Alex stopped just outside Leena's door, gathering her thoughts and desperately hoping this girl wasn't the trader; although, Alex had to admit the young crewmember was definitely smart enough to be the saboteur. Leena shared Alex's sense of humor and they bonded quickly, it would be hard to hear the brilliant engineer being involved in any kind of mischief.

The ensign closed her eyes and reminded herself to keep an open mind; she would hear Leena out first, there had to be an explanation for everything. Then she would decide how to approach the captain.

With a nervous breath, Alex reached out and pressed the call button beside the door. No answer.

"Computer, locate Leena Liner."

Crewman Leena Liner is in her quarters.

Alex pressed her comm badge and lowered her voice, "Ensign Ryder to Leena." No answer. "Leena, you can talk to me now, or I can come back with Tuvok, your choice."

The door hissed open quickly in response. Alex marched inside but came to an abrupt stop once she noticed the room was blanketed in darkness. An eerie silence hung in the air, causing a disconcerting shiver to skitter through her spine once the doors slid shut behind her, sealing her inside the dark domain.

"Leena?"

Without warning, a hard blow struck true to the back of Alex's skull. Blinding pain fired through her as she crumbled to the hard floor. The scientist laid on the ground starry-eyed and dazed before she could put together what happened. All she could make out was the silhouette of her green-haired friend leaning over her, frantic fingers ripped away the ensign's comm badge. Leena had appeared out of nowhere. Clearly she had been hiding and waiting for Alex, but why?

"So it is you then," Alex slurred as she rolled onto her back, still trying to get her bearings. "You're Voyager's trader."

"Yeah," came Leena's timorous voice. "But it isn't for the reasons you think."

Alex smiled a pained smile, "What the hell do you think I'm thinking? I didn't go to the captain, Leena. I came here to hear you out first. Why are you sabotaging our home?"

"It isn't my home," Leena replied, her voicing cracking.

Emily? Emily, you there?

Where was that voice coming from?

"I'm sorry," Leena said quickly before stomping a heavy booted foot to the ensign's forehead.

The back of Alex's skull bounced off the hard surface beneath her. Pain shot through her once more, she wanted to scream but refused; she didn't open her eyes; she didn't move at all. Leena must had thought she lost consciousness, why she didn't, Alex didn't know. She would definitely have a concussion come morning if she survived this encounter. As her head spun, Alex listened to Leena shuffle quickly across the room; next came the sound of panicky fingers typing away at a computer followed by voices.

There you are— Em? You okay?

"Portia I can't do this. We have a problem," came Leena's weepy voice.

Slow down. Tell me what the hell happened.

"The lead scientist caught me in the backup systems before I could transmit the research to you. She didn't rat me out, but she came to my quarters to confront me."

So, that confirmed it; Leena was more than a trader. This went deeper. Still dizzy and dazed, Alex kept her eyes closed, determined playing dead was her best chance. Her head throbbed beyond measure and threatened her consciousness; she just needed to hold on a little longer.

Is she there now?

"Yeah, but I panicked and hit her in the back of the head with a cylinder pipe. She's unconscious now."

Okay, don't panic. Here's what you're going to do...

Alex never heard the end of the sentence. The darkness took her first.

OoOoO

B'elanna drew in a sharp breath and shot upright on the couch in her living room. Why she woke so abruptly was unknown, just a mysterious inkling. Shrugging off the odd sensation, B'elanna peered through heavy lids to check the datapad on the nearby coffee table for the time, nearly 0400 hours. Stretching out and rubbing a sore neck, she surveyed the small apartment, where was Alex? Most likely still in the lab, she figured.

"Computer," B'elanna called, rubbing her tired sleep-ridden eyes. "Locate Ensign Alex Ryder."

Ensign Alex Ryder is in Jefferies tube thirty-nine.

The lieutenant drew her brows together as she thought where Jefferies tube thirty-nine was located. What was Alex doing on deck six?

B'elanna pressed her comm badge, "Torres to Alex."

No answer.

B'elanna swung her legs to the floor sitting fully upright while her heart fluttered a little bit faster and her nerves took over. "Torres to Alex," she repeated.

Still no answer.

Beginning to panic, B'elanna half-walked half-jogged her way to the turbolift. She grew more worried with every passing second Alex didn't answer her continuous attempts at raising her on the comm.

When the lift doors slid open to reveal the sixth deck, B'elanna broke into a full out sprint and didn't stop until she reached the Jefferies hatch she was searching for.

Once the door veered open, a thick mist poured from the duct emanating an intense heat. B'elanna covered her mouth and crawled inside doing her best to ignore the sweltering fog. She was probably breaking every safety protocol there was racing inside the dangerous atmosphere like that. But she didn't care, all she cared about was Alex and getting her to safety.

Blindly, she crawled several meters ahead, the thick mist stung her eyes, its heat burnt her skin, every intake of air pierced her lungs and was pure agony. Thankfully, it wasn't long before she stumbled over her lover's lifeless body. Pulling herself alongside Alex, B'elanna smacked her comm badge.

"Torres to transporter room two!" Torres shouted between gasps of air, "I need a site to site transport, lock on to my comm badge and engage!" B'elanna held tightly onto her unconscious lover as they were transported to sickbay.

B'elanna collapsed beside Alex on sickbay's floor as soon as they rematerialized. She gasped for air as her lungs burned. Out of nowhere appeared Kes and the doctor. B'elanna shrugged off the hands trying to lift her up. "No, help Alex first." she said through a fit of coughs.

"The doctor is already treating her," came Kes' soft calming voice. "I need to get you onto a biobed, Lieutenant. You have severe second-degree burns, and I want to treat your lungs before any permanent damage occurs."

Nodding, B'elanna draped an arm over Kes and allowed herself to be hoisted up. Stumbling over to one of the small beds, the half-Klingon passed out as soon as her back hit the thin mattress.

B'elanna didn't open her eyes again until the following morning. She thought of Alex and wondered why she couldn't feel those warm arms wrapped around her, holding her protectively as they usually did.

Slowly, heavy lids fluttered open; B'elanna squinted against the bright light waiting for them to adjust. When she was met with the captain by her bedside, she bolted upright as the prior night's memories came rushing back to her. Where was Alex?

"Easy, Lieutenant." The captain cooed.

"A—Alex," B'elanna started, her voice was scratchy; it was difficult to speak.

"Ah, you're awake." The doctor was next to approach B'elanna's bedside.

"Is Alex alright?" B'elanna rasped, not caring about her own condition.

"She's fine," Janeway assured, grabbing the lieutenant by the arms and rubbing gently. "You can see her in a minute. First I'd like to talk to you. Can you tell me what happened?"

B'elanna shook her head. "No, I woke in the middle of the night, and Alex still hadn't come home, so I asked the computer to locate her. What I'm assuming was a plasma leak was already active when I got there."

The captain nodded once and pursed her lips as if trying to solve a puzzle. "We're still determining the cause of the rupture. We can't find any analytical evidence that it was a malfunction."

"Another sabotage?" B'elanna whispered.

Janeway nodded.

"You inhaled a dangerous amount of the plasma particles; I've administered a healing compound for your lungs but your vocal cords will require a few more days to mend on their own." The doctor interjected. "This plasma radiation interferes with medical devices, so it's difficult to treat your internal injuries at this time. I can heal you more thoroughly in a few days when the levels have lowered."

"What about Alex? She was in it far longer than I was."

"Again, with the plasma interference I couldn't get any clear readings. But as far as I can tell, she's perfectly fine. Your injuries were more severe than hers."

Both the captain and B'elanna stared at the doctor, eyes wide. "How is that possible, Doctor?" B'elanna uttered.

"Honestly, I don't know. I can't explain it, and unfortunately, we may never know. After the plasma interference levels drop, whatever saved her may be long gone by then."

"Can I see her, now?" B'elanna asked.

The doctor looked to Janeway who nodded her approval. B'elanna slipped from the biobed and hurried across the bay to the main sickbed where Alex still lay asleep as beautiful as ever and seemingly unscathed from last night's events. Gently, B'elanna caressed a too pale cheek until the raven-haired beauty stirred.

Chocolate orbs gazed tiredly back at her own. "Hey," B'elanna whispered.

Alex stared blankly into the half-Klingon as if she wasn't really there or was deep in thought. The captain came over a moment later, smiling down at Alex. With B'elanna's help, the ensign sat upright to face the captain.

"Can you tell me anything about last night, Ensign?" Janeway asked.

Alex shook her head.

"Where did you go after our conversation last night?"

The scientist drew her brows together; seemingly confused.

"Don't you remember talking with Tuvok and me in your lab last night?"

Alex's expression didn't change as she slowly shook her head.

"What is the last thing you remember, Ensign?" the doctor asked, appearing out of nowhere.

Alex met B'elanna's gaze just then. The lieutenant thought she could see a blush creeping up her lover's neck just then and had an inkling to Alex's most recent memory. They had had quite an intimate morning the day before.

"I think she remembers having breakfast with me yesterday morning," B'elanna intermitted.

Janeway glanced between B'elanna and Alex, "Is that right, Ensign?"

"Yes, Captain." Alex finally spoke, her voice sounded as melodic as ever, completely untouched by any burning particles.

"Interesting," said the doctor.

"So you don't remember anything to have transpired after your morning with Lt. Torres?" Janeway confirmed.

Alex shook her head. "Can I return to duty, now?" Alex asked.

"What do you think, Doctor?" Janeway asked.

"I'm afraid not. Having no symptoms after plasma radiation exposure is too curious, I'm relieving you for the next twenty-four hours for observation. I want you to rest and stay away from the crew in that time until I rule out any possible alien virus'. You may return to your quarters if you wish but you must rest." The doctor turned toward B'elanna, "You Lieutenant have responded normally and apart from slightly damaged vocals, are in no immediate danger, you may return to your post when you please."

B'elanna nodded and thanked the doctor before taking Alex's hand and helping her off the biobed. The captain promised to seek them both out later in the week to discuss whatever conversation Alex couldn't remember.

Hand in hand, B'elanna walked her lover back to their quarters. Something was still seemingly off about Alex. The ensign was uncharacteristically quiet; she must had been really shaken up, but B'elanna just couldn't shrug the feeling.

When they finally reached home, Alex headed straight for bed. B'elanna followed her, grasping the ensign's hand and spinning her around just before she reached the bed. Alex didn't meet her eyes; she had that faraway look again.

Gentle hands cupped a pale jaw, urging the raven haired woman to look at the lieutenant. "Hey," B'elanna whispered. Finally, chocolate orbs found hers. "There you are," B'elanna smiled. Gently, she pressed warm lips to cold ones. Calloused hands slipped behind the ensign's neck as the brunette deepened the kiss. B'elanna pulled away when Alex didn't respond.

"Alex? What's wrong?"

Alex looked at B'elanna again as if finally seeing her for the first time. "Sorry, B'e. I'm just tired. I'm going to go to bed now."

B'elanna watched as the ensign undressed down to her tank and underwear and slipped beneath the soft sheets. The lieutenant sat beside her on the edge of the bed and kissed her girlfriend's too chilled forehead.

"Okay, we'll talk more when you wake up. I'm going to head down to engineering. Stay in bed, no sneaking off to the lab. I'll see you at dinner."

Alex rolled over without a response. B'elanna's heart broke a little at the action. She desperately wanted to help in some way. Something was wrong. But until Alex was ready to talk, there was nothing she could do.

When B'elanna returned later that evening from a long day of work, she let out a frustrated sigh when she noticed Alex was nowhere to be found in the apartment. She must have gone back the lab, she thought bitterly.

"Torres to Alex."

No answer.

Growing frustrated and impatient, B'elanna called out for the computer, "Computer, locate Ensign Alex Ryder."

Ensign Alex Ryder is in crewman Leena Liner's quarters.

What the hell was she doing there?