~f&i

disclaimer: not mine

~~f&i~~

At a small noise, B'Elanna looked up from the sparking panel she was repairing to see Seven making her way towards her with a tool kit. Even Seven can't make crawling through a Jeffries tube look dignified. B'Elanna thought derisively before turning back to her wires with an annoyed grunt.

"Lieutenant, the Captain has ordered me to report to you and assist in repairs."

B'Elanna grunted again, lips pressing together to form an irritated line, then took a long, measured breath through her nose. She had been successfully avoiding the blond Borg for a week and a half, assisted more recently by a distracting alien encounter. But since the recent alien distraction had resulted in significant and extensive damage to the ship, she really should have expected Janeway to assign the Astrometrics officer to her department. Well she's here now, might as well put her to use.

"These relays need to be replaced and the gel packs need to be checked for damage." The Engineer instructed, pointing a plasma cutter at the needy parts as she spoke.

"Very well." Was Seven's short response before she proceeded to situate herself next to the uncomfortable Klingon.

Said Klingon was now having trouble picking up her repairs where she left off before the interruption. For the past week she'd been thinking about their situation and Tom's advice. She wasn't ready to give up on Kathryn, but couldn't bring herself to accept the ex-Borg's offer. Although, the contemplative mood had at least caused a decrease in her verbal abuse of the crew, which the Captain approved of, even if mysterious dents had begun appearing on some of the consoles and panels the Chief Engineer frequently worked on. Now, with the cause of her problems sitting next to her with aplomb, B'Elanna found it impossible to concentrate on anything else.

After distractedly tracing the same wire for several moments, the disgruntled Engineer gave in.

"I don't understand you."

Seven paused her work at the frustrated statement, turning from the gel pack she had been examining to raise an implant adorned brow.

"Indeed, that seems to be a common problem on Voyager." Seven pronounced neutrally. "What is the cause of your current confusion?"

B'Elanna turned fully to face the ex-borg, settling with her arms and legs crossed, before speaking, "Why did you do it?"

"Why did I do what, Lieutenant?" Seven asked, appearing both puzzled and mildly annoyed at the vagueness of the question.

B'Elanna made an equally vague gesture with her hand before elaborating, "Offer to let me sleep with Janeway. It just doesn't make sense."

Seven frowned slightly, "We discussed this matter in the brig. Were my intentions unclear?"

"It's not your intentions so much as your motivation that's unclear." B'Elanna replied gruffly, hand returning to tuck itself against her opposite arm, "I don't see where you get anything out of this deal."

Seven cocked her head and eyebrow, "It would benefit Kathryn, which would in turn benefit myself."

B'Elanna studied Seven with something like wonder. "You're really not at all scared she'll leave you, are you?"

"Initially I was afraid Kathryn intended to leave me." Seven swallowed against a sharp pain in her chest, expression becoming more sober, "But she has assured me that was never her intention and I believe she is sincere. She is determined that our marriage not be further harmed by her or your actions."

B'Elanna grimaced at the bitter words, trying not to growl her rebuttal. "That's what I mean, the Captain made it pretty clear she wanted the whole thing dropped and forgotten so why aren't you doing the same?"

Seven gave the Klingon a once over, causing B'Elanna to fidget. "You are unhappy."

"Your Point?" B'Elanna shot off defensively at Seven's pause.

Seven frowned at the interruption. "You are depressed, agitated, angry and destructive. This concerns myself and, as Captain, my wife because it is detrimental to Voyager's collective." B'Elanna turned back to the forgotten panel with a sneer and a growl rumbling deep in her throat. "As Kathryn the woman, it concerns her because she cares for you a great deal and knowing she has caused you pain hurts her as well."

The growl abruptly died. "She cares for me," B'Elanna said slowly, "but she doesn't want to sleep with me. She doesn't want to love me."

"What Captain Kathryn Janeway believes she should feel and what she actually feels do not always correlate." Seven noted dryly. "If Kathryn did not desire to 'sleep' with you, she would not have allowed your previous encounter." Seven paused, "And although she has not admitted such, I believe she does love you but refuses to act on it because she believes it to be inappropriate. While Kathryn insists she does not require a romantic relationship with you, such a relationship would appease both her and your emotional disarray efficiently."

When B'Elanna, lost in thought, failed to offer a response, Seven returned to her gel pack. B'Elanna darted a glance at the peripheral motion and, on seeing her companion working intently, hesitantly resumed her repairs as well.

After about five minutes of near silent work B'Elanna finally spoke. "It wouldn't bother you if your wife shared that kind of intimacy with someone who wasn't you?"

Seven paused in her work. "What Kathryn and I share is very special and important to me…" the ex-borg frowned in frustration at the inadequate words, "However, if she chose to change her relationship with you it would not lessen the value of the relationship she shares with me."

After a beat, B'Elanna spoke up again.

"So, if I were to accept this… crazy idea of yours…" Seven looked over her, "how exactly would we go about it?"

"Are you agreeing to attempt my 'crazy idea'?" Seven asked bluntly.

B'Elanna grunted and muttered almost inaudibly, "Insanity must be contagious." Then a little louder, "I'm… considering it."

As B'Elanna was staring resolutely at Voyager's wiring, she missed the small triumphant smile that flit across the ex-Borg's face.

Since B'Elanna didn't seem to want to meet her gaze, Seven also returned to her work as she answered casually. "It would be a delicate operation. We would have to go slowly or Kathryn will reject the notion immediately."

B'Elanna snorted disdainfully, "Yeah, I can't see Janeway agreeing to take on a mistress."

At the bitter tone, Seven turned to regard her companion speculatively. "You do not like that word." Seven declared.

"What word?" B'Elanna asked distractedly as she carefully disconnected a live wire.

"Mistress."

B'Elanna flinched slightly even though Seven's tone had been neutral.

"It's just a word." She replied gruffly, yanking out the wire with a little more force than strictly necessary.

"Then why does it displease you?" Seven inquired with persistent curiosity.

After a moment B'Elanna reluctantly admitted, "It just does."

Seven canted her head and her gaze went vacant briefly as she sifted her cortical node for the relevant definitions and descriptions.

"I see," She said finally, "That designation can have negative associations."

B'Elanna snorted but continued working.

"Perhaps you would prefer a different descriptive designation?" Seven offered.

Grudgingly B'Elanna looked up to meet Seven's gaze, her curiosity getting the better of her. "Like what?" she asked brusquely.

"Perhaps 'lover' would be more acceptable?"

B'Elanna froze.

Kathryn's lover.

Quickly turning back to the repairs she mimicked Seven's "Acceptable" in gruff agreement. Inside, B'Elanna felt inexplicably lighter, warmer. She could be Kathryn Janeway's Lover. Despite all the complications and hurdles she knew lay down that path, a small grin edged the corners of her mouth as they finished their repairs.

~f&i

the end

just kidding (sorta). sorry. This is the end of what I had completed. I've got bits and ideas for the rest but nothing cohesive enough to post so this story is going to be on break for a while. Thanks for those of you who made it this far, hope you enjoyed it despite the unfinished ending and hopefully some of you will be back when I get around to posting more.

~spritz