It's Your Call
This is the sixth story in the series after 'Distress Call', 'House Call', 'Call to Arms', 'Call me Kathryn' and 'A Call from the Dark Side'. All stories in the series feature a relationship between two women with some sexual scenes. If you don't like that, don't read this.
All reviews and comments are appreciated, and I want to thank the people who regularly review my work – if just one person enjoys my stories then that makes it worthwhile. Thank you.
Chapter 1
Part 1
Kathryn Janeway lay on one side, propped up on her elbow to afford a better view of her sleeping lover. The pale, narrow face was framed by shimmering, blonde hair and appeared serene and very young. Her eyes, so striking when open with a cool ice-blue that could penetrate into the soul, were closed, light blonde lashes softening the edges. Unthinkingly Janeway stretched out her free arm and skimmed her hand lightly down Seven-of-Nine's cheek, then caressed her shoulder and arm. Usually, the ex-Borg's biceps would be firm, her body taut with energy and power, but now her limbs were soft and pliable, Janeway able to move the arm easily so that she could rest her hand on the younger woman's slender waist.
"You are doing it again," Seven's voice said, though she didn't open her eyes, and the Captain guiltily removed her hand and lay down on her back, smiling at the ceiling. "Why do you watch me sleeping?" the voice demanded, this time Seven rolling over to face her partner.
"You're so beautiful," replied Janeway softly, and Seven was mollified a little. Then her eyes narrowed once again.
"Do you not find me beautiful when I am awake?"
Janeway suspected that she was being wound up, and sat up suddenly, throwing off the covers and playfully pouncing on her young lover, kissing her neck and working her way down to the Borg's ample breasts. "Oh, yes," she breathed against the warm, smooth flesh, nuzzling every square centimetre before returning to each large, hardened nipple in turn, flicking with her tongue before kissing them gently. "I always find you beautiful, Seven. Do you not like to watch me whilst I'm sleeping?" Janeway raised her head, meeting her lover's eyes and grinning wickedly.
The ex-Borg frowned, realising that she had lost the debate either way and resorting to tactics similar to the Captain's. Barely needing any effort at all, Seven used her Borg-enhanced strength to flip Janeway over and reverse their positions, but she was very careful not to restrain her partner in any way. Bending over, Seven lowered her head to Janeway's, their lips meeting in a warm, deep kiss that sent shoots of pleasure down the older woman's spine as the young, lithe form straddled Janeway, their intimate areas touching. The Captain's expression changed, and Seven rose up on her knees immediately, releasing the slight pressure on her lover's body and allowing Janeway to move easily if she wanted to.
Ice-blue eyes met grey-blue as the two women locked their gazes, the blonde's carrying a trace of worry whilst Janeway's softened, her fleeting anxiety passing. The Captain's hands grasped her partner's firm buttocks, drawing Seven down onto her before slipping further up the supple form, stroking the young woman's back and shoulders as they kissed once more. Just weeks ago such a position would have been unbearable for the emotionally fragile woman, with the complete trust it required and the memories it would have invoked, but the relationship had built in strength and understanding.
Slowly, Seven rocked against Janeway, their centres of passion sliding together whilst they continued to share kisses, the younger woman bearing most of her weight on her forearms, stretched out on the bed above the Captain's shoulders. Janeway's hands touched her lover everywhere she could reach, but when her arousal reached beyond the point of no return she once again cupped her partner's lower cheeks, guiding her in the rhythm that would push both of them over the edge.
The experience was intense, the bond between lovers strong and unwavering as their gazes met again. Both women climaxed almost simultaneously, staring deep into the other's eyes throughout whilst their bodies, slick with perspiration, bucked and shuddered together. Immediately, the younger woman moved off her lover and settled down beside Janeway instead, one arm and leg resting gently on her Captain's naked body.
"That is why I prefer to look at you whilst you are awake," murmured Seven, but Janeway didn't have the energy to reply – unsurprisingly, since that would have meant admitting that the intelligent, witty young Borg definitely had a point.
Part 2
Torres had been working in the cramped Jeffries tube for over an hour, and even her tough Klingon muscles were protesting. Groaning, she flopped into a sitting position, leaning against the side of the narrow access corridor where she and Seven were making several enhancements to the plasma relays.
"Tell me again how much this is going to improve the warp drive's efficiency, Seven," the Chief Engineer snapped at her friend, "Because it sure as hell isn't improving mine!"
The blonde smirked cheekily, casting a pointed glance towards Torres, who wore one of her trademark scowls. "Zero-point-zero-eight percent," she replied coolly, and her workmate groaned again.
"Is that all? Why are we even bothering?" The proud engineer wasn't serious, for she cared so much about the ship – and her crew, she would admit when pushed – that she would go to great lengths to make Voyager more efficient, faster, stronger and deadlier. But she was feeling tired and grumpy, her friend's unaccustomed chirpiness getting on her nerves.
"What's making you so happy?" Torres demanded, passing implements across as Seven continued to work, either ignoring or not feeling any physical discomfort from kneeling on the hard floors. "Oh, no, on second thoughts, don't tell me. I know that look. It's the 'I've-had-amazing-sex-and-can't-stop-thinking-about-it' look. Yeah, I used to get that look, too. The novelty wears off," the half-Klingon added, determined to put a damper on her colleague's enthusiasm.
Seven smiled again, remembering her lover's expression as she reached her peak, then the cuddling afterwards. It was the conversation that had taken place then that was the real cause of the Borg's odd mood, though, and she turned to Torres, opening her mouth to speak, but was cut off before she started.
"No, la la la la I'm not listening," said B'Elanna, clamping her hands over her ears as though Seven were about to assault them with a pair of Ceti Eels rather than perhaps make a casual reference to her love life with the Captain. In reality, the young woman was about to do neither, and patiently waited until Torres removed her hands, relenting.
"This morning, Captain Janeway asked me if I would like to share quarters with her," Seven explained, finally halting her work and sitting cross-legged on the rough deck. "I was pleased that she asked me, but as I pointed out, it is unnecessary, since I am there most of the time anyway."
"Oh, don't be so obtuse, Seven! It's a different thing altogether. At the moment, they are still the Captain's quarters, her home, and you are a guest. If you argue, you can easily walk out, knowing you're not leaving your own home. There are things you can't do now, like move furniture, for instance, or redecorate, or walk in unannounced."
"Why would I wish to redecorate?" asked the ex-Borg, her expression confused now. "I like the Captain's quarters as they are. She has perfectly adequate taste."
"But that's exactly my point – it's the Captain's décor, the Captain's furniture, not yours. Seven, when a partner asks you to live with them, there is more to it – they are asking you to be a part of their life all the time, to share in everything. It's one of the biggest gestures a person can make, particularly a Starship Captain who is used to her quarters being her own and being separate from everyone on board if she wants to be. What did she say?"
Seven looked uncomfortable, and the engineer suspected that her friend was paraphrasing somewhat. "Captain Janeway said that I should think about it, but that she thought I would be…more immediately amenable to the idea."
B'Elanna laughed, patting the young blonde on the shoulder. "You'll love it, Seven, because you love the Captain. Tell her yes and get on with it, alright?"
"I appreciate your advice," Seven said, nodding. "I will tell her tonight."
"Just make sure I'm invited to the celebratory dinner," warned Torres playfully, and her friend grinned in response.
Part 3
Chakotay was relaxing in the former observation lounge (as usual he stressed the 'former' in his mind), off duty and seated in his preferred chair. He looked out of the windows, at this time the only view being that of Voyager's warp field as the sleek vessel sped through space. After realising that his glass of brandy was actually his fourth that morning, he hastily put it down out of reach. He had worked night shifts for the past week whilst Harry Kim had been on leave, so in fact to the Commander the time was more like evening. Still, it didn't do to be spotted guzzling spirits at 10.20 hours – for that, he would have to return to his quarters.
He was still trying to name the bar he had created, refuting all the obvious suggestions: Delta Lounge, Delta View, Chakotay's, Space Bar plus many, many more. Tom Paris had offered 'One-Upward', and though the Commander had been amused, he had wanted something more original. Already, though, to the First Officer's consternation, he had heard it used a few times by crewmembers and it seemed that rapidly the name was starting to stick. It was either come up with something fast, or accept the new designation with good grace. Caught up in his musings, he didn't hear the Captain's approach, and was more than a little startled when she spoke from the next chair.
"Morning, Chakotay. Anything interesting happen on the night shift?" Janeway was simply making polite conversation, for she knew that if anything of note had happened, she would either have been called to duty or else read a report about it in the morning.
The large man smiled, but there was tension as well as tiredness around his eyes, dark circles giving him a weary air. "Nothing, Captain, all systems normal and nothing exciting on sensors. Seems we've hit a quiet patch."
"I'm not disappointed," Janeway admitted, leaning back and following Chakotay's gaze out through the panoramic windows that dwarfed the room. "I could do with some personal time, Chakotay. After everything that's happened…" she didn't continue, both officers knowing to what she was referring. Just a few weeks ago, after a horrific experience that had turned Seven-of-Nine into an unknowing serial killer, her Borg implants malfunctioning, Janeway had attempted to end her life. She had been the one to apprehend the ex-Borg whom she had encountered in her own quarters, dripping with the blood of her latest victim.
Only Chakotay and Janeway knew of the Captain's suicide bid, having together agreed that, for the good of Voyager and her crew, Janeway must remain in command. The Doctor had disagreed vehemently, absolutely refusing to go along with the decision regardless of the effect that losing a proven Captain would have had on the entire crew and threatening to relieve both officers of their command. Janeway was forced to alter the hologram's program, erasing the incident from his memory, and it had not been spoken of or alluded to since. An honest, loyal officer, possessing courage and integrity, she would own up to her actions if and when Voyager reached the Alpha Quadrant, and hope that the rest of her service history would be distinguished enough to save her from too severe a punishment.
"I've asked Seven to move into my quarters," Janeway said after a moment, and her friend caught the hint of a frown.
"Oh?" he enquired mildly, "and what was her response?"
"A typical one," Janeway finally smiled, for she had grown to know the young Borg better than anyone and suspected that things would turn out the way she intended. "She said the move seemed 'futile', since she already 'occupied much of her off-duty hours in the Captain's quarters'."
"Did you explain to her that it was different when two people actually live together, share a home?" Chakotay asked, suspecting that the answer would be no, but for a good reason. The astute Commander wasn't wrong.
"No, I didn't. I'm fairly sure that at the first opportunity Seven will discuss it with Tom or B'Elanna; either of them will put her straight. I'm planning a dinner tonight to celebrate, if I can remember how to program a replicator. Seven's taken over meal preparation lately, and whilst I don't object to that I'd like to produce something edible once in a while!"
Chakotay grinned, some of the lines disappearing from his brow as he did so. "Kathryn, you know full well you will end up asking Neelix for help. Why not just cut to the chase and go see him now? He'd be delighted to provide a meal for you and Seven."
Slightly miffed at the implication but hardly able to disagree given the number of disastrous culinary attempts under her belt, the Captain scowled as she nodded. "At least then he'll have some warning." She pushed herself up from the low, comfy chair. "Take care, and I'll see you later to hand over."
Striding across the room, in the confident gait of a Captain in command, Janeway left One-Upward.
"Damn," muttered Chakotay, finishing the brandy after all.