Part 4
The debriefing had begun and the most difficult line of questioning so far had come from Admiral Alynna Nechayev. The board had focused on Kathryn's decision to destroy the Caretaker's array, Nechayev made it clear that in her opinion this was bordering on a violation of the Prime Directive. Kathryn had argued her reasoning well and was not too unduly rattled so far.
Towards the end of the afternoon Admiral Paris declared, as he looked to the rest of the board, "Well I think we've come to a natural break, that is enough for one day. Shall we reconvene at 09:00hrs tomorrow?" Looking side to side all the flag officers nodded in agreement, "That's agreed, see you all 09:00hrs tomorrow, dismissed."
Kathryn stood as the flag officers filed out, once they had left she picked up the PADD she had used, and headed for the door. In the corridor she came face to face with Nechayev who had stopped to check her own PADD. "Admiral." Kathryn nodded politely.
"Captain," Nechayev replied, "Dinner with the Borg now is it?"
Kathryn stared at her, Nechayev's question was anything but friendly. Looking around Kathryn realised they were alone so decided to rise to the bait, "Is there something you would like to say to me Admiral?"
"No Captain, I think I will have the chance to say all I need to in the debriefings." Nechayev met Kathryn's glare with one of her own, "I will say this though, perhaps you should consider yourself lucky this is a debriefing and not a court-martial. Also I can't say I approve of Star Fleet Captains dating the Borg, inappropriate to say the least!"
"Admiral?" Kathryn was well aware that Nechayev was not her biggest fan but was still thrown by her open hostility.
"Good evening Captain." Nechayev walked off leaving Kathryn agog.
"Dismissed..." Kathryn growled under her breath heading in the opposite direction.
That evening Kathryn sat down to begin preparation for the next day, she was engrossed in her work when her comm link sounded, it was Owen Paris.
"Evening Kathryn, how are you holding up?"
Kathryn was tired, too tired to hide it from Owen Paris, "Evening Admiral, I'm surprised to hear from you."
"I just wanted to check in, I've been hearing some..." The Admiral cleared his throat and looked unsure how to form his sentence, "some disturbing gossip that I wanted to discuss with you outside the debriefing."
"Go on Admiral" Kathryn picked up her coffee taking sip to steel herself.
"There is a rumour that you are... romantically involved with Seven of Nine."
"Yes I am Admiral." Kathryn bit back a little more harshly than she meant to, "Sorry, I have already had a run in with Admiral Nechayev, I don't mean to be defensive."
Admiral Paris let out a sigh wiping his face with his hand, "Kathryn I have to say I am surprised. I thought you had better judgement..."
"I'm sorry Admiral I'm not sure I am following you?" Kathryn frowned.
"Better judgement than to get involved with a member of your crew, one that appears to have clearly had an impact on your command decisions."
Kathryn held her hand up to stop the Admiral going any further, "Now hang on we've only been in a relationship since returning to the Alpha Quadrant."
"Will others in your crew confirm this Kathryn?"
"Yes! But I fail to see why it matters?"
"Look Kathryn, Alynna wants blood and your relationship with Seven may just give her it. It's good you haven't been together long, it may help if you break it off with her."
Kathryn rubbed her forehead before looking back at the screen, "I will consider what you have said, I can't promise anything more than that."
"Just think about it Kathryn, it's all I ask. Paris out."
Seven arrived on the Wednesday morning at Star Fleet HQ, it was now 09:00hrs on Saturday morning and she was waiting for Kathryn. They had arranged on Tuesday that they would meet, although Seven had not seen or heard anything from Kathryn since Wednesday evening when she had received a written message from her. Kathryn had warned her that she would only see her in passing, if at all until Saturday as she needed to 'focus'.
Seven had learned that during the days Kathryn had been at Star Fleet Command she had been spotted by various members of the Voyager crew, grabbing meals whilst reading PADDs, passing by them in corridors, but no one had been able to pin her down long enough for anything more than curt greetings.
Seven was worried about how hard Kathryn was working, and although she had personally found the experience routine so far, she knew the rest of the crew had remarked on how rigorous the debriefing process was.
Breaking her from her thoughts Seven heard footsteps behind her, turning she came face to face to face with Kathryn who looked pale and exhausted. Kathryn put both her hands up managing a genuine smile, "I know, I'm late and I'm sorry."
Seven raised her human hand to Kathryn's cheek, "You are here and I am grateful for that."
Kathryn smiled, Seven returned the smile lowering her hand. Both began to walk to the transporter pads, "Did you think I wouldn't meet you this morning?"
"I am aware that you have kept a gruelling schedule over the last few days, I did think it was probable." Entering the transporter room Seven nodded to the transporter Chief, handing them a PADD, "These are the coordinates we require transporting to, and details for our return transport."
"Yes Ma'am." The operator imputed the coordinates "Ready to transport." Both women stood on the transporter pad and soon found themselves materialising in a stone cottage.
"Where are we Seven?" Kathryn looked around intrigued. The cottage itself was small but homely, it had a replicator as well as a kitchen which was open plan onto a living room and dining area. As Kathryn looked around the view suddenly hit her out of one of the windows, she moved across the room to get a better look.
The cottage was near to the edge of a lake, there were high hills surrounding the valley and the view across the lake was stunning, "Wow, Seven you have really excelled yourself." Kathryn looked back over her shoulder catching Seven's relieved smile.
"I am pleased you like it. We are in Norway, I thought you might like to go walking with me and this location met those requirements."
"It certainly does." Kathryn beamed holding her hand out for Seven to join her by the window. Kathryn wrapped her arm around Seven's waist as the two looked out over the view.
Setting out on their walk they decided to take a route up into the hills and then return walking along the lakeside. An hour and a half in they had stopped to have some food and admire the view. Seven had avoided asking Kathryn about the debriefing sensing that she wanted to forget about it, at least for the moment. It was testament to how hard Kathryn was pushing herself when she fell asleep on the blanket they were resting on.
Waking Kathryn felt a little embarrassed, her voice more gravelly than usual, "I'm sorry Seven I must have drifted off." Kathryn stretched, sitting up she checked the time "Hell, sorry I've been asleep an hour!"
"Fifty seven minutes and twenty nine seconds but who's counting?" Seven joked and gave a concerned smile to Kathryn.
"Not much company am I?"
"On the contrary I have enjoyed being with you..."
"Even if I'm asleep?"
"Especially when you are asleep, I can see you are exhausted so I am pleased you rested."
"Well I do feel better."
"Good." Seven stood offering her hand and pulling Kathryn to her feet.
"Thanks." Kathryn pulled her jacket straight while Seven picked up the blanket, folding it away.
They began to head down towards the lake, Kathryn took hold of Seven's hand giving it a squeeze, "I do appreciate you arranging this trip Seven. I know it's only been four days but I think I needed a break."
"If you are admitting to that you need a break should I be concerned?" Seven raised her eyebrow.
Kathryn gave a hollow laugh and sighed, "I fear I am going to be asked to account for almost every command decision I have made on Voyager."
"Star Fleet's ability to take every inefficient course of action continues to confuse me."
"Well maybe not every command decision, but it just feels that way."
"I think you should be praised not questioned."
"Well you're biased." Kathryn ran her other hand through her hair as they continued walking down the hill hand in hand, "Seven it seems that there are some flag officers that would have seen me court-martialled."
"Then they are ill-informed Kathryn." Seven's tone was no nonsense.
"Perhaps..." Kathryn wondered if she should tell Seven what was really going on.
"They are Kathryn!" Seven stopped, facing Kathryn and putting her hands on both of Kathryn's arms. Seven felt she knew what the real issue was with her, "Has the debriefing begun with your decision to destroy the Caretaker's array?"
"Yes."
"The decision that has troubled you for the last seven years?" Seven studied her partner before continuing, "Kathryn you must resolve this, your guilt is unhealthy, and this is not the first time you have distanced yourself form the crew over it."
Kathryn looked down and then back up into Seven's eyes "I know you are right, I question that decision more than any other I made." It was an honest answer but not a full one, Kathryn could not bring herself to tell Seven that she had been advised to end their relationship.
"You must not isolate yourself Kathryn, I think you will find the crew do not judge you for making that choice, you should allow them to support you."
Kathryn smiled her eyes glistening with tears threatening to spill, "Well I suppose that tells me."
"Yes it does..." Seven dipped her head down to meet Kathryn's lips in a loving kiss.
Back in the cottage Seven prepared their evening meal while Kathryn sat reading, or rather she sat with a book on her lap staring at Seven to the point where she felt compelled to question her, "Do you require something Kathryn?" Seven raised her eyebrow, and gave a small smile.
Kathryn put down her book and sauntered over, leaning on a pillar next to the kitchen area. Kathryn's hand was on her hip, she smiled, her eyes full of desire, "I was admiring the view." Kathryn nodded towards Seven.
Seven looked shy but managed a cool response "Incorrect Captain, the 'view' is that way." Seven pointed to the window with the wooden spoon she had in her hand.
Kathryn looked over in the direction she pointed, "Oh no," Kathryn's tone was low and full of desire, she moved from the pillar and stood behind Seven, "you are incorrect Seven." Kathryn purred before wrapping her arms around the younger woman's waist. "You know thinking about it, this is not the first time I've stood watching you while you work and admired the view..."
"You are correct Captain," Seven put down her spoon and turned in Kathryn's arms, her eyes mirroring Kathryn's desire, "although you would never have allowed me to do this..." Seven lowered her head and kissed Kathryn with growing desire.
Coming up for air Kathryn remarked running her hand gently up Seven's back, "You are right Seven, I have you now though..."
"Almost," Seven smiled, "although the meal is nearly prepared."
"I do not require nutritional supplement at this time." Kathryn replied with a grin, reaching behind Seven to turn off the hob. Taking hold of Seven's Borg hand with her right she ran her thumb pad over the metal mesh at the back of Seven's hand. Kathryn looked into Seven's eyes searching for approval and hoping that Seven was as ready as she was to take this next step. Kathryn took one step back, still holding Seven's hand, she smiled waiting for Seven's reaction.
Seven took a step forward and watched Kathryn nervously smile and then bite her bottom lip. Kathryn looked down at Seven's hand in her own and then back up into Seven's eyes. Kathryn turned from Seven, still hand in hand and began to walk a few paces from the kitchen towards the bedroom. Pausing halfway across the room Kathryn again turned to look at Seven, wanting to give her every opportunity to stop this if she wanted to.
Seven sensed the reason for Kathryn's reluctance and took the initiative leading Kathryn to the bedroom.
Waking Seven realised Kathryn was laid half on top of her still asleep. Seven lifted her head slightly to kiss the top of Kathryn's head. Murmuring Kathryn awoke, looking up into Seven's eyes with beaming smile, "Morning."
"Good morning Kathryn, I trust you slept well?" A playful smile formed on Seven's lips. "The best sleep in years." Kathryn moved to place a light kisses on Seven's neck, "You know maybe getting Voyager stranded in the Delta Quadrant wasn't such a bad command decision after all."
"No?" Seven managed whisper.
"No, we wouldn't have met." Kathryn looked up at Seven.
"I am pleased we did," Seven smiled joking, "Borg perfection is underrated compared to you."
Kathryn burst out laughing, "I don't know about that! I do love you Seven of Nine."
"I love you too Kathryn Janeway."
