Disclaimer: CBS Paramount owns Voyager, Deep Space Nine and all their characters. The content and original characters in these chapters are mine.
Author's Note: Anyone who has seen the movie Johnny Stecchino will recognize one of Mary's exclamations. Thanks to all the readers who have shown interest in this story & ENJOY!
Naomi flopped into the chair next to Mary. "I was afraid of this. What have you heard, if you don't mind."
"I don't mind, as long as this is a two way deal."
"Fair enough," Naomi decided maybe this could work to her advantage. Having the chance to correct some of the rumors via her roommate might not be a bad idea, "you tell me what you've heard and I will try and either confirm or deny. I assume you will be reporting this to others?"
"Are you kidding? Of course I will. I have become very popular today. Everyone wants to hear the whole story. Taking things from the top, first rumor, you and Commander Icheb were giggling in the corridors. True or False?"
"False, we weren't giggling. I don't think Ich…Commander Icheb has ever giggled. Mostly we were discussing the past in a jovial manner."
"I see, jovial discussion in a public place. Check. Next, you were yelling at Commander Icheb in the corridors. True or False?"
"Ummm, I wouldn't call it yelling per se. You see…"
Mary jumped in before Naomi could finish, "Big mistake, you should have made sure the corridor was utterly empty before chastising a superior officer in public. What were you yelling at him about?"
"Believe it or not, I was afraid rumors might be starting because he told me the crew wasn't accustomed to seeing him in a jovial mood. Obviously I was right."
"Now, Naomi, back to feeling free to yell at Commander Icheb. Have you always displayed this lack of respect for authority, or is it just aimed at our second in command?"
Trying to brace herself against this relentless torrent of questions, Naomi thought perhaps she could eliminate the need for some of the questions if she explained their history. "You have to understand, Icheb and I are really more like family than friends. Back on Voyager, everyone in the crew felt like we were all a big family. I realize most crews say that, but on Voyager, it was really intensified due to our situation. Icheb and I were the two youngest members of the family, so naturally we spent a great deal of time together."
"That's certainly understandable." When Mary paused Naomi thought maybe she had stemmed the tide with her brief explanation. Mary's next question knocked that idea right out of Naomi's head. "When you say family, what would be the closest example of your relationship; siblings, cousins, uncle/niece, distant cousins," she paused before finishing her list of examples, but did so with an undeniable smirk, "spouses?"
"Siblings?"
"You don't sound very positive. Personally, my brother never holds my hand in public."
"What? What do you mean?"
"Hand holding. It doesn't sound very sibling like, more romantic like. You were holding hands in the mess hall, weren't you? That's what my sources say."
Naomi was mortified. "What else do your sources say? I knew gossip on a starship travels at warp speed, but this is ridiculous. I just left the mess hall, and you have already heard about a very brief incident which wasn't technically hand holding. Icheb was just trying to support and encourage me when I was startled."
"Santa Cleopatra! You mean it's true? Commander Sour-Puss was holding your hand? I really thought they made that one up. Okay, I have to know. Did Commander Icheb really wait on you? I mean get up and get a beverage for you?"
"Is that unusual?"
"IS THAT UNUSUAL?! Commander Stuffed-Shirt doesn't do that sort of thing. EVER."
"How many nicknames do you have for Icheb?"
"In the vicinity of a gazillion. He makes it too easy. I have never seen a more serious individual in my life. Nobody on board has. He's an excellent officer and scientist, but he seriously needs to loosen up. There has been a popular theory among those on the lower decks that his demeanor is just a byproduct of his Borg history. However, his complete and radical change when he is with you has shattered that particular theory. As you can see, you, Ensign Naomi Wildman, are news. You can't just show up on board, completely transform Commander Stick-in-the-Mud then avoid gossip. It's just not a reasonable expectation."
As Naomi put her head in her hands she realized the situation was far worse than she thought.
