale, and the commander had looked very shaken. And the commander had actually called her Kathryn on the shuttle. She'd given him a quick look--and he'd called her Captain the rest of the trip.
His doorchime rang, stopping his train of thought. He grabbed the champagne bottle and moved to answer the door.
"Captain." He glanced over her quickly, she was definitely not dressed for a quite evening alone. "You look better." He handed her the bottle. "Captain, in exchange..."
She glanced at him, her eyes daring him to continue.
"Permission to speak freely." She nodded, so he continued. "Captain, if you're worried about the crew. Don't be. Have fun." He grinned as he stepped back into his quarters, not giving her a chance to respond.
She stared at Paris's door for 2 seconds and shook her head. *Incorrigible.* She smiled again as she looked at the bottle, her eyes opening wide. Not only was the champagne the real stuff--it was amongst the best. She laughed quietly as she put the bottle in the basket. Tom had probably guessed with whom she was going to share the bottle too. No, not probably--definitely.
**
As she rounded the corner to holodeck two, she noticed that Chakotay had also changed out of his uniform. She stopped to admire him, before he turned and smiled at her, "Picnic?"
She blushed under his frank perusal. "Just some sandwiches..." Her thoughts went completely blank as he took her hand and almost embraced her. They were very close. She glanced at their hands then up at his face. "Computer run Janeway 7c." In the back of her head she wondered why she had picked this variation of her Lake George program.
The holodeck doors opened to a small mountain lake, on a late summer evening. The sun was just setting behind the surrounding peaks--oranges and reds reflected off the few thin clouds. The temperature was warm and there were fire flies flickering about.
Chakotay looked about with an appreciative glance. "So where's the boat?" He asked.
She looked at him in shock, "Haven't you finish building it?" Then she laughed, he joined in. "The dock is over by that funny looking tree." She pointed off to their right. She stopped walking to reminisce about this site. "This was always one of my favorite spots on Earth. I would come here to walk and sail." Her mind was far away.
He was still holding her hand with his left hand, so he took the basket from her with his right. They'd only walked another 20 steps when he stopped. She looked at him quickly--he was just looking at her, the kind of look that caused her to stop breathing and close her eyes. She practically jumped when she felt his lips on her forehead. Opening her eyes she looked at him. When that alien had said her crew loved her--she had only been able to think of one person. She tried to smile as she looked away and tried to think of something else.
Her boat from a past long ago. She remembered the many times she had gone sailing on this lake, usually alone. It was a small sail boat--it had been the test model designed by a friend of her sister. Phebe hadn't liked sailing, but Kathryn had taken to it. It wasn't a fast boat, but stable, and uncomplicated. She had taken this holographic image almost 14 years ago. She paused--only a couple of years after her father had died.
Chakotay helped her untie the little sailboat--he'd never seen one like it and climbed aboard. He watched her as she guided the boat carefully out of the dock, into the center of the calm lake. She was sitting with her back toward him, and he watched happily.
"Computer," her alto voice said. "Initiate auto-pilot." She turned to look at her passenger. She nodded to the basket. "Chakotay?"
He opened the basket and took out the bottle of champagne. He raised his eyebrows in surprise. "Where did you find this?"
She blushed and laughed. "Blackmail, commander. Except I'm not exactly sure who is blackmailing whom."
He laughed. "I wouldn't think Tom" (he guessed) "was too surprised by the request--he spent most of the shuttle trip watching us, instead of flying it."
"That combined with the scene on the bridge..."
"The rumor mill will be in full gear." He watched her to see how she would react.
She just shrugged her shoulders. "Active, yes. Open it. I haven't had champagne for over three years." She watched him very carefully undo the wire cage. There was no wild explosion, just a quiet pop. "Not bad," she said as she took the offered glass. They both sipped it and smiled. Kathryn giggled. "The sandwiches aren't really meant to be eaten with champagne...but it beat whatever Neelix was making."
"Topped with Vulcan poetry." They both laughed.
"So, what will you do for the next talent show?"
He blushed, "I have no idea, take bridge duty that night?" He frowned when she shook her head.
"Tuvok will be on the bridge."
"You're making this difficult, Kathryn..." He removed a sandwich from the basket and handed it to her; he took another for himself. "I could carve something?" He said between bites. He grinned, "I could read some poetry."
She searched his face carefully, "I don't think so Commander." No, not with that grin. She smiled as he pouted, then smiled again.
She finished her sandwich and handed him her empty glass. "One more--just half a glass."
He poured it, then some more for himself. "I'd like to propose a toast." She nodded. "To life."
She smiled, then added, "To life's possibilities." Their eyes met and both started to smile as they looked away to watch the full moon start to rise. She ordered the computer to disengage the auto-pilot and again took control of the boat.
Chakotay watched her carefully. He'd read her report on what had happened. Very dry, very unemotional. He knew that the experience had disturbed her, it had to have been extremely emotional. It had been for him. The agony of knowing she was *dead,* that the only way she could survive until help had come was for him to perform CPR, then when the Doc arrived and they had found the alien presence. He closed his eyes. His report was also short, terse, and woefully incomplete.
He opened his eyes, when she shook his shoulder. "Chakotay, thanks a lot. Falling asleep on me."
"Sorry." He noticed she had docked the boat. "How about a walk."
"I'd like that." She waited for him to climb out of her boat and then took his arm. They walked slowly, listening to the night sounds of the lake and watching the fireflies. She leaned her head against his shoulder as they walked. Neither said anything as they wandered around the lake.
"Chakotay, I'd like to talk about it..." He nodded and escorted her to a rock where she sat down and looked vacantly across the lake. "I don't know where to start." The happiness of being alive tempered by the horrifying memories of her *deaths.* She shivered. How much of her experience was the alien's doing. Had he reacted to her *death* the way she had seen him or had that been the alien manipulating her mind. Or, and this caused her considerable pause...Or had the experience been based upon her expectations, wishes...
He recognized what was happening--the numbness of shock was wearing off, she was starting to remember, to analyze what had happened. He sat down beside her and took her in his arms. "Kathryn talk all you want--I'll listen." He pulled her close. She so rarely showed emotions--even in private she was always the even-tempered Captain, except for occasional anger, especially when her crew's safety was involved. New Earth had been the only time where she had let her emotions start to show--anger, sadness...Joy. There just hadn't been enough time before Voyager had returned.
She looked at his face, remembering how he had looked in the cave, the sorrow, the tears. "It's been a long time since we've been alone, I've missed that. Just talking, no ship's business, crew reports, supply lists to worry about. Remember on New Earth we would sit around a fire and talk. Or just sit."
"Yes," that seemed so long ago. "Would you like me to make a fire."
She smiled at him and nodded. "Would you like some help?"
"Think-you remember how?" He teased and was rewarded with a silvery laugh.
"Yes, just ask the computer."
"That's cheating."
She ignored that. "Computer one campfire in a one meter ring two meters in front of us." She walked over to the blazing fire and rubbed her hands over it, then she turned to look at him as she sat down by the fire. He moved to sit beside her.
She leaned against his legs, her head resting on his knees, and watched the fire. The flames leapt and danced about, mesmerizing her...reminding her of the entry to the alien matrix. She shuddered as she thought back to the shuttle accident and felt his hands tighten on her shoulders. He shifted position and pulled her around so that she was facing him, her back resting on his thighs.
"I don't remember much of what happened in great detail, we were on the shuttle, then there was some sort of magnetic storm and...It was like being in a temporal loop, things repeated, except each time they got worse. First there was the crash, then the Vidiian who strangled me, then the shuttle was attacked by a Vidiian ship or was it two. The alien entity was trying to convince me to give-up, every time I resisted he made the subsequent event worse than before. Some of the details are hazy--some are still so real. Like the phage..." *And what happened afterwards,* she added to herself. She closed her eyes trying to block out that memory--the chill she had felt at the Doctor's words caused her to shudder. Chakotay gathered her in his arms and held her close to his chest. She wrapped her arms around his waist. "Then I was spectator at my own death and memorial service. That was...terrifying. I remember watching you performing CPR waiting for the rescue shuttle. Except I don't know if that was real or not." She looked up at him, the horror still fresh on her face.
He smiled, his own thoughts dancing in his head. "I was terrified I had lost you, before...Before I ever told you how much you mean to me." His voice dropped to a whisper. "I once said the angry warrior had found peace, but I never said that I had also found love." He traced her cheek and under her jaw with his fingers.
Their eyes watched each other, noting how the firelight reflected off each other's faces, the mirroring of the fire in their eyes.
"It was at my memorial service," she whispered after several minutes where the only noise had been the crackling wood and the chorus of frogs around the lake. "The alien was trying to convince me to let go, to come away. And I couldn't. He told me that by staying I would become lonely." She smiled ruefully. "And all I could think was that I couldn't be more lonely than I sometimes felt before. Shutting myself away, avoiding what I wanted, needed. Hiding away. I remember thinking as I watched the faces of the crew, their sadness and...and you," she said very quietly, "that if I ever woke up from this nightmare I would..." She reached up with her hand and ran her fingers along his tattoo, down his chin and along his mouth. A mouth that quirked into a smile. She smiled in return. "The woman warrior found her angry warrior to be loyal, intelligent, the perfect foil for her leadership style. They complimented each other. But she discovered more. He was kind, understanding, a good friend, and extremely patient. Knowing that one day she would realize or acknowledge what he and practically everybody in the tribe had known for who knows how long." She laughed gently, her eyes focused on the hollow of his neck. "One day she did, but this woman warrior was stubborn and wouldn't allow herself to admit to having any feelings for her second-in-command. But she did know that with him at her side she too had found peace and were she ever to admit it...love." She raised her eyes and looked into his intently. "This won't be easy, but I don't want to deny my feelings for you any longer."
Their lips met briefly. They looked at each other, their eyes only inches apart. Their lips met again and each felt a sense of belonging, of how right this was. They separated and stood. He took her hand and kissed her fingers.
They made their way slowly to the holodeck door. "End and save program," she called out. Just before the doors opened they kissed again. Silently they walked to the lift before parting, each to their own quarters, knowing that a new and very different future was in store for them.
****
Tom sat at the dining table poking at his food. He'd eaten some of it, but this morning's meal was not one of Neelix's better efforts. It had been such a strange couple of days. The shuttle crash, the Captain's death, her recovery. All day yesterday the crew had been somber, as they walked the ship and performed their duties. A state of shock--knowing that they had almost lost her, even Tuvok seemed a bit more thoughtful. He'd heard she'd shown up on the bridge to do some reports. Contrary to the Doctor's orders. So, what else was new.
Tom smiled as he recollected the previous night. A bottle of Champagne. He hoped they hadn't examined the bottle too closely. One of the crew had *borrowed* it from that bar on DS-9. Then he had won it in a poker game.
"Morning Tom," B'Elanna said. "You look lost in thought."
He shook his head, "Where's your shadow?"
B'Elanna glared at him, "Voric's working in engineering. He's starting to try my patience."
Tom almost laughed as he continued to tease her, "Someone should warn him that trying the patience of a Klingon can be hazardous..." He stopped when her glare intensified and went back to eating his breakfast.
"So, did you hear?" She asked.
Tom looked up, "What?"
"I can't believe that. You really didn't hear? Last evening Chakotay showed up with a rose for the Captain."
Tom raised his eyebrows and laughed, "That isn't all..." B'Elanna waited for him to continue. Tom grinned. "I gave her a bottle of champagne last night."
B'Elanna coughed as she swallowed her coffee wrong. "Really," she sputtered. She took another sip. "Tom, what happened on the planet?"
"I stayed in the shuttle. Doc or Tuvok could tell you more." As if either would talk. Both knew that Chakotay wouldn't say either. "She died and the Commander performed CPR for over half an hour before her heart started beating on it's own--there was some sort of alien trying to prevent her complete recovery. B'Elanna," he looked around to make sure no one else was listening. "Remember how they were arm in arm at the luau?" She nodded. "They had their arms wrapped around each other when they boarded the shuttle." He smiled slightly. "I wonder if they realized what they both nearly lost."
B'Elanna smiled. "Could be." Then she frowned and groaned. "My shadow, as you so elegantly put it, just entered. What is with him?"
"Maybe he has a crush on you?" Tom asked, his voice teasing her. Then he frowned. He wasn't quite sure that he liked that idea. "I've got to run. I promised to look at the recovered shuttle--it looks like we will be able to repair it."
B'Elanna watched him leave and closed her eyes as her *shadow* sat down. "Good morning Lieutenant," Voric said in that deep voice she was getting tired of hearing. Maybe Tom was right...
****
Kathryn stood two full minutes outside the door. Every time she moved to open it, she stopped. Her worst memories were of this place. It had all been part of the alien's mind-game. She knew that, but yet...
The worst and strongest memories/nightmares had happened here: she could still feel the stab of horror as she listened to the Doctor so calmly list off the reasons why she must die. The look of nonchalance as he poisoned her. Her fear, the panic when there was nothing she could do.
Nothing.
She took a deep breath and stepped toward the sick-bay doors. They slid open and she stepped inside, a wave of cold terror washed over her. *It wasn't real, Kathryn. It wasn't real.* She repeated this over and over.
"Good morning Captain," the Doc said as cheerfully as he ever did. "How are you feeling this morning?"
She stood there, not responding for a second. "I'm fine. In fact, I think this is a waste of your precious time. If..."
"Captain, is there something wrong?" He picked his tricorder up and walked toward her.
"No, nothing." In the other memories her death had been caused by characters she didn't know or situations beyond her control. But she knew the Doctor, she had trusted him, she had been so sure he would never do anything like that.
The Doctor looked at his tricorder. The readings were most interesting. Increased heart and respiration rate, increased adrenaline levels. She was in a state of panic. He accessed her computer files about her experience. There was no reason why sick bay--and he paused--or himself, should cause this type of reaction. He analyzed her last visit. She had been in shock. Kes, the Commander and Tuvok had been here too. But he hadn't noted this reaction then.
"Captain, I'm showing you have made a full recovery, but I am still ordering limited duty for another two days." He needed more information. She would only say 'nothing' if he asked what was wrong.
She nodded and quickly left. He watched the doors as they closed behind her. Most puzzling. "Commander Chakotay, please activate the Emergency Medical Channel."
"Yes Doctor?" Came the reply.
"Can I see you in sick-bay. It's about the Captain." He too had noticed how close the Captain and Commander had been on the rescue shuttle. He also decided to contact Kes.
Minutes later she arrived, followed by the Commander.
"Is something wrong?" Chakotay asked. After almost losing her once, he had become worried when the Doc had contacted him.
"Her health is fine. Has she talked to you about her experiences."
Chakotay nodded slightly. "A little. She died several times and each time was worse than before. You have most of this information. What..." He used his hands to indicate his concern and puzzlement.
"I don't know. She came by for her examination and was in a state of panic. I think something happened here..."
Kes went to the terminal and pulled up the Captain's report on the alien being. There was silence as she and the Commander read it. "Nothing...Wait." She paused as she paged back in the report. "Curious. She mentions having the phage, but doesn't describe the moments up to her death." She stepped aside so that Chakotay could reread that section. He looked at her.
"Most curious," the Doc said. "You're right. That sequence occurred on the ship...She would have been in sick-bay." The trio looked at each other.
"Did you ask her?" Kes asked.
"No, she wouldn't have said anything. She has otherwise made a complete recovery. When I said she was on limited duty for another two days she didn't even argue, she just left."
Chakotay raised his eyebrows, that was definitely not like Kathryn. "I'll talk to her," he said quietly.
**
Chakotay stood outside her quarters--where she had retreated after leaving sick-bay. He'd told Tuvok he was in command for the rest of the day, with the briefest of explanations. The Vulcan had just nodded.
He was about to ring the chime again when the door slid open.
"Commander, something wrong?" She stood up from the sofa, her voice sounded a bit forced he thought.
"No, the ship's fine." He looked at her, just wanting to take her in his arms and telling her everything would be all right. "I've been talking to the Doctor." He saw her stiffen. "He was concerned about your reaction to sick-bay."
She forced a smile. "No reaction Commander, just tired of being on limited duty."
He pulled out the PADD the Doc had downloaded her bio-statistics from the examination to. "No reaction? What do you call an increased heart rate, increased respiration, increased adrenaline levels?"
She didn't say anything for a second. "I don't want to talk about it. It was nothing."
"Some nothing. What happened in sick-bay?"
"I went in for the Doc to examine me..."
"Kathryn." He looked at her sympathetically. "The phage..."
She looked at him, feeling the same state of panic. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"Kathryn, talk to me, don't shut me out. Please."
She opened her eyes and looked at him. She heard the same pain in his voice as she had heard when he begged her not to die. To not leave him. She closed her eyes again. "I...I went to sick-bay where the Doc told me I had the phage. I had been hallucinating about the temporal loops. Except that the Vidiian still had tried to strangle me. Doc told me that was probably how..." She again opened her eyes. Not wanting to see the memory. He moved closer and she let him hold her. So far her story tallied with her report. "He sedated me. When I woke up he told me...He told me...Oh God it was awful." She stood shivering in his arms. "It's my most powerful memory. I remember the other events, but this one is so vivid: the details, the words, the smells, the emotions are all so clear, so real. I know it didn't happen. I'm here." She tried to smile. "We're far from the Vidiians and the Doctor would never commit murder." Her voice faded to an almost imperceptible whisper.
He looked at her, the shock clearly on his face as he started to understand the part of the story she hadn't told. "Murder?" He asked very softly. He could feel her nod as he pulled her closer. "Everything is all right. It wasn't real." He remembered how real it had been for him, the thought of losing her. "Kathryn, it will be better if you talk about it."
"I know. I learned that the hard way. I just don't know how to tell what happened." She paused, drawing comfort from his presence and touch. "Doc sedated me, saying he would try to find a cure. The phage was a more virulent form." She looked up at him. "I remember when he told me I had the phage, that I had asked about you." There was a tinge of sorrow in her voice. "When I woke-up, I was already suffering from the disease, and then he told me he had found no cure." She started to speak very fast, "He said there was no cure, no hope, and only one choice, it was better that way--and he poisoned me *for the good of the ship*" Chakotay pulled her tighter to his body. "I didn't want to die, I fought, I argued, but he was so calm, so sure of himself."
Chakotay kissed the top of her head. "That's my Kathryn--fight 'til the end." To have someone you trust, behave like that, even in a dream/hallucination.
"Each death was worse than before. It was after that, that I became an observer. First on the planet watching you, wanting so much to comfort you. To tell you it was a bad dream. Wanting you to tell me the same. And now I know it was a bad dream, and yet...Yet, when I went to sick-bay it was again so real. I kept waiting for the Doc to tell me I had the phage. And all he said was I was fine. I didn't even argue with him about limited duty--I just left before he could discover I had it. I felt foolish at the same time."
"You foolish?" He shook his head. "Stubborn definitely, but not foolish." He took her chin in his hand and tilted it upward. They looked at each other for a moment before he leaned down and kissed her gently. "Now, you need..."
"Yes?" She asked quietly.
"To go argue with the Doc and tell him you are fit to return to active duty, now. None of this limited duty stuff."
****
Captain Janeway sat in her ready room staring at the fading rose he had given her. Was it really only three days ago. She smiled wistfully. She had left it that night, forgotten until she had returned to duty. It had been a beautiful rose--he'd given it to her. She had wondered briefly at the time why a pink-and-yellow rose not a red one...Now she knew. She had to smile at his subtlety, she had just discovered the hidden meaning 10 minutes ago.
**
Kes had come by with a report on food supplies and a request for more garden space. She'd smiled at the rose. "He picked it in the garden."
Kathryn looked at her, "It must have caused quite a stir among the crew."
Kes laughed quietly, "Yes. But they are wondering why a Peace Rose not a red one?"
**
Peace Rose.
Kathryn hadn't answered the question. She'd taken the report and had promised to look into more space for the garden. And then had spent the past ten minutes smiling at the rose.
She knew though, knew exactly why he had given her this rose: it was his way of reminding her of the might-of-beens of New Earth and the possibilities here on Voyager.
*...To know the true meaning of peace...*
**** ****
Kathryn Janeway sat on the bridge. Lieutenant Carey in engineering had just reported that the external communication system was down. She tapped her console, then stopped. She was suppose to remain calm. They had been out of contact with the away-team for over five hours--ever since they had beamed Neelix back to the ship. She tapped her console again. Finally she contacted engineering again. "Carey, have a shuttle prepared to go to the surface."
"Captain, we've already checked...Umm, Captain this is not a *natural* problem. In the past fifteen minutes, someone has very carefully eliminated anyway of communicating with the planet."
Janeway resisted the urge to tap her console again, she noticed the others on the bridge had heard though. "How long to repair?"
"We should have communication back-on-line in thirty minutes, transporters in forty-five. Fixing the systems on the shuttles will take a little longer."
"Very well. Keep me informed.". She stood. "Ensign Kim, you have the bridge, I'll be in my ready room."
"Yes, ma'am."
She entered her ready-room and stood by her desk and closed her eyes briefly. Chemical imbalances, hormones...Just what Voyager needed. She opened her eyes and tapped her comm-badge. "Janeway to sick-bay."
"Yes Captain," the Doc responded.
"What is the condition of Ensign Voric?"
There was a pause. "I'm showing that his brain activity is close to normal."
"So he is on the ship?" It had been a thought.
"Captain?"
"Just wondering."
"Is something wrong?" Doc asked.
"Outside that there has been some sabotage, we can't contact the away-team..." *and several of my crew are behaving strangely. Why nothing,* she smiled wryly to herself.
"I will check on the Ensign." Doc answered. There was silence as she looked out at the stars.
"Why nothing at all," she said to herself. "Just another *normal* day in the delta quadrant."
"Doctor to Janeway. Ensign Voric is not in his quarters. He rigged a program to keep repeating his vital signs."
"Damn. Janeway to engineering. Lieutenant Carey, get someone to go over the transporter logs with a fine-toothed comb. Right-away."
"Yes, Captain."
Janeway placed both her hands on her forehead. Sex, chemical imbalances, hormones. God, what a day. She again tapped her comm-badge, this time to contact Tuvok's second-in-command. "Janeway to Ensign Balera. Please report to the bridge."
She'd have a second and third away-team ready to send to the planet when they re-established communication.
****
The Captain had sighed with relief when she'd heard his voice. Now that communication had been restored, things might actually start returning to normal. They were beaming back onboard. Chakotay had given her a brief outline of what he had offered the aliens. Yet she knew, there was something else. In the almost three years they had known each other, their professional and personal relationships were evolving beyond Star Fleet norms. There were times when they seemed to read each others' minds. And this was one of them. It was what he hadn't said about the planet that was causing her unease. She nodded at the young crewman standing at the transporter console, and the five crew from the planet appeared. Kes and the Doc stepped forward to exam B'Elanna, Tom, and Voric. No one spoke. After they went to sick-bay accompanied by Tuvok, she looked at Chakotay, who seemed to be deep in thought. "Commander, report."
He looked at her, then the crewman. The crewman slipped out. "The Pon Far seems to have resolved itself..."
"What's wrong?"
"The Tsikari said that it took the invaders less than an hour to wipe out the planet's population."
Her eyes opened wide in alarm. "An hour? How long ago?"
"The ruins indicate maybe about sixty years. They've lived in mortal terror of the invader's returning ever since."
She stared at the wall for a second. "Sixty years is a long time." That thought did nothing to calm her. "Commander, you'll be in charge of helping the inhabitants. I'm going to assign Tuvok and Harry to work on the other...Damn. We've been lucky so far." She looked at him, he just nodded. So much for returning to normal--things had just become worse.
****
Janeway looked at the skeleton again and felt his hand take hers. They had known of course, but until this moment there had been a chance they were wrong.
They hadn't been. She tapped her comm-badge with her free hand. "Janeway to the Doctor."
"Captain," came his response.
"Please beam down to the planet and bring a forensics kit."
"Captain! Did something happen? Shouldn't you contact Tuvok?" Doc sounded worried.
She looked at Chakotay, so far they had not made any of their now-confirmed suspicions public. "Doc. Just do it. It's a skeleton we want you to look at."
Chakotay looked back at the skeleton. "The ruins seemed much older. The Tsikari have closed themselves off, they haven't responded to our requests for a meeting."
She shook her head. "This is not 60 years old," she indicated the skeleton. "I don't think it's a year old." She looked up toward the sky. "Speed up the operation. We promised the Tsikari to hide their ruins. And we've done, what sixty percent..."
"Seventy."
"But I can't risk the ship or crew, ten hours and everybody is back on board."
"Aye, aye Captain." There was a crash and some words from behind them.
"Couldn't you have found a more convenient site," the Doc muttered as he brushed the leaves off his uniform. Kes stood behind, both were laden with gear. "Now, Captain. What is so important..." He saw the skeleton and stopped. Kes also saw it, she could sense from the two humans that it was very significant. But it meant nothing to her. Doc looked at the two commanding officers and again at the skeleton. "Interesting."
"What can you tell us?" Janeway asked.
"Outside that this looks to be a Borg skeleton. My knowledge of Borg pathology and physiology being limited--I would only be guessing, but considering the humidity and other factors--this skeleton has not been here a year." He leaned down for a closer examination. "Still some dermal tissue present, also cartilage." He spoke into his data-PADD. His looked down at the hands. "Most of the small bones are still present." He looked at the commander, "Are there small animals on this planet?"
Chakotay nodded. "We keep finding their burrows. They're all over the place." He released the captain's hand. She smiled slightly at him.
The Doc was ignoring them. Kes had moved over to help him. He continued speaking, "No signs of the skeleton being disturbed by larger animals. Missing several of the bones of the left hand. Clothing has decayed completely in some spots, less in others. A quick assessment suggests the victim did not die here." He looked at Janeway. "Captain, I don't know enough about the biology of this planet. But comparing the climate and biology to other planets, I can make some good guesses. Notice there are no plants growing between the bones, there are no insect larvae on the skeleton--though I do detect signs they were once there. And the fact the skeleton is relatively undisturbed. It is a humanoid skeleton, species unknown. Hmmm." He moved to kneel by the skull. He gently rolled it over. "Well, detective, the cause of death was a sharp blow to the back of the head." He looked at the splintering in the back of the skull with a critical eye. "Permission to bring the skeleton aboard the ship."
Janeway nodded. "See something?"
Doc frowned, "I need to do some further testing first...If I remember my history right, the Enterprise first met the Borg in the Delta Quadrant."
"Yes, Q introduced us." Janeway responded. They noticed that Kes was not following the conversation.
Doc answered the Ocampan's unasked question. "The Borg make the Vidiians seem friendly. Well, let's get this ready for transport."
"I want a full report as soon as possible." Janeway stood. "Commander, senior staff meeting in five hours. Doc, bring your preliminary report. And Commander have Neelix attend.
****
Tom sat on his bed and ran his hand through his hair. He had yet to ask B'Elanna exactly what she had meant in the lift. Originally he had planned on asking her when they had left orbit, but with the discovery that the Borg had been in the area...
He thought back to five days earlier--
**
Harry looked tired, Tom thought as the young ensign joined him in the mess hall. Tom poked at his food waiting for Harry to make some comment about the events on the planet, but nothing came. "Harry, is everything all right?"
Harry looked at his tray and pushed it away. "Pray we're wrong," he said and walked away. Tom watched him leave and shook his head. There was something going on. Chakotay and Tuvok had seemed distracted after finding him and B'Elanna in the tunnels. Hard to put his finger on what it was, but it was more than the Pon Far bothering them. His comm-badge chirped. "Paris here," he responded automatically.
"Lieutenant, please report to the bridge," the Captain's voice said. "I'm beaming down to the planet, you're in command."
"Aye Captain." He stood and dumped his tray in the recycler. This unplanned visit and Harry's reticence were puzzling, and he knew they were somehow related.
She was off the ship for only a hour, but didn't return to the bridge until another hour after that. Tom noted that there was flurry activity in sick-bay and that soon after she had left, both the Doc and Kes had also beamed down to the planet.
Tom saw B'Elanna enter the bridge and smiled at her. She had almost smiled back. He looked away--she still seemed a bit embarrassed about everything. And everyone knew. There had been no way of keeping what happened on the planet a secret, especially after Voric had shown up and suffered another dislocated jaw for his efforts. Voric was fine now and trying to appear as if nothing had happened. His Vulcan sense of privacy was horribly violated by the public knowledge...
"Tom," B'Elanna asked. "You planning on coming to the meeting or sleeping in the Captain's chair?"
Slowly he stood and watched her leave the bridge and then followed her to the briefing room.
**
Five days ago. One word and their little world had changed again. They had always been alone, isolated--dependent on no one and everyone. But the isolation was now very real...
****
Voyager had left Tsikari space a week ago. The ship's captain was staring at the infinite expanse of space from her quarters. Wishing they had never set foot on that planet.
Maybe it was better this way, to positively know that somewhere out there...But the peace she had felt before their arrival at Tsikari had vaporized at the sight of that skeleton. She wondered if she would ever find that sense of peace again.
Somewhere out there...
*Your's is a dangerous profession,* the alien entity had said. She'd always known that, but this past week it had seemed so tangible. "As if I needed something else to worry about," she muttered quietly to herself. It had not been a good month, first that alien entity and now the Borg. She turned back to her desk and picked up Tuvok's report and thought back to the skeleton. Neelix hadn't known of the Borg--except through myths and rumors.
Borg pathology was not well studied, Doc had only been able to determine a few things--this one had died when hit on the back of the head and hadn't been in particularly good health. He'd also determined the skeleton was older: possibly it had lain there as long as ten years. Something about the assimilation process slowed the decay.
Voyager was no match for the Borg, no Federation ship had been. That had been proved seven years earlier. It had been luck and human cunning that had defeated them, not superior weaponry. Janeway almost smiled. Her crew had shown a surprisingly *cunning* side. But she'd still rather avoid meeting the Borg.
Her doorchime rang. "Enter." She looked up from the report she was holding and smiled. "Chakotay..."
"I thought so. You should be asleep."
"Couldn't."
"I don't think too many of the crew are asleep."
"You checking on everybody..."
"Just doing my job. Captain...Kathryn..." She looked at him. "You should try to get some sleep." *She'd looked tired the past couple of days,* he thought.
"So should you," she responded, then paused. "Have you ever seen the carnage of a Borg attack. The destruction..."
"Is complete and total," he added quietly. "Worrying about it is not going to do anybody any good. We may never see them."
She shook her head. "They've been to Tsikari at least twice."
"We've pulled most of the information in the computer database and we're working on various scenarios. Lieutenant Tuvok and I are preparing training drills. Engineering is in the process of reassessing all defensive and offensive systems. All we can do is prepare."
"Prepare. It doesn't seem like enough." Her thoughts were far away. "I lost several close friends at Wolf 359."
"So did I Kathryn. Almost everybody did."
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to imply that I was the only one." She tried to smile. "You're a good friend. I appreciate that. It's nice having someone I can reveal some of my darker thoughts to."
He took her hand and brought it to his lips. "Just a friend?" He whispered.
"No." *You've been more than a friend for a long time.* She looked at his face, her eyes searching his. She looked down quickly--not sure if she was ready for what she saw there and felt within herself. She closed her eyes and felt his lips on her forehead, then along her cheek as they sought hers. So far the few kisses they had shared since her experience with the alien had been gentle, tame. Just before his lips touched hers--she knew this time would be different.
Their lips met and he pulled her tight to him, she was very aware of everything: their reactions to each other; the silence surrounding them; every protocol she--they--were about to throw out the window.
He stepped back half a step--his arms still wrapped around her, both stood silent, stunned--overwhelmed by the heat of their emotions.
He laughed quietly. "This wasn't exactly what I had in mind," he whispered huskily as he kissed the top of her head.
"What did you have mind?" She asked teasingly as she ducked out of his arms.
"To see how you were doing. But, Kathryn..." He didn't finish the question.
She smiled. *So much for protocol.* She looked out the window again.
Somewhere out there...
The mood vanished.
He sensed her mood shift. "Kathryn, we've survived everything else the delta-quadrant has thrown at us. Including being thrown here in the first place." He stared at the back of her head, "Well, we should get some sleep. Good-night, sleep well."
"You too." She stood there as she heard the door slide open then close.
**
He left sick-bay alone and confused. His mind racing through the happenings of the past four days. They had used him. She had used him. He had tried to help them and they had used him. He reached his quarters, his anger starting to surface, as he entered his security code and the doors opened.
*What the hell had happened,* Chakotay thought as he sat down hard on the sofa. He remembered almost everything, and wanted so much to forget all of it. Even if the Captain didn't have him up on charges, Kathryn might never speak to him again. He'd never felt such an overwhelming sense of having made the worst mistake of his life. Even though the Doctor and Captain said he hadn't been in control he couldn't convince himself. He'd felt like he'd been in control. He tried to block the images of Riley from his mind, how she had responded to him...Or was it how he had responded to her. It didn't matter, he'd betrayed the ship and Kathryn. Even Seska now seemed like a minor incident compared to this. He needed to contact his spirit guide, but his soul was too upset, restless, and angry to meditate. He stood again and started to pace. His thoughts still racing as he walked back and forth.
"Bloody idiot," he muttered. He needed to do something--anything to vent the frustration and anger he felt. He checked, Holodeck 2 wasn't in use. He walked out of his quarters, ignoring everybody he passed and made his way to the holodecks. "Computer run program Torres 12 level 3." Klingon exercise programs were a good way to vent anger, he'd discovered that years ago. The computer responded and he entered.
**
Kathryn Janeway sat in her ready room staring at the reports but no longer reading them, included were the reports filed by the Enterprise some 7 years ago--their Captain had been assimlitated by the Borg and rescued. She'd met the Enterprise's Captain Picard many times. They had attended several Star Fleet meetings, briefings, and other functions. What she wanted was his psychological profile from afterwards, but that file would be confidential and not even in Voyager's database. She did know that he had taken an extended leave afterwards. Something she could not offer the Commander. The Doc had ordered him to take a week off, and she'd quietly asked Kes to talk with him. The young Ocampan was the closest thing they had to a ship's counselor.
She again started reading the Commander's report, it was vague and very incomplete. More had happened on that planet, more than he was willing to describe. Her stomach felt queasy as she came to one conclusion--she'd watched him and Dr. Frazier when they had been discussing reactivating the Borg ship. There had been some kind of link. She just hadn't been sure of what kind at the time. She still wasn't sure, but it had been more than a simple mind link. A partial assimilation and more...She didn't know how to respond to that conclusion--forgive him, ignore it, or tell him they were through. The Doc had said that the Commander hadn't been in control, but it didn't help the hurt she felt.
Star Fleet had forgiven Picard, despite the destruction at Wolf 359, but many individuals had not. Her first First Officer years ago had been one of the unforgiving. He'd lost his family then, and had never kept his anger at Star Fleet and Picard a secret. She'd lost a number of good friends, but had personally never really thought about how she felt about Picard's involvement. He had also managed to help stop the Borg, something many ignored.
Something command school did not teach. What to do with a First Officer you are in love with, when he sleeps with the enemy. "How could you," she whispered angrily, slamming the data-PADD she was holding on her desk. She felt the moisture well up in her eyes. "Damn you, damn the delta-quadrant, and damn the caretaker..." The thought of crying only made her angrier.
**
Dreams were of no help, her dreams were disjointed, rapid, frightening. Several times during the night she woke, terrified. Dreams of Vidiians, viruses swarming through her body, the Doctor telling her it was in the best interest of the ship that she die. And other dreams of not being in control, walking toward a cliff and not being able to stop before falling. She woke quickly, her stomach still sinking, that feeling of free fall clutching her being. Try as she might, she could not throw that image. After tossing and turning for maybe half an hour she finally asked, "Computer, what time is it?"
"The time is zero three thirty."
She climbed out of bed, the world around her in the dark seemed alien, unknown. "Increase illumination to fifteen percent." With a little light the place became familiar. She moved to her desk and sat down to read the repair reports.
**
The Commander's dreams were equally disturbing and he also rose early in the morning. He threw on some civilian clothes and exited his quarters. The hour was a guarantee that he would meet no one. He slowed down as he walked by her quarters, but didn't stop. He couldn't face her, not yet. They'd have to talk, he knew that. He'd left a lot out of his report, he wondered if she knew anyway. He walked for an hour before he found himself at the hydroponics garden. He entered and wandered around the aisles. He stopped when he came to Neelix's tomatoes. His thoughts went to a happier time, when they had been alone on New Earth. Thoughts of what might have been. Of what had been just a few days earlier. There was a sound behind him, he turned quickly. "Kes?"
Kes smiled. "You're up late, Commander? Is everything OK?"
"Actually it's up early." He turned to look at the tomato plants.
"Commander, are you all right?" She asked, her voice full of concern.
"I couldn't sleep. Anyway can you convince the Doc to let me return to active duty--I'll..."
"You need rest."
"No, I need work, so I don't think..." He realized he's said more than he wanted.
She nodded her head. "Yes," she said in a tone encouraging him to talk more.
"She asked you to talk to me, didn't she?"
"The Captain's worried about you. She was worried about you while you were gone. Even if she didn't show it. She loves you."
He didn't respond.
Kes looked at him curiously--she'd sensed something more had happened on the planet. "The Doctor said you were not in control. You were not responsible..."
He turned quickly, "I was there, I should have..."
"Should and could are two different things. This Doctor Frasier, something happened." She wasn't surprised when he nodded.
"After they completed the link, the sensations were..." He ran his hand through his hair as he remembered what he had spent so much time trying to forget.
"They couldn't have been all bad, they destroyed the Borg ship."
"No, they weren't," he admitted, but he still felt like he'd been used. "They controlled my mind and I didn't realize it at the time."
"It's a weird feeling." He looked at her surprised as she continued. "To be aware of what was going on, but not being able to do anything. To be cornered in the back of your mind and have to fight to reclaim yourself."
"I didn't fight." He remembered back to the time she was referring too.
"I always felt guilty. When Tiernan took control of my mind I should have fought harder, I should have done more. I put my friends in danger, and I betrayed Neelix, several times over."
"He's forgiven you." He almost smiled. He was not the first person this sort of thing had happened to on Voyager or in the galaxy.
She nodded. "But I haven't tried to be forgiven. The whole incident still bothers me, the ease at which I attempted to seduce others. I no longer know what I want. Neelix has been very understanding, but..." She looked at the Commander, "If you know what you want, do something about it. Don't let this incident become a chasm between you." She smiled, "You should try to get some sleep. And Commander, you should talk to her. She needs reassurance too." The whole ship needed reassurance, the kind that could only come from the Captain--the crew needed to know that she still trusted her first officer. Kes decided to talk to the Doc about allowing the Commander to return to active duty in a couple of days.
****
She had already been up three hours when she reported to the bridge. It was going to be a long day. Stifling a yawn, Janeway told Tuvok she'd be in her ready room. She replicated her third cup of coffee that morning and sat at her desk. She picked up the report from the Enterprise again. It was fascinating reading. She was beginning to understand what the Commander had been through. She still felt a twinge in her stomach when she thought of Dr. Riley Frazier. She remembered his behavior toward her in her briefing room and then in sick-bay. Different, subtle differences in his behavior toward her perhaps, but they were there. He had been pretty upset with himself when he'd left sick-bay last night, she thought. She thought back to Seska. Chakotay was good at blaming himself for other people's actions. He'd blamed himself for Seska--even though there was no way he could have known she wasn't Bajoran. She knew that the almost two years since her initial betrayal of him, he'd calmed down--he'd found *peace*. He wouldn't make this recent *betrayal* a personal vendetta.
She looked at her schedule for the day. Straight forward. Staff meeting at 1300, and a meeting with the science department chiefs at 1600. She pulled the reports she wanted to read and leaned back in her chair.
**
Her comm-badge chirped. She looked at the chronometer as she answered the call. She'd been reading for a little over an hour. "Janeway here."
"Captain," it was Kes. "The Doc and I would like to meet with you in sick-bay."
"Very well. I'll be there in five minutes." She glanced out the window. She could guess what this was going to be about.
**
Kes turned to look at the door when the Captain entered. "Good morning Captain."
"Kes, Doc. What?"
"Good morning, Captain. We were just discussing the Commander's condition. Kes thinks we should allow him to return to active duty tomorrow..."
Janeway looked at them, a slight smile on her face. "I'll leave that decision to you, but we all know that he is probably reading reports and working on crew schedules."
The Doc frowned, "Sounds typical of the command structure of this ship. You both find ways to ignore my instructions. Oh, don't think I didn't notice that you were working before I cleared you to return to duty. As Chief Medical Officer it is within my authority to order you..."
"Yes Doctor. But doing nothing is not healthy. It doesn't agree with my disposition."
The Doc looked at her and shook his head. "You two are the most stubborn pair on this ship. I'll allow him limited duty for two days starting tomorrow--and then after a complete examination I'll decide whether to allow him to return to full duty." He shook his head again.
Kes smiled, "I'm sure the Commander will be pleased. Captain did you sleep well last night?" She asked quickly.
"No, why do you ask?"
"You look tired."
The Doctor picked up his tricorder. "Hmmm."
"I'll be fine. I have bouts of insomnia, that's all," Janeway replied a bit defensively.
"If it continues, come back to sick-bay. There might be an underlying cause." He smiled slightly, though only Kes noticed. *Sometimes...* the Ocampan thought.
"Yes Doctor. Unless there is something else?" Janeway wanted out of there.
"No, nothing. Good day Captain." He turned and went back to his microscope.
Kes followed the Captain out. "Captain?"
Janeway stopped and turned. "Yes?"
"I was just wondering, have you ever tried walking when you can't sleep?"
"Sometimes, usually I just start working." The Captain looked at Kes puzzled.
"I sometimes find a stroll in the hydroponics garden works well, it's much better than the holodeck. Everything is real." Kes smiled as she shrugged her shoulders. "Just a thought. Well, I promised to baby-sit this morning for Samantha. Captain."
"Kes." Janeway watched her leave and then made her way to the lift.
**
"B'Elanna," Tom said as he entered her quarters.
"Go away, if I'd known it was you..." she growled. She was on the last day of her medical leave.
"B'Elanna, I come by during my lunch break to see how you are doing, and all you can do is growl."
"I'm fine," she responded, her voice was irritated.
"Yea right." He held up two data-PADDS. "Bored?"
"Yes! What?" She asked with a nod of her head toward the PADDS.
"Carey gave them to me. Analysis of the new warp core and the simulation results of several possible shield modifications."
"Something to do. Tom you're a godsend." She almost smiled as he grinned. Suddenly suspicious, she asked. "And what is the exchange rate?"
"I'm hurt...Talk to me. How are you doing?"
"Bored. Doc placed me on medical leave after...And I've not done anything except sit here, sleep, and play a round of pool with that pig you created."
Tom looked at her, then moved his eyes to look at the bare walls. "I'll play a round of pool with you after my shift. I've got holodeck one for 1730. Interested?" He still held the PADDS.
"Maybe." She looked down at the floor. "Tom, how are the others?"
"Tuvok will also be returning to duty tomorrow. Chakotay has been cleared to return for limited duty too."
"Has he said anymore about what happened?"
Tom shook his head, "nothing besides what the Captain repeated yesterday. She looked like she didn't sleep well. I don't think he's talked to her either."
"Idiot," she grumbled softly. "Thanks Tom for the reports. At least the afternoon will be more interesting than the morning. And yes, I'll meet you this evening."
He smiled. "Just do me one favor, don't tell Doc that I gave you these." He placed the PADDs on a table. "I have to get going. See you later. And B'Elanna--I'll bring dinner." He left before she could respond.
**
The rest of alpha-shift was uneventful. Tom noted that the Captain only spent about a quarter of her time on the bridge, the rest she spent in her ready-room. Not that unusual, but it did leave him in command. He smiled. Who would have believed that three years ago--certainly not him and decidedly not his father. *See, Dad--I'm not good for nothing,* he thought as he sat in the Captain's chair. But then Voyager was not the usual Star Ship...
Tom pulled up a file, and looked over tomorrow's memorial service for Ensign Kaplan . *Strange business, all this,* he thought as he sent out the announcement.
****
B'Elanna stood outside holodeck 2 tapping her foot. "Where the hell are you," she growled under her breath. Tom was already 2 minutes late. She turned to walk away when she saw him running down the corridor.
"I'm sorry B'Elanna, I stopped to chat with Harry, and then I had to take care of dinner." He held up a basket. "Nothing fancy. Now, shall I beat you at pool first or would you rather eat?"
"I'd like to play the game first," she almost smiled as she thought about beating him at the table. She watched as Tom loaded the program, the doors opened and they entered Tom's French dive. He put the basket down and moved toward the table grabbing a stick from the rack.
"I'll be first." He racked the balls as he whistled some tune. He prepared to break. "So, were the reports interesting?"
"Fascinating. There are some real possibilities with the second shield modification. By realigning..."
"B'Elanna we're off duty."
She laughed. "We're off duty. The reports made for some interesting reading. Thank-you for bringing them by. You'll never make it." She added referring to the shot he was about to attempt.
"Oh ye of little faith..." He shook his head when he missed. "Oh well. Hot-shot pilot seeks new second career, besides failed pool-shark."
She walked up and looked at the table. "What a mess. You should have decided on another second career months ago." She set up and pocketed the next three shots before missing. As she stepped back to let Tom have a chance, "So anything new on the bridge?"
"Captain spent most of the day in her ready-room." He smiled slightly. He put his stick down and turned toward her suddenly. "Be, what happened?"
"Don't call me Be."
"Sorry, but B'Elanna..."
She looked around, but there was no one else on the holodeck, even the usual holo-characters who frequented the place were absent. "Coming home on the shuttle, he asked if I had heard something. I guess the collective was trying to contact him. Then he shot me. When I came to, Tuvok, Chakotay, and I were in sick-bay and there was a lot of excitement. It was about then that the cube exploded. I don't think I know anymore than you."
Tom shook his head. "All I know is what the Captain announced yesterday. The collective had saved his life, but in the process he had been linked to them. They used that link to have the Commander reactivate the Borg ship."
B'Elanna was leaning on the table. "That's pretty much what I know. Talk about arrogance of power. Forcing the will of the few on the many."
Tom nodded his head. "But there are rumors, I've heard that there was a woman..."
B'Elanna glared at him, before nodding her head. "I saw them together. I don't know what the bloody fool could have been thinking..." She stabbed at the floor with her stick. "Dr. Riley Frasier, I believe she was from Texas. He was never more than a few feet from her the entire time."
"That might explain the Captain's mood." He picked up his cue and missed the shot. "Maybe this wasn't such a good idea. Pool I mean. I'm not in good form."
She was silent as she decided on her next shot, which she also missed. "You might be right. How about dinner instead." She dropped her stick with a little too much force and it bounced off the table. She walked over to the basket and opened it. "What's this?" She asked as she pulled out a bowl of greens.
"Patience. Let me set up." He took the basket from her and moved to a table in the back. A small, round table with a white tablecloth, place settings for two, and a small votive candle. "I raided the garden--actually Kes did for me. We have salad, a replicated main course and 2 serving's of Neelix's spice pie. I think I remember that you like it," he added a little uncertainly. He smiled as she nodded and sat down. "This bottle is from my private collection. I understand it is a rather good vintage from Oregon." He pulled out a cork remover, fumbled with it while she laughed, then poured her a glass.
She took a sip, "I wouldn't know a good bottle from a bad, but this is pretty good." She blushed slightly and made a show about looking at the wine in her glass. He finished setting up their meal and sat down.
He picked up his glass, "To Voyager."
She tapped her glass to his, "Voyager. May we return to normal, soon."
"Whatever that is." They both laughed as he served the salad.
They dined in comfortable silence, each carefully not looking at the other, especially while the other was looking.
When they had finished with dessert and the last of the wine, he smiled at her. "So?"
"Not bad. Thank-you, I had a lovely time." She started to stand.
"I...B'Elanna, uh. Don't leave yet."
She smiled slightly at how uncomfortable he looked. "I don't think another round of pool is in order."
"Probably not, but how about a dance?" He asked quickly, surprising himself and her. He took her hand and escorted her to the center of the floor. "Computer play selection Paris 15d." A quiet melody filled the room as they started to dance. Initially they were a formal distance apart, but after the third dance they had become quite close. They were hardly dancing at all. As the piece ended he looked at her intently, "I had a lovely time, thanks for coming. B'Elanna?"
She was looking in his eyes, "Yes?" She asked very softly.
"You won't take a Bat'leth to my head if I kiss you, will you?"
"No." He kissed her quickly then stepped back. "Shall I escort you home my fair lady?" He asked with a flourish and bow.
TBC