Title: Somewhere Between Time and Space
Author: smiley9603
Fandom: Star Trek Voyager
Pairing: Kathryn Janeway and Seven of Nine
Disclaimer: I don't own them and I don't make any money off of them, but I do enjoy playing with them from time to time.
Summary: This story starts at the beginning of Relativity. Seven of Nine goes back in time to save Voyager, but finds herself drawn to Captain Janeway. The night before launch they share a brief encounter that will disrupt the future timeline. But that's not necessarily a bad thing, is it?
R...this one's for you! Can't imagine doing any of this without you!
Part 1
Voyager (Night before launch at Earth's Space Dock)
Seven felt the oxygen leave her lungs when she saw Captain Kathryn Janeway step onto the bridge of Intrepid-class USS Voyager, standing just a few feet away as she talked to a Starfleet Admiral. She was much younger and her hair looked a lot different than when she had last seen her, but she was still just as beautiful. The sight of the familiar face intensified her determination to complete her mission and make sure that the Captain and the rest of the Voyager's crew did not die. She averted her gaze when she noticed the Captain and Admiral walking towards her.
"Excuse me, Ensign," Janeway said, as she continued walking with her superior officer. Although she looked calm, cool, and collected on the outside, her heart almost literally stopped beating at the sight of the beautiful blonde. Whoa! Who is THAT? She is absolutely stunning! Blinking rapidly, startled at the thought of finding another woman attractive. Nevertheless, her eyes were glued to the breathtaking beauty as she gripped her coffee mug tight and hoped that her shaking hands would not cause her to drop and spill the hot beverage all over the control panels. She had never been affected so strongly by another woman, but she couldn't deny the rush of arousal surging through her. It was more intense than anything she had ever felt before. Hell, not even her fiancé affected her this way. As she continued to gaze appreciatively at the flawless figure just a few feet away, she felt her cheeks redden when she realized that the blonde was staring back at her, with one eyebrow arched in question and a knowing look in her eyes. Embarrassed at having been caught ogling a junior officer, Janeway cleared her throat and turned back to the Admiral.
Seven frowned as she tried to decipher the facial expression on the Captain's face. Her pupils were dilated and her cheeks were slightly flushed. Her acute olfactory senses picked up a marked increase in pheromones being emitted from the older woman's body. Her eyes widened when she saw the Captain's eyes move slowly up and down her body. I must have something on my shirt. She looked down to see that her uniform was spotless and impeccable, as always. That's not it. Besides, uniform stains do not elicit the release of pheromones. Her eyes widened. Wait, she was checking me out! She glanced over her shoulder just to make sure she was right and noticed the Captain deep in conversation with her superior officer. I must be imagining things. How human of me. Still, she felt a slight pang of disappointment and she tried to shake it off and return her focus on the task at hand. She moved over to a control center farther away and discretely checked in with her commanding officer, who ordered her to keep searching the ship and avoid interacting with Captain Janeway at all costs so as not to disrupt the timeline.
Janeway shook her head, inwardly wondering why her heart skipped a beat when she noticed the blonde. She knew she had to rid herself of thoughts like that, because one, she was the captain and couldn't fraternize with any of the crew, and two she was to be a married woman once she returned. She took a calming breath as she led the Admiral into the briefing room that she had observed the blonde enter just moments before, and made a show of critiquing the ship. Her lips curved into a satisfied smile as she straightened her shoulders and assumed her most commanding pose.
"What do you think, Ensign?" Her voice came out strong and sure as ever, and was relieved that she could contain her authoritativeness even when her body screamed with this unexplained desire.
Startled, Seven looked up at the other woman. "Captain?" Stay calm. There's no way she can recognize you.
"What's your opinion of this room?" Oh my god, really? My first chance to talk to this beautiful woman and I'm asking about what she thinks of the briefing room? I really need to get out more…. Oh geez Katie what are you thinking, this isn't going to happen and remember I'm about to be a married woman. Her eyes automatically moved up and down the blonde's body once again. She inwardly gritted her teeth and composed her impulses and strange desires; standing tall she inhaled deeply and ignored her impulses.
Seven hesitated, confused by the both the question and the odd look in the Captain's eyes. Now I'm certain she was checking me out! "It's an efficient design," she finally responded, almost in her Borg fashion, averting her gaze back to the computer.
Janeway smirked as she turned to the Admiral. "Well, there you go. It's efficient. I was wrong." She walked closer to Seven. "By the way I didn't catch your name, Ensign."
Seven stared at the Captain's before she quietly cleared her throat. "Jameson, Anna. Service number 86790."
Janeway smiled as she shook her hand. "Relax, Anna. I'm just trying to get to know everyone. So, what are you working on?"
"I'm attempting to realign the EPS manifolds."
"I see. Do you need any help?" Kathryn leaned forward to check the readings on the monitor.
"No," Seven quickly responded, turning to press a series of buttons on the monitor in front of her as she tried not to think about how close the Captain was standing to her. Even though they stood close like this many times before, she just couldn't explain why it bothered her now, and that in itself disturbed the former Borg. Feeling Janeway's eyes boring into her, she turned back to face the older woman. "I'm not actually a member of Voyager's crew, Captain. I'm on temporary assignment here."
"Oh I see," Kathryn answered, now feeling strangely relieved, yet disappointed that she wouldn't get a chance to see her on a daily basis. "Perhaps I'll see you at the party this evening?" She couldn't help but ask.
"No," Seven responded curtly. "I mean, I will finish up here today and head back to headquarters for my next assignment," she explained dryly.
Kathryn felt a wave of disappointment flood over her, but nevertheless maintained her professional demeanor. "Surely you can spare a couple of hours to come and celebrate Voyager's launch with us. After all, you've obviously worked very hard to get us ready to go. You might as well be rewarded for your efforts," she tried yet again, as she looked expectantly at the blonde, and had to wonder where this was all coming from.
Seven felt a series of unfamiliar sensations in her chest and stomach, and after a quick assessment of her cardiovascular activity analyzed her symptoms as a mild form of the emotion humans refer to as anxiety. "I'm sorry, Captain. I have to report to headquarters as soon as I am done here."
"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Perhaps our paths will cross again."
"Perhaps they will," Seven answered, and then watched as the Captain departed with the Admiral. "In fact, I can guarantee we will meet again," she muttered under her breath. She inhaled a sigh of relief that her interaction with Janeway was over, and with any luck, the future timeline was not damaged as a result. After finding nothing in the Jefferies tube, she slipped away and quickly updated Relativity on the lack of results in her mission. She informed the Lieutenant of her talk with Captain Janeway, bracing herself for the reprimand she was certain was coming her way.
Lieutenant Ducane sighed heavily. "You have to go to that party," he ordered.
"I can't. What about avoiding Janeway and disrupting the timeline?"
"Well, I think it's safe to say you've already contaminated the timeline just by talking to her," he said.
"Exactly. So why risk further contact?"
"Because it may just cause more damage to the future if you don't go, especially if the saboteur is there." he informed.
"Explain," Seven demanded.
Lieutenant Ducane sighed again. "You've obviously caught her attention. You know how persistent Janeway is; if she's curious about Anna Jameson and starts digging around Starfleet for more information, it could cause even more problems."
"So what happens to the timeline if I go this party? How will further contact with her impact the future?"
"That is not clear," he answered honestly.
"In other words, you're uncertain of the ramifications," Seven stated, clearly not pleased with the ambiguity of the situation.
"Well, no, not really. But uncertainty is a big part of the equation."
"I don't like it," Seven responded. "Wouldn't it be a more efficient use of my time to finish searching the ship?"
"I don't like it either, but as I said he or she might be at this event," the Lieutenant informed. "So your orders are to go to this party, but keep a low profile. Have a drink, make a little small talk with Janeway, and then you get the hell out of there and back to Voyager to complete your mission. And while you're there, keep your eyes and ears open; you may find a clue to the saboteur at this party."
"Understood," Seven responded, and then quietly left the ship. What does one wear to a Starfleet party, anyway?
Meanwhile, back on Voyager, Captain Janeway frowned as she looked down at her PADD.
"Problem?"
She looked up at the Admiral. "I'm reading some kind of chronoton flux."
"Chronotons?"
"The readout says point zero zero three. It's coming from the Jefferies tube on deck four."
"Let's get someone on it," the Admiral commanded.
"No, I'll check it out. I've been wanting to get my hands dirty," Janeway grinned, rubbing her hands together in anticipation before heading to deck four.
Ballroom at Starfleet Headquarters (Night before Voyager launch)
Seven felt strangely nervous as she walked into the grand ballroom. She smiled at the sight of the familiar faces of Tom Paris and Harry Kim, and had to remind herself that these men were not her friends, not yet anyway. She found a spot in the corner that gave her a clear view of the ballroom, and sat at a small table, sipping her champagne as she scanned the room looking for anyone or anything that seemed out of place. She was so focused on her observations that she didn't notice the person who approached until she heard the familiar voice.
"Well hello there. Tell me, what's a beautiful woman like you doing sitting all alone here?"
Seven smirked and turned to look at Harry Kim. "Well hello, Ensign," she greeted him. "Is that your customary greeting for approaching unknown females, or is this the first step in your courtship ritual?" Seven asked, sounding just like a Borg.
Stunned, Harry furrowed his brows. "Uh um, courtship ritual?" He choked, and now felt totally like a dork, and wished he had better skills.
"Are you looking for a potential marital partner and mother of your children, or do you simply desire one night of copulation?" Seven said evenly, her brow narrowed sharply at the man.
"Ummmm," Harry swallowed and shook his head, unsure of how to respond, as he felt his cheeks heat up with humiliation. He shot a pleading look over to Paris, who picked up a drink and walked over to join them. He smiled as he handed another glass of champagne to the blonde. "Hello, I don't think we've been introduced. I'm Lieutenant Tom Paris, the Helmsmen of Voyager."
Seven sighed. "Yes, I am aware," she eyed the champagne the Lieutenant gave her and slightly rolled her eyes at it. "I have my own drink, and I am quite capable of getting myself another, so you really don't need to try." She smiled coyly at him and just merely sipped at her own drink slowly.
"Oh but, I didn't even get your name." His cockiness unwavering by the direct comment the blonde made.
"Anna Jameson," she responded and hoped that would be the last of their conversation.
"Nice to meet you, Anna," Tom said with a swaggering grin. "Are you going to be joining us on Voyager?"
"No," Seven replied with another sigh.
"Well, that's too bad," Tom said smoothly, and took another step closer to her. "I was really hoping that we could get to know each other better." Tom Paris was one hundred percent in his element as he flirted with the beautiful woman and was undeterred by the lack of encouragement from the blonde. Harry had noticed her first and called dibs, but it was obvious that his friend had struck out, so it was only fair that he take a shot at romancing her Time to show Harry how a real ladies' man operates. "I suppose we'll have to make the most of what little time we have together this evening, since I ship out in the morning," he boasted. Finishing the last drop of his drink, he handed the empty glass to his friend and turned back to Anna. "What do you say, Anna; would you care to go somewhere a little more private and get better acquainted?"
Seven shook her head and gave an even longer sigh this time, but before she could tell him no she was interrupted by that commanding yet intriguingly enticing voice that seemed to make the hairs on her neck stand up and take attention. The former Borg had to compose herself for the first time ever just by the sound of her voice. "Mr. Paris, please tell me that you are not hitting on your commanding officer's guest," Captain Janeway remarked, annoyed at her crewman's behavior. Seven had to stifle back her laughter at the horrified look on Tom's face.
"What? No! Of course not!" Tom sputtered, completely caught off guard. Stunned, he looked back and forth between the two women. "I'm sorry, Captain, I meant no disrespect. I was simply making sure that your guest was being attended to in your absence," Tom covered, relaxing as he smiled his most charming smile. "And now you are here, so I will wish you a good evening. Enjoy the party and I shall see you bright and early at 0600 tomorrow, Captain." Without waiting for a response, he grabbed Harry's arm and quickly led him back to the bar, feeling completely frustrated that his Captain interrupted his seduction.
Kathryn's eyes twinkled as she watched the two men practically run away, feeling proud of how easily she had rattled her young Helmsman. She turned back to the blonde, her lips curved into a pleased smile. "I see you decided to join us after all," she said, her words smoothly falling off her tongue in a confident purr.
"I did," Seven politely answered, as she took a sip of her drink. Normally unflappable, she was feeling quite unsettled at the moment.
"Well, I'm glad you changed your mind. I was hoping to talk with you more."
Seven couldn't hide her surprise. "You were? Did you want to know more about the adjustments I made to the EPS manifolds?" She rambled on, feeling so un-adapted at the moment.
Kathryn chuckled softly. "No, I already checked them after you finished. The readouts were accurate and precise, down to the last decimal point."
"Yes, I know," the Borg agreed rather directly. "My work is always accurate and precise, Captain."
"Is that so? Hmm, I'll have to keep that in mind," Kathryn replied, swallowing back her laughter at the confidence radiating off the blonde. "And please, call me Kathryn," she husked, and then quickly swallowed at the sound of her own voice.
"Kathryn," Seven repeated, the name sounding both foreign and pleasant on her lips. She could not recall anyone other than perhaps Commander Chakotay to call her by her given name.
"Is that a problem?"
"I'm not accustomed to addressing superior officers so informally," Seven answered honestly. "Starfleet protocol requires that I address officers by their formal rank."
"Well, that is true, however, I'm not 'your' commanding officer," the older woman explained.
Not yet, anyway, Seven thought.
"So please, I'd prefer you call me Kathryn and I'll call you Anna. Unless that makes you uncomfortable?"
Seven finished off her champagne to settle her nerves. "Okay, Kathryn," she said, trying not to feel rattled by this never before seen side of this woman.
Kathryn moved closer and whispered in her ear. "So, Anna, would you like to dance with me?" Well, that's certainly new. I've never danced with a woman before, so why now?
"You want to dance? With me?" Seven choked.
"Sure, why not?" Kathryn's light, playful tone successfully masked the inner turmoil at her uncharacteristic behavior. "My fiancé isn't here and I really want to dance. What do you say, Anna; shall we?" She held out a hand to the blonde, uncertain if she wanted her invitation to be accepted or rejected.
Seven felt warmth spread through her chest and quickly ascertained that this unfamiliar sensation was consistent with something called sexual arousal, a concept she had become familiar with when she researched the courtship and sexual behaviors of Tom and B'Elanna on Voyager. She had even experienced hints and flashes of it when she was within close proximity to Captain Janeway when she was a member of her crew, but knew it would never be anything more so she had learned how to turn it off. However, the sensations were much more intense, and even with an eidetic memory she knew she had never before experienced what she was feeling right this moment. Seven of Nine could NEVER share a dance with the Captain, but right now, they were simply Anna and Kathryn. Besides, it was just a dance. It's not like they were going to retreat to the Captain's quarters or Cargo Bay 2 and copulate. What the fuck? I think I'm malfunctioning having these thoughts. And now I just used an old terrain slang word. She winced inwardly as she gulped down the last of her drink and nodded, and then automatically took hold of her Captain's hand. She quickly felt the warmth and the softness of it reaching the same parts of her anatomy that she tried desperately to regain control over just moments before. "I'd love to dance with you, Kathryn," she said remembering to be polite and actually smiled forgetting that she never smiles. What the fuck? She sighed to herself as that damn word filled her cortical node once again.
Kathryn led Seven out onto the dance floor and pulled her close as the music played. What am I doing? What about Mark? Wait, Mark who? She tried to put thoughts of her fiancé out of her mind for the moment. I'm not doing anything wrong; I'm just being polite to someone who helped get my ship ready. Yes, that's exactly what I'm doing. I would be doing this for anyone, so what if she's the most breathtakingly beautiful woman I've ever seen? Yeah keep telling yourself that Katie. Exhausted with the thoughts racing around in her brain, she closed her eyes to drown out her inner voice and on instinct and of her desire to feel more of this beautiful woman ,she just slowly pulled the blonde a little bit closer.
Seven of Nine felt the warmth radiating off of Kathryn's body as they slowly swayed to the music, and for the moment she forgot all about temporal directives, saboteurs, and contaminated timelines and simply lost herself in how incredible it felt to be dancing with this woman. She couldn't help but think about what it might be like if this actually were their first meeting. No Borg links to sever, no superior-subordinate relationship, just two women who meet and connect like this.
"You're a very good dancer," Kathryn whispered in the blonde's ear, and a satisfied smile curved her lips at the way Anna quivered in response.
"Thank you. The Doctor was an adequate teacher," Seven replied.
"The Doctor? Who is the Doctor?" Kathryn felt annoyed, yet was unsure if she was annoyed with this doctor who had obviously danced with this woman or with herself for being a little jealous of him.
Seven faltered at the slip, unaccustomed to making such mistakes. It was unfamiliar to her and she found she did not like it at all. "He's a friend of mine," she covered. "He taught me how to dance."
Kathryn felt her jaw tighten. "Well, he did an excellent job. You're quite good at it. So you two are close?" She asked wanting to know if this young woman was taken. Yet what right did she have? She was the one who was engaged.
"So are you," Seven murmured. "And yes we are close." Her voice sounded lower and huskier than normal and it caused Kathryn's entire body to thrum in response. She tried not to think about the way her body was responding to Anna Jameson or the fact that she was feeling a little resentful over some doctor she had never meant. She was simply not willing to admit that she was smitten by a woman…THIS woman. Her senses were on overload as they danced…Anna's breath on her neck, the softness of her curves, the sound of their hearts beating against each other, the pressure of their breasts touching. It was all too much and sent a jolt through Kathryn's body. She pulled back slightly, her eyes drawn to the blonde's full lips and she wondered what it would be like to kiss those full pouty lips. Whoa! Where did that come from? I can't be thinking like that. Remember Katie I'm engaged to what was his name…Mike no Mark. Yes Mark …I love Mark.
As that thought rolled in her mind, Janeway thought she had better put some distance between her and this woman. She was thankful when the music stopped and the Admiral stepped up to the microphone and called out her name. Thank God for interruptions! Pulling away, she held one of Anna's hands between her own. "Thank you for the dance," she said with a smile. "But I'm afraid that duty calls." She gave the blonde's hand a gentle squeeze, but didn't let go.
"Understood," Seven replied, feeling more than a little unsettled as well.
"Voyager sets out tomorrow, but I do hope that our paths will cross again," the Captain said. She looked down and noticed that she was still holding Anna's hand, and reluctantly let go, feeling a sense of loss when she did.
"I look forward to it," Seven said, her eyes watching Janeway until she disappeared into a crowd of Starfleet officers. She took a few breaths to get her respiratory and cardiovascular systems back to their homeostatic state before exiting the ballroom to head back to Voyager.
Since the crew was at the party, it was quite easy for Seven to scan the ship and find the weapon she had been looking for. "Seven of Nine to Lieutenant Ducane," she relayed.
"Go ahead," he responded.
"I found the weapon, and it is out of phase. You've sent me to the wrong time frame," she reported.
"At least we now know where the weapon was placed. Now we have to determine when," Ducane advised. "Recalibrate your temporal transport beacon and prepare for transport."
"Understood," Seven responded, and then braced herself to return to Relativity.