Disclaimer: I own nothing and no one, and I make no money off of this.
Rating: G
Unbeta'd
She came to me with pain in her abdominal implant tonight. My doors opened to her with no protest; she gently woke me, her face pale and pinched. The lights remained off as I got my tools, small filaments, micro fibers. Her clothing was shed in a faint rustle, and the bed dipped when she sat down upon it. Years ago she had asked me to become her maintainer, now she saw the Doctor for her yearly only and I see her multiple times a week in private to deal with her often finicky Borg systems. Picky, just like her. Each nanoprobe seems to have its own personality, every implant has its quirks. The abdominal implant often times caused her pain due to its inflexible nature. Stubborn, just like me.
I kneel on the carpet, my face inches from her. I don't need more light, the red tinted room is plenty bright for me. This is precision work, I need to be careful and somehow staying close makes it seem like I am able to pay more attention. I can feel the heat from her body, I know she can sense my breath on her implant. She has never ceased observing me when I work on her, but now she watches just to watch and not to fret and worry. The top plate is removed now, I can see a few of her organs peaking out from behind metal. The first time I saw it, I nearly fainted. Now I've grown used to it, and I almost ignore it except for the discomforting memory. The rods that allow her free movement sometimes become more or less jammed, allowing her too little and too much movement. She safeguards herself by standing and sitting up straight, it prevents too much use by them. One of them has become frozen in a more open position than is comfortable, this is the cause of her pain. It requires a few adjustments and perhaps some non-toxic lubrication. It's a simple fix, but it is one that she used to let happen because she did not want to bother the Doctor.
So I volunteered. Then she switched to only seeing me. I'm glad she did.
These are the only moments we seemed to have that are completely alone. It's as if no one else exists on this ship, and the moments always feel timeless, as if we will never part from it. The job is finished, but I take my time to check the rest of her implant. She rests a hand on my head, lightly tangled with my hair. This is the most intimate thing I've ever done in my life. This is closer than I have ever been to anyone else in my life. Once, I had thought to date her, it hadn't worked out like we had hoped. We had fallen apart, but somehow we've gained more in the process. I love her with every fiber of my being. I can't image loving another. I seek no companion, she gives me all I need.
Everything is tuned up, and functioning again. I return her exterior plate to its proper place. She doesn't say thank you, she never has. She smiles and nods to me, stands and dresses, and walks back out the door. I'm still on my knees as I watch her leave with wonder. And as gently and softly as I woke with her face before me, I return to sleep with her soul twined with mine.