Disclaimer: CBS/Paramount own Voyager and all the characters established on the show. Original characters and story are mine.
Author's note: This is the sequel to Collective Freedom?, which is a sequel to Reporting for Duty. This story will be more character driven than Collective Freedom?, the main focus will be on the interrelationships of life on the USS Lindbergh.
Lindbergh's CMO, Todd Franklin, and the Chief Engineer, Threm, were in their quarters having a romantic dinner. The table was covered with a white tablecloth, candles were in the middle of it, and the two men were enjoying Threm's famous French Onion Soup. It was his signature dish. Putting the first spoonful in his mouth, Todd closed his eyes and smiled. "Delicious. You know, every time we have this, it reminds me of the first time you made it for me. I still remember how surprised I was when a Bolian fixed a classic Earth dish for me."
Threm smiled at the shared memory then reached across the table to squeeze his beloved's hand. The romantic moment was shattered when a black and white cat jumped into the middle of table, knocking over the candles and thereby extinguishing them. "Groucho, get down!" Threm shooed the cat back off the table.
Todd smiled at his partner's agitation with the cat, "Dear, it's your own fault. Candles on the table, you know Groucho can't resist an open flame. I don't think he'll be happy until all his whiskers and eyebrows are singed."
Threm returned Todd's smile, "You're right, of course. But I was trying to set an atmosphere here."
Todd was drawing another spoonful of the delicious soup to his mouth, but halted the spoon halfway between the bowl and his lips, giving the soup an opportunity to cool. "I appreciate that, and don't misunderstand me, I love it when you are romantic and domestic, but it isn't our anniversary or anything." The spoonful of soup had cooled long enough and as Todd was enjoying it an, "MMM…" noise escaped. When he looked at Threm, Todd noticed the aggravated look on Threm's face. "Um, wait, that didn't come out quite the way I meant for it to. I am not saying you are only romantic on special occasions, you are a very spontaneous romantic, but we have all been so busy with the current mission…"
Threm interrupted Todd's almost frantic apology by once again reaching across the table and taking Todd's hand, the one without the spoon in it. "Which is the reason for the quiet, romantic dinner, you've been working so hard, extracting Borg components from the former Unimatrix Zero drones, you haven't really had much of a break. When you did have time to yourself, you took advantage of Voyager's presence here and indulged your obsession by spending time with the Voyager crew."
Todd realized, in a flash of insight, he had been neglecting his home life. Everyone on the USS Lindbergh knew the CMO was obsessed with the Voyager saga, especially Lindbergh's First Officer, Icheb and the newest member of the Lindbergh crew, Ensign Naomi Wildman. As members of Voyager's crew, they were accustomed to Todd's frequent interrogations about life in the Delta Quadrant. He had been spending as much time as possible with the Voyager crew members and had even taken a tour of Voyager itself. In so doing, he had been spending very little time with Threm. "Dearest, I am so sorry. I haven't been spending much time with you, have I? I've been so preoccupied with the mission and Voyager, I've been neglecting you, and I apologize."
Before Todd could continue, Threm squeezed Todd's hand in a reassuring gesture, "You don't have to apologize, even though it was very sweet of you to do so. I understand how excited you've been having Voyager in the area. If you hadn't been taking advantage of their presence, I'd be worried. I just know their imminent departure is going to be a let down for you and I wanted to remind you that you will always have me and you can lean on me whenever you need to."
Without letting go of Threm's hand, Todd got up, walked around the table, leaned down, and kissed Threm slowly and thoroughly. Gently pulling away from Threm he smiled at his beloved, "You are the kindest and most understanding man in the galaxy. I am very lucky you are in my life." Todd walked back to his seat and scooped another spoonful of his soup, once again he let it cool, "As delicious as you are, I'm really enjoying my soup right now. I didn't realize it, but I'm starving."
"As am I, when will the last Borg extractions be complete?"
"Tomorrow, if everything continues to go smoothly. The Doc and I don't foresee any complications though."
At the same time there was a small group of people in Lindbergh's Mess Hall discussing the same topic. Seated around the table were Seven of Nine, Voyager's EMH, Naomi Wildman, Icheb, and Mary Melody who was Naomi's roommate. Most of the group were finished eating, and were lingering over their coffees. The EMH, who didn't eat, was telling the others, "The extractions should be complete tomorrow. I don't know about Todd, but I am ready for this mission to conclude. It's been an intense and complicated process, but very satisfying."
Icheb was about to take a sip from his coffee cup when something occurred to him. He decided to put his cup back down, "Speaking of Todd, I'm surprised he isn't here."
Several of the people around the table were shaking there heads in agreement. Lindbergh's Chief Medical Officer had taken every available opportunity to spend time with the crew of Voyager. Mary, an engineering Ensign explained, "Threm told me earlier today, he was planning a romantic dinner for the two of them."
The EMH smiled, "That's nice, Todd could use a bit of rest and relaxation. He's been working so hard."
Icheb was smiling as well, "I don't doubt it, between the mission and Voyager's presence, I'm not sure they have been able to spend much time together."
Seven asked, "I've been wondering something, considering Captain Dax' stance on Icheb and Naomi Wildman's romance, how does she feel about Todd and Threm's romance?"
Icheb had wondered why nobody had asked the question already. "Well, they are equal in rank, they aren't in a new romance, they're married, and they came to the ship already married."
The EMH replied, "Ah, I see, Captain Dax knew going in they were espoused? That would make a difference. It's not romance in general she frowns on, just your romance."
Icheb answered the EMH, "Exactly, she suspects I manipulated her into bringing my girlfriend onto her ship."
