Seven of Nine didn't turn as Captain Kathryn Janeway entered the dark room where she stood and watched the stars go by.
Janeway didn't speak, but moved to stand beside her in silence.
When she didn't start a conversation, Seven's eyes examined her quizzically. Janeway chuckled and turned to face her friend. As their eyes met, the Captain's smile faded. "I thought I'd lost you." She said softly, her eyes examining Seven with worry.
"I didn't think we were coming back." Seven admitted quietly.
Janeway swallowed. "Neither did I." She stared ahead of her, out the window. "I'm sorry, Seven." She shook her head. "I shouldn't have pressured you to go. If you had…"
Seven cut her off. "But I didn't. I'm right here." Janeway turned to look at her and found the beautiful part Borg looking at her intensely. "You were correct. It was a fascinating experience. A very…human experience. That was the point of the exercise, was it not?"
Janeway nodded slowly. "It was" she agreed slowly.
Seven eyed her friend carefully. Kathryn was distressed. Distressed it seemed, about her, and what theoretically could have occurred earlier that day. It was a human attribute of her Captain that she could still not quite fathom. "Would you like to join me for some tea?" she gestured to the empty mess hall.
"Hmm." Janeway pondered. "Why don't we go back to my quarters and have something a little stronger? I think today's events merit a glass of wine."
"Alcohol interferes with my cortical node." Seven reminded her politely, nonetheless following Janeway's lead towards the door.
"Seven, alcohol interferes with everyone's brain. Have a glass of wine with me."
Seven raised an eyebrow "As you wish."
Not long afterwards they were seated in Janeway's quarters, sipping red wine. Janeway leaned forward on the couch to refill Seven's glass lazily. "Why did you bring Lieutenant Kelley's body back with you?" she questioned, genuinely interested in the Borg's reasoning.
Seven pondered for a moment. "By watching his logs, I observed the type of man he was. He spent the last hours of his life recording data about an anomaly on the chance that someone might find it in the future. He was utterly devoted to science, and when he realised he wouldn't see his family again, did the best he could with the time he had left. I admire that. He earned my respect. He deserved to be honoured."
"A valid sentiment" Janeway agreed, taking another sip of her wine.
"Captain…" Seven trailed off as she swirled her wine in her glass.
"Kathryn" Janeway corrected mildly.
A hint of a smile crossed Seven's face. "Kathryn" she corrected herself. "Commander Chakotay brought up a strange subject earlier. He asked what I wanted to be when I was a child. I told him that at six years old, I wished to be a ballerina. The Commander informed me it was not too late to pursue that…dream." She finished awkwardly.
Janeway raised an eyebrow. "And?" she prompted.
"I researched the subject. Ballet helps to tone the body, develop often unused muscle groups, and promotes concentration and stamina. I was wondering what you thought of my pursuing training in the area." She looked at Janeway expectantly.
"I suppose it could help provide a link to your memories from your childhood" Janeway mused. "But why are you asking my opinion?"
Seven looked away. "Because it seems illogical to learn ballet simply because my six year old self had an interest in the area."
Janeway couldn't help it. She started laughing. Seven looked hurt. Gently, the Captain reached across the couch and squeezed her friend's hand. "I'm sorry Seven, your expression was just priceless." She wiped her eyes. "There are many logical reasons to explore something you were interested in during your childhood. We've already covered some of them, not to mention that ballet has been a valued form of dance on Earth for centuries. I think it's a wonderful idea. You could pursue your interest in music at the same time. Most ballet is set to classical music."
The other woman appeared relieved by her validation and nodded. "Thank you, C-Kathryn."
"No problem." Captain Janeway smiled and then covered a yawn.
"I should let you get some rest." Seven set her wine glass down on a nearby table and stood abruptly.
Janeway looked up at her in surprise. "You can finish your drink, Seven. I won't keel over and snore on you."
Seven sat back down and picked her half-full glass up again. "Alright." She agreed. She examined Janeway with bright blue eyes that made the Captain feel as though she was being x-rayed. "What interests did you have as a child?"
Janeway chuckled. "Ballet. Hiking. Tennis. Space and science, of course."
"Art?" Seven questioned.
Janeway shook her head. "No, that interest is more recent." She put down her now-empty glass. "And the others I haven't practiced in a long time."
Seven nodded. "Nonetheless, I would welcome any advice on the subject of ballet."
"Of course."
"I need to regenerate." Seven pointed out. "It has been an…interesting day, and the wine is producing out of the ordinary effects in my body chemistry."
Janeway nodded. "Alright. I should get some rest myself." She stood. Seven followed suit and made her way towards the door. "Good night, I'll see you tomorrow."
"Good night." Seven replied, exiting the room. In the doorway she paused. "And Kathryn?" Janeway looked up at her. "Thank you for the wine, the sensations it produces are most pleasant."
Janeway chuckled. "We'll do it again some time."
Seven nodded. "I would like that."
Janeway stood watching the closed door in amusement for a few moments after she left. She found her Astrometrics officer to be a most fascinating creature. A dry sense of humour combined with social innocence and barely flawed intelligence and logic to form a blunt, often aggravating, and sometimes hilarious personality all locked away inside a killer body. It created interesting situations, to say the least. The entirety of the male staff was attracted to her, but a good number of them couldn't stand her superiority complex. Janeway didn't think Seven ever let her guard down around anyone other than herself and the Doctor.
Pondering her Borg friend, Kathryn Janeway tidied up and prepared herself for bed. It had been a long and trying day. She would have to talk to Chakotay in the morning – while his devotion to science could not be faulted, he'd almost gotten the away team killed. She was actually somewhat surprised by Seven's lack of comment on the issue.
Her Astrometrics officer haunted her dreams.
After a full regeneration cycle, Seven of Nine sat preparing a formal report on Commander Chakotay's lack of perspective and errors in judgement during their mission. While the away team had come back alive, it was no thanks to the Commander. Their survival had been a result of ingenuity on the part of the rest of the crew. While she and Lieutenant Torres tended to rub each other the wrong way, Seven had to admit the woman had just saved her life with quick thinking.
The Captain was trying her hardest to keep a straight face as she read over Seven's official report, as the aforementioned was standing in her ready room, hands clasped behind her back, waiting for Janeway to comment.
The report was scathing. In its kindest possible interpretation it would be a distinct blow to Chakotay's none-too-delicate ego. Janeway cleared her throat. "Seven?" she ventured.
"Yes, Captain." Came the cool reply.
"I notice you have not made recommendations for the treatment of this issue." Janeway put down the PADD and looked up at her Astrometrics officer.
"No. I thought it best to ask your input as you know the Commander far better than I do." Seven shifted slightly. "Not to mention that when I became angry with him at the time, he informed me I had an "attitude"." The final word fell from Seven's tongue as though it were poisonous.
The Captain smirked. In the end, Seven of Nine did indeed have quite the attitude. Janeway clasped her hands under her chin. "I will speak to Commander Chakotay prior to his return to active duty and let you know what the outcome of the discussion is. We can then decide what direction to take. Is that satisfactory?"
"Indeed."
Janeway nodded wearily. "Dismissed."
Seven turned to leave, and the Captain couldn't help but observe as her lovely figure swayed its way across the room. As the doors closed she rubbed her eyes tiredly and stood, making her way to the replicator to order yet another cup of coffee.
Several weeks later, Captain Janeway sat in sick bay, waiting for Seven of Nine to wake up. When she did, bewildered blue eyes looked up at her. "Kathryn?" the Borg asked in a fear-tinged voice.
Janeway smiled sadly. "Hello, Seven." Seven tried to sit up and Janeway placed a restraining hand on her shoulder. "It's all right. You're just disoriented."
"Why?" Seven demanded.
"The Doctor had to make some adjustments. You did quite a bit of damage to your cortical node when you tried to assimilate all of that data."
Recognition sparked in Seven's eyes. "I was experiencing paranoia." Janeway nodded silently. Seven looked at her. "You convinced me to come back to Voyager. To come home."
"Yes." Janeway squeezed her hand gently.
"I accused you of…" contrition spread across Seven's features. "I'm sorry, Captain."
"That's quite all right." Janeway smiled at her blond friend. "I was going to invite you for dinner in my quarters, if you're feeling up to it."
"I do feel as though I require nutrition at this time, thank you." Seven moved to get up, this time restrained by a different hand.
"Not until I've examined you." The Doctor informed her sternly. Janeway moved so he could access his patient. Seven sat stoically through a neural exam before the Doctor (albeit grumpily) allowed her to leave. "You may feel the need to sleep" The Doctor told the Borg "as well as to regenerate. You've put a lot of strain on your human parts as well."
Seven looked slightly confused by this concept let Janeway lead her out of sick bay and back to the Captain's quarters. "Now sit down" she instructed Seven "I'm going to make something that the replicator never quite mastered. It's one of my favourites."
"What is the name of this dish?" Seven inquired.
"Welsh rarebit" The Captain replied, making her way over to the replicator and ordering a series of ingredients. Seven watched her with interest until her eyes started to close.
When she awoke the room smelt wonderful and she was covered with a blanket. Janeway sat at the table facing her, sipping a cup of coffee and reading something off a PADD. When she noticed Seven's movement she looked up and smiled. "How was your first experience with sleeping?"
Seven sat up slowly, blushing. She had fallen asleep in the Captain's quarters! "Different."
"It looked peaceful." Janeway commented, somewhat wistfully.
"Yes." Seven agreed. "I feel refreshed."
"Are you hungry? Dinner's ready."
"Thank you." Seven relinquished the blanket to the couch and joined her Captain at the table. Momentarily Janeway placed something that looked like bread covered in melted cheese in front of her, along with a bowl of soup.
"Welsh rarebit and French onion soup." She informed her guest. Seven raised an eyebrow. Janeway chuckled. "It's good! Just try it." She sat down across from her friend and started cutting off a chunk of her own. Seven sighed and followed suit, slipping a piece of the concoction into her mouth after a moment. It was good. An interesting mix of textures and flavours. Warm. Comforting.
Janeway was watching her apprehensively. Seven nodded. "You are right, it is delicious." She informed Janeway, who relaxed a little.
"I'm glad. It would be upsetting if you didn't like one of my favourite meals."
"Indeed." She agreed.
That night she didn't stay too late, exhausted by her recent experiences. Janeway hugged her tightly when she left the room, and to her own surprise, Seven found herself hugging back. It felt…right. After a few moments they each pulled away.
"Good night, Captain. Thank you for the meal and the advice." Seven said formally, trying to cover her confusion.
Captain Janeway smiled warmly; destroying any awkwardness Seven was feeling. "You'll feel better after a full night's regeneration. I'll see you in the morning."
Seven nodded. "Sleep well." She left the room, making her way back to cargo bay 2 deep in thought. She and Captain Janeway did not usually make physical contact to that extent. Moreover, the contact seemed to make the Captain happy. It had stirred positive feelings in Seven. Seven pondered further. She enjoyed her time with Captain Janeway. They were close – friends even. Were these positive feelings simply a manifestation of the pleasure of being emotionally close with another human being? Or were they something else?
With those thoughts in her mind, Seven stepped into her alcove and began to regenerate.
In her own quarters, Kathryn Janeway was pondering the same issues. She felt many emotions for Seven – protectiveness, caring, friendship…But she was beginning to wonder if there was something more.
She groaned. She'd had feelings for women before, but how had she managed this?!