NOTE: This was inspired by the amazing fiddle by Malezita and Major Ryan, which is used with their permission as the cover image for this story. I thank them for both the permission...and the inspiration. This one is a little bit...different. But it just wouldn't let me go.
"Groveling"
I want to touch you. I can't remember why I shouldn't.
Because you came with a date.
So did you. Where are they, Kathryn?
I thought… I don't…
Marcel slipped out with his communicator half an hour ago, and I have no idea where Gloria went. But here we are. And I want to touch you. I can't remember why I shouldn't.
It would be inappropriate.
Why?
Because this is an engagement party.
It's not your engagement party, or mine.
And that makes it all right?
That makes it…understandable. Love is in the air.
You should go find Gloria for that.
Gloria is working with me on the Pullman Project. She's a colleague, nothing more.
Yes, she certainly looked like nothing more than a colleague while you were dancing.
She may want to take our relationship further, but I'm not interested.
Because she's a colleague?
Among other reasons, yes.
Have you made that clear to her?
It isn't like me to lead a woman on.
Isn't it? How long were you with Seven before you broke things off?
I never led Seven on. She asked me out first and the breakup was mutual. If you had returned any of my calls, you'd know that. And it's clear Seven is doing just fine, given that this is her engagement party.
To which you brought a colleague.
And you brought a date. But where is he?
He's a very busy man.
I'm sure he is. If you believe the rumors, he'll declare his candidacy as soon as President Zife steps down.
Do you believe the rumors?
I've seen the interviews and the poll numbers.
And?
Are you looking forward to being the Federation's First Lady?
That will never happen.
Because the rumors aren't true, or because you won't marry him?
I don't have to answer that question.
Seems to me you already have. Do you love him?
We shouldn't be having this conversation.
Why not? Because it's an engagement party? Or because we both brought dates?
I thought Gloria was a colleague.
She is.
She's lovely.
She's also smart and funny. But she's not you.
You need to stop this.
You're the most beautiful woman in this room. You're finally free of the burdens you carried for seven long years. Your spirit is so unfettered and strong now that it just shines from you. You're…luminous.
Why are you doing this?
Because I've missed you. Because I made a mistake and I want to make up for it. Because I can't take my eyes off you. Because I want to touch you. But I can't remember why I shouldn't.
You've never been this forward with me before.
I've never seen you in that dress before.
You've seen me in others like it.
Only on Voyager, where it was easy to remember why I shouldn't touch you.
Because I was your commanding officer.
That's never been enough to stop me.
Then what did stop you? My parameters?
Your dedication. And mine.
Dedication?
Yours, to the mission. Mine, to you. If I had touched you, we both would have lost focus. We'd have been too consumed to function, at least at first. We would have found a balance eventually, but in the beginning…
You're very sure of yourself.
Sure of us, and what we could have been together.
What do you think we could have been together?
Incandescent.
What are we now?
Potential.
Unfulfilled?
Latent. Raw.
Suppressed.
Irrepressible.
Uncontrollable.
Unquenchable. Let yourself feel it, Kathryn. Let yourself feel us. Together we are…
Ravenous.
Yes. And infinite. I want to take you away from here.
Now?
Now, Kathryn.
Where would we go?
Where no one can find us.
Where no one knows our names.
Somewhere warm and quiet and dark.
Somewhere far away from here.
I want to touch you.
I can't remember why you shouldn't.
-THE END-