Disclaimer: I do not own Star Trek Voyager, I do however own this plot and the original characters.
Almost exactly five months had gone by since Naomi began her studies at Starfleet Academy. Almost half a year and things between Icheb and herself had gotten crazier than she would have ever thought possible. Alright, so maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration, but you couldn't blame a girl for exaggerating when she felt like her frayed emotions were going to manifest physical bodies and beat her to death, could you? Or at least strangle her into unconsciousness. She could only blame her sleep deprivation so much those days.
The unexpected intensity of what had happened the previous night had all but shut down Naomi's normally finely tuned mental processes. It hadn't just been a simply bump into each other and Naomi didn't need Icheb's enhancements to tell how much he had wanted to embrace her. The feel of him pushing against her, the intensity of his eyes boring into hers, it was all painfully obvious how much he wanted to be more than friends with her.
Knowing this, if Naomi had doubts that Icheb felt anything more than a close friendship to her before, they were shot through a cannon, right out of the water now. While her heart soared with the insight, it also mourned her situation. They both knew they had to keep up 'normal' appearances, not act on their impulses, but it was going to be horribly inconvenient.
Damn him.
Okay, so maybe that was being a bit harsh, but despite her valiant attempts to focus, Naomi struggled in class, unable to get him off her mind. All she could think of was how intense the heat between them had been, how much they wanted to be with each other, and not just in an innocent way. She remembered the feel of his body against hers, his breath on her lips, hands pulling her closer... it was enough to make her squirm in her seat and receive odd looks. And then that gentle kiss on her head, carefully avoiding her horns but close enough for her to feel them ghost against them spoke volumes of his desires. How had he known she would be sensitive? How could she possibly concentrate with that on her mind? Forcing herself to focus on the class again, it was then she noticed how distracted he was as well. The fact that he was clearly struggling too, as evident in the way he was currently teaching, just made it worse.
They were in trouble.
At the same time, Icheb had been trying so hard to concentrate that he had fallen back to a Borg-like monotone. He stood erect, PADD in hand, his knuckles almost white from how tightly he held it. Icheb was certain that he was unsettling his students, who had all grown fond of their former Borg instructor, but for the life of him he couldn't rectify his behavior. He knew he should have listened to his gut, to keep his hands off of her, to just help Naomi's balance and then step away... but he hadn't, he had nearly given in to his urge, and now they were paying the price. Again, Icheb felt guilty being the one to initiate the intimate struggle between them, but now he felt more frustration toward himself than regretful. He didn't regret it, he realized, he just bemoaned their circumstances and inability to act upon their desires for each other.
After class was mercifully over, Naomi tried to avoid her roommates curious looks, knowing full well that they would have noticed the change. She grabbed her bag and hesitated at the bottom of the steps to the seats. For a second, she caught Icheb's gaze, and their eyes lingered on each other for a moment, conveying the deep struggle they felt as one. A very faint smile tugged at his lips, as though without speaking he was telling her that everything would work out. Naomi hoped it wasn't just her wishful thinking. She smiled back and left without a word, letting him prepare for his next class in peace.
That afternoon, after the suffocating morning, Icheb was in the middle of his third class that day when he was surprised to be called into the Dean's office. His students all made playful calls, joking that he must be in trouble. Icheb had smiled in amusement for only a second. Deep down, he was terrified over what this meeting could be, and of how accurate his students unknowingly were. Another instructor stood ready to take over for him; he had meant to ask the man if he knew anything, but the oblivious and friendly expression he gave him told him that either nothing was wrong, or he didn't know.
Resigned to his fate, Icheb dutifully made his way there. His worry that someone might have spotted him and Naomi in a more than friendly capacity, or even worse how they parted the night before, seized his heart. As he reached the office, he became aware of the stir and had to wonder exactly what was going on. People were being more formal and excited than usual.
"Professor Hansen?" Icheb turned to see the Dean walking over to him. He relaxed when he saw the calm, though curious look in his face. "Admirals Paris and Janeway are here to see you. They said it was important, so I allowed them to use my office for privacy. I'm not sure what's going on, but good luck in there!" The Dean gave Icheb a friendly pat on the arm.
Icheb relaxed only a little bit more. Why would the Admirals want to see him? Opening the door, he stepped in to the familiar aroma of coffee and very friendly sounding conversation. At least this let Icheb know nothing was wrong. "Sirs?" Icheb questioned, shutting the door behind him and standing at attention.
"At ease, Commander," Owen Paris told him gently.
"It's good to see you again, Icheb," Kathryn grinned, walking over to hug him. Icheb blinked in surprise by how friendly they were acting. Whatever they had to tell them must have been a good thing! His worry ebbing away, Icheb allowed himself to bend down and hug his old Captain.
"What's going on, Kate?" Icheb asked curiously. It had taken him many years to relax enough around Kathryn Janeway enough to affectionately refer to her as Kate. The fact that she was his superior many times over hadn't helped, but her firm insistent that they were like family and it was okay to do so in relaxed situations helped him.
"We have an important mission for you," Paris said in a light tone. Icheb's head tilted and he stepped closer, giving the man an expecting look. "We've been very impressed with your research and efforts in helping us with Project Delta Quadrant. Your contributions have helped us reach a point where we need someone with unique talents and expertise," he explained.
Icheb stood still for a moment, trying to understand if he heard the Admiral right. "I don't understand," he began, feeling more confused and frustrated by the second. "Am I no longer necessary? Were my efforts in Project Delta Quadrant insufficient?"
"As I said, your efforts have been more than sufficient. We're not here looking to expel you from the project, son, but ask you if you would be willing to become further involved. We've reached a milestone and need your techniques and experience to aid us," the balding Admiral explained further.
Milestone? What milestone? Had they gone and opened a wormhole? Or simply reached the sufficient amount of data to understand how they worked? "Please elaborate," he requested firmly. He was aware of how inappropriate the demand to a superior officer was, but damn it if he was getting more and more frustrated. It was enough that he was dealing with emotional strains, now he had to deal with philosophical and intellectual ones too?
Kathryn smiled at his familiar use of the word, reminding her of another former Borg. "We need your stalwart expertise with Astrometrics and anomalous readings project to help us finally open the wormhole we've been working on for the better part of seven years." she said in one long-winded sentence. "Starfleet has decided that Voyager would be best suited for this, but no one seems to want to captain her. Everyone's afraid of some irrational and ridiculous notion that the ship is somehow cursed, and whoever risks taking control over it will be whisked away to the Delta Quadrant! We need you, Icheb. You're the best candidate for the wormhole project and frankly the only officer with a high enough aptitude and fearlessness to take on the job."
"But... why don't you captain it, Admiral?" Icheb asked formally, turning to Kathryn questioningly.
Kathryn shook her head, a wistful smile playing on her lips. "I wish I could, but it won't be appropriate. Besides, I've had my time with the old girl, it's time someone else has a turn."
"Admiral Janeway will serve on in the mission as a consultant. She has other important duties in Starfleet and, for the moment at least, will not be able to captain a ship for a while. No-," Admiral Paris shook his head, "-we need you. If you decide to accept this mission, Starfleet will evaluate you as a possible permanent Captain to Voyager. If the mission is a success, and you've satisfied the brass, and me, you will be promoted to the appropriate rank with all its privileges and responsibilities," Paris told him.
Icheb was completely and utterly beside himself with speechless disbelief. "I... I don't know if I'm ready for such a high responsibility. I was promoted to Lieutenant Commander just last year! How could I possibly even hope to be good enough for such a task?" he questioned, a tremble in his voice.
"You're much too modest, Icheb," Kathryn said gently. "I've always thought you were brilliant, and I'm sure Admiral Paris agrees. You need to let yourself believe you can do great things and you'll find that you will be able to."
Admiral Paris nodded in agreement with Kathryn. "You are more than qualified, son," he assured him as well.
The former Borg thought hard for a good long moment. He hadn't been prepared for this, wondered if he had the prowess they basically said he had for this. Captain? So soon? Most officers were promoted to Captain well into their thirties, some not even until their forties! He was barely in his twenties. How could they be sure he wouldn't screw up as a Captain so young? Icheb wasn't stupid, we was well aware of how in fact intelligent and resourceful he was. He had excelled in all his classes, obsessed with his studies and graduated with honors. It was not mystery to him why he had been requested to teach so soon after returning from his first mission.
Thinking on it, how he had been in the academy, made him think of Naomi Wildman and her eerily similar strives. She would make a very valuable addition to his team on this. He decided then, and probably impulsively, that he would make a condition to his involvement on the mission. "I'll do it. However, I have a request."
"What's that?" Paris asked with amused curiosity.
"That Cadet Naomi Wildman be involved as well," he began, noting the surprise in their eyes but pushing forward. "Cadet Wildman has shown exemplary aptitude for exactly this kind of mission. During her stay at the academy, she has become the top of each of her classes, knows just about as I do in Astrometrics, having spent her entire stay at the academy striving to surpass every one of her and Starfleet expectation for any high ranking officer. I'll agree to take on the mission, Sirs, but only if she is allowed to assist me. I am more than certain her involvement would be a merit to the mission." Icheb remained silent after his speech and waited for their decision as patiently as he could.
Kathryn Janeway was quiet, knowing how she felt about the subject. She had been following both of their progresses just as much as her colleagues had been focusing on Icheb's. They were both close to her heart and knew they were brilliant people. As such, she was too close to the matter at hand, so chose to remain quiet, looking to her associate for his answer. Owen Paris pursed his lips, thinking hard about this. It was always a risk, allowing a fresh recruit to get involved in a serious mission such as this. However, throughout Icheb's many contributions and personal involvements in the project it had become apparent that the young man had a very sturdy head on his shoulders and could be trusted. "Very well, Commander. I will allow this."
"Thank you," Icheb sighed inaudibly.
"Be warned however," Paris cut in. "Cadet Wildman will be your responsibility. She is still a cadet and like any green recruit is liable to make major mistakes. She will have a supervisor watch her every move and report on her progress. She will be corrected on any mistakes she makes and expected to follow the example of her superiors every step of the way. Am I understood?"
Icheb felt an intense, unbelievable offense to the older man's nerve, questioning Naomi like that, treating her as though she were some clueless child that had to have her hand held. His impulse to defend her honor and abilities threatened to spill over, no doubt making his body tense visibly and face redden. He knew he was about to react much like he had years ago, back when Seven had been stricter and 'allotted' him and the other children a time to play Kadis-Kots. Icheb had thrown a fit when Seven had punished Azan and Rebi, all but flipping the table over in rebellion. Even then his passion had gotten him into trouble.
A sharp, knowing look from Kathryn helped to ease Icheb down however. Icheb reigned in his temper and stood straighter. "Understood, Sir," he said in a clipped tone. "I will watch over Cadet Wildman personally. I assure you that the mission will be a success and she will bring valuable results to the research," he insisted.
Admiral Paris liked the kid's spunk. "We'll see," he said in amusement.
"If that will be all, Sirs, I should get back to my classes."
"Of course, Icheb, but before you go, I believe you should take this," Kathryn handed Icheb a little brown box. Icheb took it and held it at his side, not opening it, knowing what was inside.
"You will be expected to report to Stardock this Wednesday at 09:00 hours for transport. Your classes will be taken over by Professor Matthews, who has been asked to return for the duration of the mission until we can find a more suitable replacement," Paris told him. Apparently, even the brass was tired of the old man's negative attitude when he taught.
"Yes Sir," Icheb agreed.
"See you on Voyager, Captain," Kathryn smiled. Icheb let himself smile a little before heading to the lounge to think before he headed back to his class, knowing his first was most likely close to being over anyway. Captain Icheb... it had a nice ring to it. Naomi had not been the only one with aspirations to serving on the bridge, he just hadn't imagined he'd get the opportunity so soon! He just hoped Naomi wouldn't be upset over this. Icheb was well aware of how much she had wanted this before he had.
Back at the dorm, Naomi let out a sigh of relief when she got back to her supportive and loving bed. 'Hello, dear friend,' she joked weakly as she let herself collapse upon it. When Icheb had been called out, Naomi had done all she could to not outwardly show the intense panic she felt. Had they discovered them? Was his career and her future one over now?
The class took way too long to finish for Naomi's liking, but when she had asked the substitute what had happened, all he said was that there were Admirals there to see Icheb about a mission. Naomi had relaxed from the worry, but now she wondered how this was going to affect them. Would he go on his mission and completely forget about what had happened, carry on and not look back? Naomi knew that if it was important to him, she would support him any way she could... even if it meant sacrificing her feelings.
"You okay there, Naomi?" Hannah looked over at her friend from painting her toes in curiosity. "It took you a bit to get back. Have anything on your mind?" she asked carefully.
Naomi lifted herself up and appraised her friends, seeing their curious worry over how she was behaving. "It's... kind of personal," Naomi began, sitting properly on her bed. "If I tell you, you have to make the same promise you had before, okay?"
"Naomi, you should know by now that we'll never betray your trust," T'Chea scolded gently, sitting on one of the chairs nearby to listen properly. Like many times before, Hannah sat by her on Naomi's bed, nodding in agreement.
"Alright," Naomi nodded. Naomi told her friends of the last week she and Icheb had together. She explained how close they got, after putting their fight between them, not letting it stand in the way of their friendship, or budding... whatever it was between them. She told them of the night before, how they had almost given in and kissed. She told them of their worries that they could get caught and expelled... or worse. Naomi told them of the fright she, and most definitely Icheb, had felt when he was called to the Dean's office, and how if he's asked to go away... it would leave their whatever a mystery.
"It's... so romantic," Hannah pretended to sigh dreamily before grinning playfully.
Both T'Chea and Naomi rolled their eyes. As the perpetual voice of reason to her, T'Chea had her own input to voice. "Be careful how you handle this, Naomi. I don't want to see my friend kicked out or our charming professor arrested just because he couldn't keep it in his pants," she said bluntly.
Naomi turned a Ktarian shade of red at the implication. "I'm not under age you know!" she hissed.
While Hannah laughed, T'Chea merely shrugged. "I can never tell with Ktarians," she said simply.
The next morning, things seemed even more coiled than they had the day before, but something was different. Naomi didn't know what to make of it, Icheb seemed preoccupied, distant. Something to do with his mission, she was sure of it. When the class was over, Naomi was surprised by the seriousness in Icheb's tone when he asked her to stay, needing to talk to her about something. As usual, Naomi stood and waited for the class to thin out, giving her friends a reassuring smile as they left with questioning looks.
"What's going on, Icheb?" she asked, disregarding the earlier poignant sense of sexual tension between them in favor of curious concern.
"I have been asked to go on a mission for Starfleet," he began, his hands folded behind him.
"I heard," she told him. "May I ask what it is?"
"It's a mission to oversee the establishments of the wormhole to the Delta Quadrant. I am to evaluate its success, assess any problems that may occur, and initiate it with the help of newly developed technology installed on the ship," he explained. "They promoted me to Captain temporarily, until I can prove I have what it takes to deserve the rank and bypass the rank of Commander. The... the ship I will be captaining is ...Voyager," he revealed tentatively.
"Oh, Icheb, that's fantastic! Congratulations!" She said, completely sincere about it, though couldn't keep the homesickness from her voice.
"There's more..." Icheb said, a smile tilting his lips up, relieved she was not upset and eager to giver her the pleasant news. "I hope this will make up for taking the position before you had the chance but... I have asked for you to be allowed to participate, and they agreed. If you agree to help me on the mission, you'll be allowed to work as a crewman in Astrometrics," he told her, a hopeful look in his eyes. "If... if you want to."
"Yes!" Naomi all but jumped up and down. "Of course I do! Thank you so much!" She grinned. She had taken a few excited steps to hug him, but as she neared him, the fire that had irrevocably stirred to life between them the night before had raged between them in that second. "I... better go then, to my other classes..." Naomi hesitated. "Congratulations again, Icheb..." she said, taking a few nervous steps back.
"Yes. I'll..." Icheb cleared his throat. "I'll see you tomorrow, Naomi Wildman," he said gently.
"Right," Naomi nodded and left quickly, forcing herself not to look back at him.
Later that evening, Naomi hesitated before entering her dorm, hearing her friends arguing over something or other. Kav'ain's name came up, but Naomi wasn't really focused on their dispute at the moment. "Hey... guys?" Naomi began, drawing their attention.
"What's up, Naomi?" Hannah asked, her voice slightly strained.
"You two okay?" Naomi carefully asked, putting her need to tell them the news in order to try to help if she could.
"Yeah... T'Chea was just reminding me that wasting money on frivolous things is illogical," Hannah huffed. That was odd, it was usually really difficult to rile the normally cheery girl up.
"I was merely trying to-" T'Chea was cut off.
"It's none of your business anyway," Hannah frowned.
"Alright alright," T'Chea put her hands up. "I didn't mean to upset you. I'm... sorry" she apologized reluctantly.
"...Fine," Hannah relaxed. "Apology accepted."
Naomi was completely confused by this, T'Chea had always felt entitled to give her intellectual opinion on something. Whatever this was seemed very important to Hannah. It looked like she was about to miss her opportunity to talk about her own important news however, as Hannah was headed to the bathroom with her bag of makeup. It always took her one to two hours to apply it all on and Naomi had planned on speaking to them before dinner. "Hey could you hold on for a sec? I have something I need to talk to you girls about."
Hannah paused and turned to her. "Is this about what was up with the professor being called off this morning?"
"Yes," Naomi nodded.
"Were you caught?" T'Chea asked, her eyes widening with worry.
"No no, relax. Just let me explain without interruptions, okay?" When the girls nodded, Naomi went on. She explained to them the situation, how Icheb had been promoted to Captain to Voyager and asked to lead a mission to open a wormhole to the Delta Quadrant. On top of that, he had asked the Admirals to allow her to go with him.
"I'm probably beginning to sound like one of the human's old 'records' that has become damaged, but Naomi, be careful," T'Chea told her. "Don't let yourself be hurt again while working so closely with him, okay?"
"I appreciate your concern for my emotional well-being, T'Chea, but I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself. Besides, I'll be monitored all the time-"
"Except after your shifts end," Hannah teased.
"...Right, except after that," Naomi blushed. "Anyway, we're going to be as professional as can be. Nothing will happen!" She declared, her head held high.
"Hmm, yeah, I don't believe you," Hannah smirked. Naomi sighed inwardly. Neither did she.
A little later, after Naomi had changed out of her uniform for something more relaxed for dinner and begun packing for her trip, her eyebrow lifted in question when Hannah finally exited the bathroom and in a very elegant looking blue dress. She had to wonder if that was what the girls had been arguing about earlier. "Going somewhere? I doubt you need to get so dressy for the cafeteria?" she asked curiously, thankful for the distraction this provided for her. "What? You have a date of the mystery meat guy?" she joked, referring to one of the male 'lunch ladies'.
"Very cute," Hannah responded dryly. "I'm going on a special date with Kav'ain," she grinned.
"Special? That's great!" Naomi grinned right back. "It's about time!"
"Hey! We don't say that to you about you and the professor!" Hannah retorted playfully.
"That's because if they got together they'd be unceremoniously dumped by Starfleet," T'Chea casually mentioned while reading something on the PADD she held.
"So then we won't be expecting you to return at all tonight?" Naomi playfully asked her friend, brushing away T'Chea's reminder of her and Icheb's situation.
"That's the idea, anyway," Hannah winked. "You girls have fun at the cafeteria though! See ya later!" she sung as she flung her matching purse behind her and left.
"So are you coming with me to the cafeteria then?" Naomi asked after their friend had left.
T'Chea shook her head. "Not tonight. My stomach has been upset the whole day," she sighed wearily.
"I warned you not to eat the chili, Chea. It was spicy enough to cause humans a problem, let alone Romulans!" Naomi chided her gently.
"Hm, indeed," T'Chea agreed. "I hope you have a good evening though. And congratulations on your mission," she smiled.
"Thanks," Naomi smiled back.
On her way alone to the cafeteria, Naomi found herself lost in thought. Voyager... she was going back! The thought of going back to her birth home, despite how upgraded the ship had gotten, was very soothing to Naomi. It was funny how destiny tugged at Naomi's soul, even if it wasn't in the capacity that Naomi wished, she was still going back. Speaking of destined circumstances, Naomi had once again been so lost in her reverie that she failed to notice she was walking into something until it was too late. Funny, that large warm wall felt eerily familiar.
It was then Naomi felt large, strong hands on her arms, having most likely taken hold of her to steady her when she had excessively bumped into whoever it was. Glancing up at the tall figure, Naomi sighed inwardly, of course it was Icheb she had to run in to! It was as though they ran on the same wave-length, their bodies taking them to each other without realizing it consciously. "Naomi Wildman. We really have to stop meeting like this," he said, his tone light and playful. "I was on my way home. You headed to the cafeteria?"
Naomi looked down at his hands still holding her close to him and swallowed thickly. "Yeah..." she replied. "I'm on my own this time," she said, feeling the need to fill in the silence. Icheb practically held her right against him and as usual had yet to let go. The similarities between this embrace and the one last night was enough to leave them both out of breath.
Needing something to say, anything to distract him, Icheb asked the first thing that came to mind. "Have you... started packing yet?" His body wasn't cooperating though, completely betraying his intention of releasing her. He leaned in a little to her, as though they were magnetized and he was at her mercy.
He was far too close, and far too inviting. Breath hitched, eyes half closed. "I um, yeah..." Naomi pulled herself in just a bit closer, her hands moving over his chest on their own volition. In her mind, Naomi firmly told herself that she was simply doing that to steady herself... she didn't believe it either. The feel of his taut flesh under his uniform, rippling as he strained himself against her touch was addictive.
Icheb felt his heart spasm in his chest, the feel of her hands on him making him dizzy. The heat surrounding them drew them in like moths to a blazing fire, ready to consume them utterly. "That's good..." Icheb muttered, his gaze dropping to her lips.
"Mmhm," Naomi nodded, seeing the intention in him, making her shiver. No no no, this wasn't good! They had to separate and quickly! "Icheb?" her voice stuttered.
Icheb didn't seem coherent at all. "Hm?" His cheek brushed over hers, almost nuzzling her. She could feel the very light prickling on his face from the long day, felt his lips graze her cheeks lightly.
Naomi's eyes slid closed in light-headed anticipation, her fight with her control failing quickly. "We um..." What was she trying to tell him? One of Icheb's hands slid down her arm slowly, making her tremble before taking her hand in his, entwining their fingers. "Icheb..."
"Yes?" he questioned, his voice barely above a whisper. His other hand snaked behind her to the small of her back, fingers spread apart, pulling her closer to him, holding her securely, trapped against his body.
Naomi felt his lips skim over the side of her brow, laying a lingering kiss there that spoke of far more than affection. Naomi almost unsuccessfully held back an embarrassing whimper at the gesture. She slid her hand higher, cupping his neck, it was so difficult to remember what she needed to tell him. She truly hated herself for this, but she knew it was for their own good. Especially since they were still very much at risk of getting caught. "We... we have a... big day tomorrow... we need to- we can't..." she struggled to speak, still feeling hazy from his nearness, from his tender touches, but knowing they had to pull away now.
If they didn't stop now, they would never be able to.
Icheb shuddered to a halt, paused from his mouth inching closer to hers, from his unfathomable need to give in. With much difficulty, he finally drew back from her completely, letting her go and releasing an unsteady breath. "Right, I'm sorry," he said, voice shaking breathlessly. "I'll see you tomorrow then!" Icheb abruptly turned then, and walked away without looking back at her. Naomi cast a lingering look over to him and left just as quickly. Somehow, Naomi had lost her appetite that night. At least for food.
TBC...
End A/N: The ending to the chapter was influenced by the song "Between Two Points" by The Glitch Mob.
