DISCLAIMER: I don't own Star Trek. That's all Paramount. I'm just borrowing the characters, and I promise to return them by midnight, fed, clean, and unharmed. Mostly.

09:00 hours

Captain Kathryn Janeway gazed out the porthole of her ready room, searching the blackness for any sign of life. They'd been in this void for over a week now, going on two, and she was going out of her mind with boredom. Chakotay kept trying to distract her from the redundant and mind-numbing quiet, had for all intents and purposes ordered the crew to attempt to lighten her mood whenever possible. Not that any of them needed the directive. Tom had been cracking jokes on the bridge all week, and today he'd even got Tuvok to react. He'd looked at her, a searching expression and a goofy grin on his face, both falling away quickly when he saw the reproachful glare she gave him. He'd canned it then, turning silently back to his helm controls; she'd resisted the urge to say something unbecoming and escaped to her ready room, leaving Chakotay in command. Five minutes later, coffee in hand, she stood staring out into the artificial night. She knew it was only a matter of time before genuine depression set in, and she sighed. She took a sip from the mug in her hand and grimaced, a groan of disgust leaving her throat. She swallowed the small mouthful and glared at the drink. This was a very bad time for her replicator to be acting up. It had given her a sorry excuse for her preferred drink, a cold, watery, bitter substitute that tasted like Neelix's Leola root tea. She put the cup back into the replicator, recycled it, and sat on the couch beneath her bay window. She leaned forward, dropped her head into her hands, and tried to ignore the fact that she had gone four days without a cup of coffee. They were so low on resources that they were two days away from running in Grey Mode, and she had been avoiding Neelix like the Phage. His attempts to make or find a coffee substitute she liked were always well intentioned, but always so far off the mark. She longed to be back on Earth, sitting in a coffee house and enjoying joying a big, steaming hot mug of freshly ground and brewed dark roast coffee.

Her doorbell chimed and she groaned. She really didn't want company right now.

Before she could respond, the doors slid open and Seven of Nine strode in confidently, her arms placed firmly behind her back in her typical parade rest stance. Kathryn's head snapped up when she heard her door open and she glared at the ex-drone.

"You shouldn't just walk in without permission, Seven," she reprimanded, trying to keep her tone even. "It's rude."

Seven arched a perfectly sculpted eyebrow and ignored her captain's comment.

"I have completed my scans in Astrometrics and I require your assistance in ascertaining the appropriate way to proceed. The most efficient course of action would be-"

Kathryn interrupted her, her tone dropping to dangerous levels.

"You came all the way up here, barged into my ready room, invaded my privacy for this?"

Seven arched the eyebrow again.

"Explain," she replied.

Kathryn pursed her lips and stood, her tone bordering on sarcastic.

"I would have responded to a hail, Seven. It's a much more efficient means of communication."

The blonde's irritation showed.

"As I have been unable to completely state my intentions, your assessment is incorrect."

Kathryn's eyes flashed.

"Incorrect?"

"Yes. You have informed me that my method of relaying information is inefficient. That assessment cannot be made until you have been presented with all of the necessary information. As I have yet to provide you with that information, your assessment is incorrect."

Kathryn glowered at her, noting the ever-present arrogance in those blue eyes. The two women stood, silently facing off, neither willing to back down, until Kathryn finally spread her arms out, palms up.

"Fine, Seven. Relay your information."

Seven nodded.

"I have finished my scans in Astrometrics, and have reconfigured the long range sensors with Borg enhancements, as discussed. Icheb relieved me of my shift and has informed me that he has found an M-class planet in this void, seven lightyears from our current position."

Kathryn perked up.

"Let's go have a look," she replied, heading for the door.

"I am not finished, Captain," Seven stated, holding an arm out to block her superior officer's path just as the doors of her ready room hissed open. Kathryn looked down at the arm, barely stopping before she bumped into it. She balled both hands into fists, trying to control the urge to bite Seven's head off. She leveled the blonde with a steely gaze.

"We can discuss it on the way to Astrometrics," she stated simply. Seven gave her an odd look, one that Kathryn recognized as apprehension and her expression softened.

"It is my understanding that the topic I wish to discuss is not one that you would prefer the crew to overhear."

Now she had her captain's attention. Kathryn stepped back, moved to the upper level of the room and invited Seven to sit down. In true Borg fashion, the ex-drone refused.

"I prefer to stand."

Kathryn sighed. She hadn't expected different, really. She sat on the couch again, her right leg tucked under her and her left foot on the floor, her right elbow on the back of the couch. She rested the side of her head on her fingertips.

"What's this about, Seven?"

The blonde fidgeted uncomfortably for a moment.

"I am unaccustomed to this feeling," she began. "I believe I am experiencing apprehension and anxiety. This topic is one that I am not sure you wish to discuss, however, as captain I have no doubt that you will soon discover it soon, whether I inform you or not. I have been informed that hearing something from someone you trust is often much better than hearing it in an otherwise undesirable setting."

Kathryn waited patiently for her to continue, her curiosity growing with her frown. When the drone was silent for a good three minutes, Kathryn licked her lips and cleared her throat, trying to prompt more information from the woman in front of her.

Seven swallowed, then continued.

"There have been reports made by certain members of the crew of a rather unsettling development, regarding you and and an ensign in Engineering."

Kathryn raised an eyebrow.

"What kind of 'development' are we talking about here, Seven?"

Seven shifted again. Kathryn thought she might have seen the blonde blush, but if she had, it dissipated before Kathryn could be sure.

"One that involves several bottles of synthe-hol, a night spent in your quarters, and several instances of copulation."

Kathryn's jaw dropped. She sat up, her rage building.

"Copula... Seven, that's what we call a rumor. I can assure that I never 'copulated' with a single member of my crew, nor have any intention of doing so in the future! Aside from Commander Chakotay passing out from sheer exhaustion on a couch in my office after a long command team meeting, there have been no overnight visitors in my quarters."

She was on her feet now.

"Where did you hear this? Who else has heard it?"

Seven wasted no time in replying.

"I am unsure where this 'rumor' originated. Crewman Anthony Packard divulged the misinformation to Crewman Kenneth Dalby. This exchange was overheard by Crewman Melanie Baxter, who then informed Crewman Eliara Moore. Crewman Moore informed me, and that exchange was over heard by Ensign Paris, who informed Lieutenant Torres. Lieutenant Torres has not continued the spread of information, though I have no doubt others are aware of it."

Kathryn paled.

"How many others?"

Seven did a quick calculation in her head.

"If the 'rumor' has maintained its speed in spreading, then by this time it has no doubt reached the entire ship. You seem to be the last to know of it."

The captain was chewing on the inside of her cheek, trying to figure out how this all could have started. She was lost in thought when Seven spoke next, the ex-drone's voice cutting through her internal rant. She realized that she had no idea what her Astrometrics officer had just said and berated herself for not listening better.

"I'm sorry, Seven," she apologized, running a hand through her chin-length hair. "I didn't hear you. What did you say?"

"I asked you what course of action would be best to take in dealing with the individuals who started this...'rumor'."

Kathryn sighed.

"Thank you for bringing it to my attention. I'll meet with the senior staff after lunch and have them speak with their departments."

Seven contemplated that for a moment, then nodded.

"We will proceed to the Astrometrics lab and review the data Icheb has gathered regarding the M-class planet," she stated.

Kathryn smiled slightly, narrowed her eyes in jest at the blonde and waggled a finger at her, the other hand on her hip.

"Be careful where you give the orders, Seven," she reminded her.

The ex-drone cocked her head in acknowledgment and stepped aside, letting Kathryn walk out of the room first.

11:45 hours

Kathryn sat in the mess hall, drinking a cup of makeshift coffee and reviewing a PADD filled with Icheb's data on the M-class planet.

The meeting with the two ex-drones in Astrometrics went better than she'd hoped. It had certainly greatly improved her mood. She felt genuinely happy for the first time in weeks. The planet was only seven lightyears away, and at Warp four (the absolute maximum speed B'Elanna felt they could maintain) they would be there in a little over 18 days. She had quickly decided the necessary course change was worth it if it meant shore leave for Voyager and her crew. It had been months since they'd encountered a planet safe enough to touch down. They were all going a little stir-crazy. She knew they'd be happy with the vacation time, and B'Elanna would finally have a chance to get a start on some much needed repairs. She'd been pressing for an opportunity to touch down and get started, had even gone so far as to have Chakotay start reminding her that their replicators wouldn't hold out forever, every time she ordered a coffee or invited him to join her. B'Elanna would be thrilled.

Kathryn was just finishing the last paragraph of data, having reviewed the PADD's contents for the third time, and was about to head back to the bridge when Neelix plopped into a chair across from her, twitching with excitement.

She looked up at him over the top of her mug and smiled, taking a sip of coffee. He was just sitting there, beaming at her. She swallowed, her smile still playing at her lips.

"Yes, Neelix? Is there something on your mind?" She took another sip of coffee.

"I just wanted to say, 'Congratulations'!" He clapped a hand over the one of hers that was still holding the PADD. She felt the first twinge of worry, but didn't let her smile fade.

"For what?"

"Oh, you lucky lady, you," he answered, chuckling.

She raised the cup to her lips, quirked an eyebrow at him in confusion.

He realized she had no idea what he was talking about, his smile faltering.

"The baby, of course!"

Kathryn choked on her coffee, set the cup down on the table and covered her mouth with the back of her hand. He stood quickly, patted her back to try and help, but she held a hand out to stop him, her eyes tearing.

"I'm fine..." she managed between coughs, her voice hoarse. He backed off, stood to the side and watched as she collected herself and stood. She turned to him, an odd expression in her eyes.

"I'm not pregnant, Neelix," she said, picking up the PADD.

He opened his mouth slightly, then closed it, his lower lip twitching slightly.

"You're not?"

She gave him a wry smile.

"No. I'm not." She picked up her mug and drained it, handed it to him and rested a hand on his upper arm.

"Sorry to disappoint you," she stated, an expression of genuine remorse on her face. "But look at it this way." She pulled her hand away, held it up by her face. "That's one less person to pull your attention away from Naomi."

He smiled.

"That's true. I'm sorry, Captain. I suppose I should've checked my source, first."

Kathryn gave him a warm smile.

"It's alright, Neelix." Her command mask slipped into place, her eyes twinkling, her tone kind but firm. "You'll say hello to Ms. Wildman and her mother for me, won't you?"

Neelix saluted her, grinning.

"Yes, ma'am, absolutely. You can count on me!"

Kathryn laughed and patted his shoulder, carrying on the mock exchange.

"Glad to hear it, Ambassador Neelix. As you were."

Neelix nodded, and she stepped around him, heading back to the bridge.

13:29 hours

The conference with Voyager's senior staff had lasted for an hour. Kathryn had asked them to tell her everything they knew about the rumors flying around her ship, realizing during her interaction with Neelix in the mess hall that there was more than one going around. It turned out that there were dozens. She sat in her ready room with Chakotay now, laughing at all the ridiculous things they'd had to discuss and that she'd refuted, one by one.

She wiped a tear from her eye.

"Oh, did you see Harry's face when he told me what he'd heard in Engineering?"

Chakotay chuckled.

"I thought he was going to pass out."

"Can you imagine?" she asked him. "I mean, really. Me, having a baby with Tom Paris! The lizards were bad enough, thank you very much!" She stood, replicating another cup of coffee for herself and offering one to her First Officer.

"No, thank you."

Kathryn nodded and sat with her coffee.

"My favorite part of the whole meeting was when Tom brought up the rumor that you and Crewman Moore were … how did he put it? Oh yes, 'rocking the Delta Flyer'," Chakotay recalled chuckling. "You looked like the warp core had just exploded behind his head."

Kathryn did her best to maintain smile, but he didn't miss the fleeting moment when it dropped.

He eyed her carefully, then the corners of his mouth dipped slightly.

"Was that part true?"

"No," she answered quickly, bringing the cup to her lips and grimacing again, forgetting that her replicator had it in for her this week.

He studied her a bit longer.

"But you'd like it to be, wouldn't you," he murmured.

She stood, her expression clouded, and recycled the mug before turning back to him, the famous command mask firmly in place.

"I have to finish some paperwork, and I really need to catch up on my logs, Commander."

He clenched his jaw, noting the fact that she was using rank as a buffer, putting it between them like a wall and shutting him out.

"Why can't you ever answer a question straight on?" he asked her, his voice rising.

She narrowed her eyes.

"Commander," she intoned darkly, the warning clear in her voice.

"Oh, don't worry, Captain," he replied, standing and clenching his fists. "I won't push it. Wouldn't want the galaxy to fall apart if you started being human." He waited for her to speak, taking in the anger and hurt on her features, watching as she hardened again and remained silent.

"Permission to be dismissed, Captain?"

She nodded once and he turned his back on her, leaving her alone with her thoughts.