Disclaimer: Star Trek Voyager belongs to Paramount, not me, no infringement intended.

* * * * *

The song ended. Seven sat, thinking. After several minutes, she came to a few conclusions, and promptly dismissed further thought on the subject for the time being. She stood up slowly, stretched, and strode to a console to engage in other thoughts she was eminently more comfortable with: collecting data on the nebula.

* * * * *

The Doctor arrived back in Sickbay even sooner than Seven had expected. He was not going to leave her alone again any longer than he had to. She greeted him with the results of her analysis.

"Doctor, I was correct. We are experiencing fluctuations in the radioactivity levels. We passed through a particularly high-level area during my last hallucinatory episode. It seems to have dropped significantly for the moment, but I am detecting another high-level area just before we exit the nebula." She looked from the console to him. "I honestly do not know why your program has not been affected."

"Well, B'Elanna did do a little precautionary tinkering with me. Let's hope it holds out." He turned to the tools of his trade and began to prepare Seven's next hypospray. Finished with the console, Seven put her hands behind her back in her familiar posture and looked at the Doctor's back.

"You are in love with someone," she stated.

He dropped the hyprospray but caught it before it hit the floor and turned slowly. "Wha...what?"

"I believe Mr. Paris would say, good save," she said with a tilt of her head, looking at the hypospray in his hand.

"But, what...did..."

"I said, you are in love with someone. It is the only logical explanation for your behaviors...some of them, at any rate," she said, the last more to herself. "The part of the song that you did not wish to sing in the holodeck is about love. You said it reminded you of something you cannot have; therefore, I assume you have strong feelings for someone, and the object of your affection does not share your feelings."

He stood there staring at her. She took that to mean she was right, and continued.

"I am aware that this has happened at least once before, with your...fan, Tincoo. You should inform me of the details of this situation. Perhaps I can convince the other person to... attempt a relationship, I suppose." She paused. "As your friend, I do not enjoy seeing you hurt," she finished, with sincere concern.

The Doctor's face had grown more surprised as she spoke, but at the word friend it fell slightly. He searched for words. "Seven, I...I don't know what to say," he said honestly.

She stood in her ramrod pose, waiting patiently for a further response.

His mind worked wildly. He felt like a virus under his own microscope. He certainly couldn't lie to her. If he said he did not want to discuss it, she would acquiese for the moment, but he did not think she would really let it go. She noticed my "behaviors." Idoit, idiot, idiot... His hand clenched into a fist and he looked at the floor.

You could always do what you didn't do on the holodeck weeks ago. You could just tell her the truth, a small voice said somewhere in his program.

He contemplated. What did he really have to lose? There was already pain. There would be humilation and more pain, but it certainly hadn't been the first time. What crew member hadn't he humiliated himself in front of? Of course, this would be much worse, but at least they were alone. There was no one to overhear, no one to gossip. Only if Seven mentioned it later, and she wasn't given to talking much, or to just anyone, about personal matters. She could get all the laughing and looks of disgust and horror out of her system before the crew was awakened. If he was going to do it, now was the time.

He looked up, somewhat defeatedly. "Seven, I do need to talk to you. If you'll accompany me to the holodeck again, I'll tell you all about it."

"Why not talk here?"

"I would just feel more comfortable talking there." At least I can get my heart torn to pieces in a nice setting, he thought bitterly.

She nodded. "Very well. What attire would be appropriate this time?"

"It doesn't matter," he said, so dejectedly that she began to feel she should not have said anything.

"Doctor, if you would rather not, I understand..."

"No, I want to tell you." I want to get this over with! "Meet me there in a few minutes."

She nodded and left Sickbay.

He stayed long enough to quickly finish preparing the hypospray and put it in a medkit, then left with it before he could change his mind.

To be continued...