Chapter 10: A Ship as Stiches
Valerie's POV:

We were in position, I didn't know how but we hadn't been attacked… yet. The pinkish beams were sent to the two sides of the wound, two quick shots in short intervals. I looked at the captain as we received the report.

"Scanners are showing the regeneration rate up only .04 %... I don't know what we can hope to accomplish if this is the best we can do… The breach may simply be too large to seal!" Torres said, and the upset look on Kathryn's face was rather obvious. In theory this was all her fault, considering she'd ordered us in and after our attack had to be more concerned with our safety… how was she supposed to know that it had been a creature.

I jumped slightly as I heard the doctors voice, relaxing when I finally saw him on the screen, and realising I missed a part I tried to focus at least on the end of what he said "-I believe a slight alteration of your treatment plan is necessary. As inspiration, I've drawn on an ancient medical technique known as a suture."

"How on Earth are we going to use stitches in a situation like this?" I asked bluntly looking up at him, and saw the smile.

"Stitches?" Kathryn asked looking at me and the doctor, who gave me a gesture to continue.

"In my time we use stitches to help things heap… a suture is basically a fine thread or some other random material that's used to surgically close wounds or join tissues in certain situations to help it… or rather allow it to heal naturally, we use stitches as a less formal word because of the sewing… but how's that going to help us in this case Doc?" I asked him.

"Your ship's energy systems are compatible with this life form's omicron particles, are they not?"

"That's right" I heard Torres' voice over combadge again, though I think all of us were rather unsure of where exactly he was going with this!

"Then it is very likely that this vessel could serve the life form's needs in much the same manner as a suture. By allowing the ship to serve as an energy conduit across the wound, the life form should be able to regenerate itself more rapidly" he stated, looking quite serious though I couldn't believe he was. How the hell was this supposed to work?

"And how are we supposed to get the ship into the wound without getting the hell beat out of us again?" Tom asked the precise question that was on my mind and I couldn't help feeling like being extremely childish and shouting my dislike, like would be normal in a class.

"That's your problem, not mine, Doctor out" he said simply, his face betraying no emotion before I remembered he was a hologram. But then again he had shown emotion before. I looked away from the screen as he disappeared, the sight of the wound back on screen. Looking at it I studied what I saw, ignoring the conversation behind me.

I had nothing useful to add about any of this. I'd known was a suture was, that was my limit. If the doctor was ever down and it was a complete emergency I might be able to go off of my basic training, but that would probably be way out of date by now!

I watched quietly as we moved forward and then turned, the green sparks at the wound catching my attention as I saw them. The ship started rocking again, causing us to bounce up and down, turning I saw that Kes and Neelix hadn't left and almost hit myself in the head as I remembered that they wouldn't have had time to leave.

Then I heard her yell, Tuvok made a comment and she ignored it. I closed my eyes with my fingers crossed. This would have to be over soon. It had to be, we couldn't be here forever.

'Unless we die' my mind added.

Then we sped away. I let out the breath I'd been holding without realising it and let my shoulder slump forward as I allowed myself to relax a little. It was officially over.

"We've cleared the central mass" Tom said and I smiled, picking myself up and beginning to walk forwards. Stretching my arms out I heard my back make a loud cracking sound, and couldn't help but sigh at the feeling. It was nice, leaving my back a bit looser than before.

"And so we survive some other random thing… how many times do you get yourself into these tricky situations Captain?" I asked jokingly, though I was thankful for the last situation as that was how they'd found me. Without that chances were I'd be dead… in fact that was a given. There was no way I could've survived!

She smiled up at me but didn't respond in front of the crew. I didn't exactly know what to do so I took my leave, walking into the turbo-lift surprised to see Harry there.

As the doors shut I smiled at him. "Going to the mess hall?" I asked him to which I saw him nod, and laughed.

"Would you like to join me?" he asked as we began walking down the corridor.

"Sure wouldn't hurt would it?" I said laughing slightly as we continued into the mess hall. "So what did you think about that… creature?"

That night I found myself at Sandrine's again, watching Tom and Chakotay playing pool with one another. Ricky was there again and once again was hanging all over Tom, rather impatient as the game wore on as Chakotay was clearly winning!

To be honest I was rooting for him though!

"Come on, Tommy… let's get outta here" she complained, glaring at me despite the fact that I wasn't even in my party clothes. I could give her a run for her money when it came to seducing guys… especially Tom… I think I knew what could get his attention already. All it would take would be some of my party clothes and a bit of makeup… maybe a song or dance to get the mood in the right setting I guess.

"Easy, honey. I'm setting the Indian up for the big hustle" he replied, trying to console the rather impatient hologram.

"But he's beating you" she whined trying to get him to move away.

"Yeah, that's exactly what he's supposed to think too" as soon as the words were out of Tom's mouth I fought back laughter, exchanging looks with Chakotay. There wasn't really a way that Tom could win this game, none that I could see at least.

The doors suddenly opened, and I glanced over to see Kathryn and Harry walking in, the latter closing the door behind them. Smiling at her I stood at attention along with everyone else as they all fell silent suddenly. Except the holograms of course, it wasn't like they were programmed to recognise her.

"As you were" she said smiling, as her eyes scanned the little bistro. "Well, this is remarkable. Mr. Kim tells me this is your doing, Mr. Paris?"

"Uh… yeah… it's just a little diversion, Captain" he said coming up with an excuse, obviously a bit nervous that she was here.

"One always knows when a woman of good breeding enters the room. Ma chérie, may I request your favourite song so that we may dance before I take you to my private felucca on the wharf and make passionate love to you" the Gigolo said getting rather close to the captain, it looked like he was about to kiss her before Tom got in the way pulling him away from her as she giggled slightly.

"Uh... I'm sorry… If I had some kind of warning that you were coming..." Tom trailed off looking at Kathryn… that was definitely the closest he got to nervous but I think everyone was surprised when she cut him off.

"You would've changed it, and I would've missed all the fun" she said with another slight giggle, I walked over smiling at Harry, a mix between thankful and happy that he showed up.

"Well the parties just getting started… though this is a bit old fashioned for my taste" I told her winking, if it was old fashioned for me I couldn't believe that this didn't just seem… ancient for them. Or maybe it did and that was part of the fun of it. I wouldn't know though, and that didn't really matter all too much.

"Paris, did you program this guy?" I heard Torres' voice call over.

"Yeah… why?" he asked looking up at her in confusion over the question. I had to admit I was curious as to why she was asking that as well but I'd figure it out soon enough.

"He's a pig, and so are you" she exclaimed stalking out of the room. The look on his face showed a mixture of confusion and probably just exasperation. Raising my eyebrows questioningly once I shook it off and decided to see what was happening as Kathryn went to play pool after asking what it was. To be honest I had a slight feeling of doubt that she'd do more than embarrass herself but something told me that she'd be good. Everyone crowded around to see how this would go.

Unfortunately for them they gave her first shot, and she already got four of the balls into the little pocket things. Harry looked awfully surprised and I just grinned at him, a gesture he returned. Then I watched a gloating Sandrine appear next to him.

I laughed at his discomfort as she moved closer, eventually kissing him as he quickly pulled away. She still had her arms around him so I decided I'd try to be his saving grace. Tapping him on the shoulder I saw him flinch slightly, unwilling to take his eyes off Sandrine in case she tried something else.

"Dance with me?"

A/N That's all for now folks, hope you enjoyed. I'll be adding extra stuff that wasn't just plain old new takes on the episodes but I'm still planning when they come in so again, hope you liked it and plot bunnies, ideas and critiques are welcomed!

FaelwenofLothlorien